Sefer HaKuzari – First Edition of the Fundamental Work on Jewish Faith – Fano, 1506 – Gershom Soncino Press

Sefer HaKuzari – First Edition of the Fundamental Work on Jewish Faith – Fano, 1506 – Gershom Soncino Press

Sefer HaKuzari, philosophical work on the fundamentals of Jewish faith, by R. Yehuda HaLevi, translated from Judeo-Arabic to Hebrew by R. Yehuda ibn Tibbon. [Fano: Gershom Soncino, 1506]. First edition.
Title on title page: Sefer HaKuzar. Two poems in praise of the book on verso of the title page.
The second leaf states: "Sefer HaKuzari, composed in Arabic by the great sage, master poet, R. Yehuda HaLevi Sephardi, translated by R. Yehuda ibn Tibbon of Granada, Spain to Hebrew in Lunel, 1167".
This is the first edition of Sefer HaKuzari, a classic work of Jewish thought and philosophy. The author, R. Yehuda HaLevi (ca. 1075-1141), was a prominent medieval Jewish poet and philosopher. The book, originally composed in Judeo-Arabic, was known as Sefer HaKuzari – it is written in form of a dialogue between the King of Khazars and a Jewish scholar. The book comprises five parts, which cover the fundaments of Jewish faith. One of the important principles of the book is the founding of Jewish faith on historic prophetic revelation, unlike other works which use rational arguments and proofs as the basis for faith.
Sefer HaKuzari was accepted as a classic book on Jewish faith throughout the generations, employed by many thinkers. Especially famous are the words of the Gaon of Vilna in praise of the book, quoted by his disciple R. Yisrael of Shklow: "He [the Gaon of Vilna] would instruct to study Sefer HaKuzari first, since it is holy and pure, and fundaments of Jewish faith and Torah rest upon it" (Tosefet Maaseh Rav, Jerusalem, 1896, leaf 21).
The book was originally written in Judeo-Arabic, and was translated to Hebrew several times. The present edition comprises the translation of R. Yehuda ibn Tibbon, the most common translation of the work for centuries.
Colophon on final leaf, stating that the book was commissioned by the sons of Don Yosef ibn Yahya of Lisbon, Portugal, and was completed in the third year of the reign of Pope Julius II, in 1506, by Gershom Soncino in Fano (the colophon lists several generations of the ibn Yahya family).
Long early Ashkenazi inscription (circa 16th century) on final endpaper. Instructions for preparing cures in Hebrew and in Yiddish. Additional inscriptions in the margins.

Complete copy. [62] leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Open tears to inner margin of title page and to margins of other leaves, not affecting text, repaired with paper. Leaves trimmed with damage to headings in many places. Early wooden binding, with leather spine (featuring early ornaments). Blemishes to binding.

Including the third leaf – condemnation of Christianity, which is lacking in many copies.

The book was printed by the renowned Jewish printer Gershom Soncino, one of the most prominent Hebrew printers in Italy. Soncino traveled with his family and printing equipment through various Italian cities, printing Hebrew books wherever he stayed.