Margaritha, Antonius. Anthonius Margaritha, Der hebrayschen zungen bey der löblichen Universitet zů Wienn jn Osterreych &c. dißmal Ordinari Lector, erklerung. Wie aus dem heylligen 53 Capittel, des fürnemigisten Propheten Esaie grüntlich auß gefüert, probiert, das der verhaischen Moschiach (wellicher Christus ist) schon khomen, die Juden auff khainen anndern mer wartten sollen. Zů trost allen frumen Christen, un wider die halßstärrigen Juden verstanden werde solle, mit samßt einer verteütschung etlicher jrer aignen auslegungen und Comenten Auch ein khurtze vergleychung Bayder Testament.
$6,800
[Vienna: Joannem Singrenium, 1534.] In German. 185 × 145 mm (7.25 × 5.75 inches). 4to. [4] p.l., cxii, cxi-cxviii ll. One large woodcut on verso of first preliminary leaf, two large woodcut initials, one woodcut tailpiece, four small woodcuts on the 4th preliminary leaf. Very good plus. Eighteenth-century speckled boards, all surfaces of binding lightly rubbed, red speckled edges, first two gatherings slightly loose, contemporary ownership inscription on title page.
Extremely rare first and only edition of Antonius Margaritha’s (c. 1490–c. 1537) defense for Jews converting to Christianity, as he himself had done in 1522. In the foreword, Margaritha writes of the importance of Isaiah 53 in the Bible, and how he reads it every day to further strengthen his conviction in the Christian faith.
In the Bible, Isaiah 53 is considered a prophetic passage widely interpreted as describing the suffering and death of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, detailing how he would be rejected by his people, endure great suffering, and ultimately die as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. It presents a picture of a “suffering servant” who would bear the weight of others’ transgressions despite his own innocence.
The work then continues with the actual text of Isaiah 53, which is followed by Margaritha’s theories on how Jews have wrongly interpreted this chapter to follow their own convictions. “When I begin the following commentary, I want to give a short report, where the now apparently blind stubborn Jews, are dragging this bright, clear and holy chapter and bending it with force.” The rest of this work continues in the same vein, with selections from the Bible followed by Margaritha’s commentary and vituperative condemnation of Jews.
At the time that this work was written, Antonius Margaritha (a protégé of Martin Luther and son of a prominent Rabbi) had been expelled from Augsburg by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, first for having published his hugely antisemitic work, Der gantz Jüdisch glaub . . . , and then for having lost in a disputation against Jewish advocate, Josel of Rosheim.
The first woodcut depicts a coat of arms that is surrounded by the following quote written in Dutch, German, Latin, and Greek: “The lips of the priest guard the knowledge, and they demand the law from his mouth” (trans.). Shortly thereafter are four more small woodcuts displayed in a panel as with a graphic novel. They depict highlights from Isaiah 53 and Mathew 27. (Matthew 27 primarily details the trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus).
Extremely rare on the market; another copy last sold in 1922 by Maggs Bros. for £12.60 and at the time of cataloguing, not on the market.
OCLC
Harvard, Hebrew Union College, University of Chicago, Leo Baeck Institute, and eight locations outside of the United States.
Provenance
Collection of Felix Guggenheim since at least the 1950s.
References
VD16 M 971.
| Author | Margaritha, Antonius |
|---|---|
| Title | Anthonius Margaritha, Der hebrayschen zungen bey der löblichen Universitet zů Wienn jn Osterreych &c. dißmal Ordinari Lector, erklerung. Wie aus dem heylligen 53 Capittel, des fürnemigisten Propheten Esaie grüntlich auß gefüert, probiert, das der verhaischen Moschiach (wellicher Christus ist) schon khomen, die Juden auff khainen anndern mer wartten sollen. Zů trost allen frumen Christen, un wider die halßstärrigen Juden verstanden werde solle, mit samßt einer verteütschung etlicher jrer aignen auslegungen und Comenten Auch ein khurtze vergleychung Bayder Testament. |
| Year of Publication | 1534 |
| Publisher | Joannem Singrenium |
