Book of Parables. Igeret Ba’alei Chaim. Mantua 1557. First Edition.

Book of Parables. Igeret Ba’alei Chaim. Mantua 1557. First Edition.

Igeret Baa’alei Chaim, is a book of ethical parables and wisdom about mankind and animals, authored by Rabbi Klonimus ben Klonimus of Mantua, 1557.

This book is comprised of five sections, narrating stories about mankind, animals, kings and demons. This narration is accompanied by parables, pearls of wisdom and moral lessons.

Rabbi Klonimus ben Klonimus, a 14th Century French-Italian Jewish sage, was a descendant of the distinguished Klonimus family. Rabbi Klonimus’ literary accomplishments included translations into Hebrew of ethical works, philosophy and western medical literature. His most famous book, the ethical work, ‘Even Bochen’, was widely disseminated and reprinted in a number of editions.

Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra’s composition, ‘HaLatza’ is printed at the conclusion of this book. (His name appears in acrostics in this composition.) This section does not appear in subsequent editions.

Numerous editions of this work were printed over the years, including a Yiddish translation edition.

The colophon leaf at the end of the book lists the printer’s identity:

“The printing’s completion on Rosh Chodesh Iyar, 1557, Mantua, in the printing house of Venturino Ruffinelli, by and in the name of Joseph son of Jacob z”l of Padua.” Below the colophon appears the printer’s mark of Yosef of Padua. (See: A. Yairi, Hebrew Printers’ Marks, page 12, illustration no. 19; and page 132.)

Mantua 1557. Joseph son of Jacob Padua.

92 pages. 15 cm.

Otzar Hasefer Computerized Database, No. 51610.