Ma'aseh Tuviah, First Edition. Venice, 1707. First Medical Book in Hebrew!

Ma'aseh Tuviah, First Edition. Venice, 1707. First Medical Book in Hebrew!

Ma'aseh Tuviah - comprehensive book about the upper worlds - the orbits and such, and the small world - the human body, and all matters of disease and cures, including surgery, by Rabbi Tuviah HaRofeh. Venice, 1707. First edition. Complete copy. Signatures and glosses.

It is accepted that this is the first medical book ever printed in Hebrew. It is one of its kind both in content and due to the many spectacular and interesting etchings that appear in it.

The book also includes an event involving Shabbetai Tzvi and Venice rabbis' investigation of Nathan HaAzati. The back of the title page bears a picture of the author at the age of forty eight.

The author Rabbi Tuviah HaRofeh studied at the University in Padua, where he met non-Jews and debated with them on issues of religion and faith and heard their many insults about Jews and Judaism. As such, he decided to write this book for all peoples, to show that despite the Jewish people being in exile, "Not only they were given this knowledge, " but the Jews were, too.

[6], 158 leaf. 22 cm. Complete copy with all three title pages, and with all the complete pages of illustrations and poems and the last leaf, with the Padua censor's permit in Italian.

Fine condition. Minimal aging stains. Tear without lack in the margins of the title page. New leather binding, elegant and embossed.