Book of Mishlei with the Commentary of Immanuel of Rome – Naples, 1487 – Incunable – First Edition – First Printing ...

Book of Mishlei with the Commentary of Immanuel of Rome – Naples, 1487 – Incunable – First Edition – First Printing of the Book of Mishlei

The Book of Mishlei, with a commentary by Immanuel son of Shlomo of Rome. [Naples: Joseph son of Jacob Ashkenazi Gunzenhauser, ca. 1487]. First edition. Incunable.
This is apparently the first printing of the Book of Mishlei, or at least the first dated printing (there are fragments of a Bible edition which some conjecture was printed in Spain or Portugal before the expulsion, but those fragments are undated, see: A.K. Offenberg, Hebrew Incunabula in Public Collections, Nieuwkoop: De Graaf, 1990, no. 33).
The rest of the Ketuvim, with various commentaries, were also printed in the same year (in different parts), in Gunzenhauser's press.
The Scriptural text is printed in vocalized , square letters (marking Rafe letters). The commentary is printed in semi-cursive ("Rashi") script.
Initial word "Mishlei" on p. [1a] set in fine, woodcut decorative panel.
The first leaf opens with the commentator's words: "Says Immanuel son of R. Yaakov [sic; Shlomo] of blessed memory: After praising God for His many delights and all His favors to me, I will say that this book, called Mishlei, was composed by King Solomon, peace be upon him, to provide additional explanation as to the secrets and hidden things of the Torah… And this is what he meant by beginning the book, 'To understand parable and interpretation, the words of the sages and their riddles' – that is, to impart understanding to people who did not understand them…".
Colophon on the last leaf: "The Book of Mishlei with the long and nice commentary of R. Immanuel of blessed memory is completed. Praise is fitting to Him Who rides [heaven] and moves it without wearying, Amen. I, Chaim son of Yitzchak HaLevi Ashkenazi" (presumably, he worked as a proofreader at the printing press).

Immanuel son of Shlomo of Rome, Jewish poet and satirist and author of commentaries on the Bible. Born in Rome in 1261 and passed away in 1330. After becoming impoverished he left his native land and roamed through Italy, until he found shelter with a patron in Parma, with whose support he composed his writings. He is known particularly for his work Machbarot Immanuel, an anthology consisting of twenty-eight chapters ("Machbarot") produced by him. The book contains lengthy Maqams, integrated with songs, stories, and allegories in the spirit of the Italian Renaissance, but his commentaries to the Bible have been almost totally forgotten. His commentary to the Book of Mishlei is his only Biblical commentary that has been printed (the rest of his Biblical commentaries remain in manuscript, and only small portions of them were printed later on).
In the present edition, there are numerous printing errors – repeated or omitted words and lines (on page [46] there is a handwritten restoration of two verses missing from chapter 15), vowels printed in the wrong places, a mistake in the name of the father of the commentary's author (Yaakov instead of Shlomo), and more. For further information on the author of the commentary and the edition, see: Preface by D. Goldstein, Facsimile Edition of the Book of Mishlei with the Commentary of Immanuel of Rome, Jerusalem, 1981, pp. 7-17.
Handwritten corrections and notations within the text and in the margins in several places.

Complete copy. [104] leaves. Collation: i-x8, xi10, xii8, xiii6. 24.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (numerous large stains to some leaves). Tears affecting text, without loss. Large open tears across margins of several pages, not affecting text, repaired with paper filling (it may be that these leaves were replaced from another copy). Early leather binding, restored. Damage to binding.

The printer Joseph Gunzenhauser established his printing press in Naples, ca. 1487, where he and his son Azriel printed some 13 books. See: Y. Yudlov, A Document Regarding the Sale of Incunabula in Naples in the Fifteenth Century, Asufot, X, 1997, pp. 74-87; A.K. Offenberg, Hebrew Incunabula in Public Collections, Nieuwkoop: De Graaf, 1990, no. 43.
Formerly in Dr. Israel Mehlman's private collection.