Sefer HaMevakesh—first edition, Hague 1778.

Sefer HaMevakesh—first edition, Hague 1778.
“Written by Rabbi Shem Tov ben Polkira, who is a river to assuage the thirst of any who are thirsty for golden waters of wisdom and science, enlightened by Torah, to know what Israel will do, what path man should choose…”. An ancient philosophic work constructed as a dialogue debate between a “chacham” and a “mevakesh” using poetry and rhetoric. The manuscript appeared as early as 1453. First edition, Hague 1778. [8], 48 leaves. Some of the bibliographic listings miscalculate the year of printing based on a note in the title page but a correct calculation of Hashem’s name results in the proper year of printing. Brought to the publisher by Mordechai Tama, who also included a dedication letter in Frence for the Bordeaux donors on leaf [4]. Important approbations from Rabbeinu HaHida, Rabbi Avraham the Av Beit Din of Rotterdam, and rabbis of Amsterdam and the Hague. Old binding, leather spine, light stains, overall good condition. Blank first page has a note of ownership: “I bought for the rabbi Yehuda Leib…[-?] Kopilansky.”