The Ethical Treatises of Berachya, Son of Rabbi Natronai Ha-Nakdan, being the Compendium and the Masref. Now edited for the First Time from Mss. at Parma & Munich with an English Translation, Introduction, Notes &c.
London: David Nutt, 1902. First Edition. Hardcover. Large 8vo. lv + 360pp. + 152pp. Original cloth with gilt lettering to spine, blind rules to upper board, b&w frontis w/ tissue guard. English and Hebrew text. A collection of religious-ethical treatises by Berechiah ben Natronai ha-Nakdan (known as Berachya or Berakhyah), the 13th century French (?) Jewish grammarian, philosopher, translator, and poet best known for his collection Mishlei Shu'alim ("Fox Fables"). Berachya was responsible for introducing a number of important Greek and Arabic philosophical, scientific and literary concepts and themes into a Jewish context, with the treatises here presented said to be an adaptation of the religious thought of Sa'adya Ga'on, expressed in his "Book of Beliefs and Opinions." The translator, Hermann Gollancz (1852 - 1930), was a rabbi and eminent Hebrew scholar, who published a number of works including several studies of the "Solomonic" grimoires or books of magic, notably "Clavicula Salomonis, A Hebrew Manuscript," and "Sepher Maphteah Shelomo (Book of the Key of Solomon)." Cloth rubbed overall with some darkening and slight discolouration. Spine ends and corners bumped and lightly chafed, first and last pages unevenly darkened and lightly foxed, previous owner's details on front blank, paper lightly browned, a few finger marks to outer margins, otherwise an unmarked near VG copy. (no dust jacket). Item #39096
Price: $100.00