Grammatica hebraea

Basel, Seb. Munsterum, 1543

Important and rare edition of Elias Levita’s Hebrew grammartranslated by the humanist Sebastian Münster.“Münster’s enthusiasm for Levita kept increasingand he wished to translateeverything the master had already published” (G. E. Weil, Elie Levita).Levita, Elias. Münster, Sebastian. [Sefer Hadikduk]. Grammatica hebraea Eliae Levitae Germani, per Seb. Munsterum versa & scholiis illustrata, cum Indice copiosissimo…Basel, 1543.Followed by: Levita, Elias. Grammatica Eliae Levitae quam ipse appellat Librum electum per Seb. Munsterum…Important and rare edition of Elias Levita’s Hebrew grammar translated into Latin by the humanist Sebastian Münster, printed in Basel in the year 1543.The text is printed in Hebrew and Latin and embellished with beautiful woodcut initials. Bodleian Library, 2012-2013. “In the 16th century, the study of Hebrew began to spread among Christians. The person who contributed the most to familiarizing Christians with Hebrew grammar was Elias Levita, whose works were translated into Latin by Sebastian Münster.” (M. Lambert,Termes massorétiques, p.128). “Elias Levita (1469–1549), linguist and poet, was the most learned critic the Jews ever had among them. He greatly excelled in grammar, on which he wrote several books, some of which were translated into Latin. Münster, who often consulted him, benefited greatly from reading his works, some of which he translated into Latin.” (L. Moreri, Le grand dictionnaire). “It seems Münster’s enthusiasm for Levita kept increasing and he wished to translate everything the master had already published.” (G. E. Weil, Elie Levita). François I, who admired the scholar, offered Elias Levita a position as professor of Hebrew at the University of Paris.Valuable, large-margined copy, preserved in its attractive contemporary blind-stamped pigskin binding.Provenance: 17th-century handwritten Latin ex-libris on the title leaf.