Nikolaus Weislinger's book In Favor of Judaism - the book which was banned by the Christian Church. Augsburg, 1730 ...

Nikolaus Weislinger's book In Favor of Judaism - the book which was banned by the Christian Church. Augsburg, 1730 - First edition

"Huttenus Delarvatus Das ist: Warhaffte Nachricht von dem Authore oder Urheber der verschreyten Epistolarum Obscurorum Virorum Ulrich von Hutten" - Clear news from the author of the book "Epistolarum Obscurorum Virorum Ulrich von Hutten", by Johann Nikolaus Weislinger. Published by Constanz [Konstanz] und Augsburg: Martin und Thomas Wagner. The book of the Christian scholar in favor of the Jews which was forbidden by the Church. Augsburg, 1730 - first edition. German. The title page is folded - printed in red and black letters. Registration of owners from 1739. Engraving boards.

The controversial book by Johann Nikolaus Weislinger [1691-1755], which two years after its publication entered the list of books forbidden by Christianity because it expressed a sympathetic view of Judaism and its sources, and is identified with the polemical views of Johannes Reuchlin in favor of the Jews. The author - a controversial priest, theologian who resurfaced in his book the ancient controversy between Johannes Reuchlin and Johannes Pfefferkorn regarding Christianity's relationship to Judaism. Among other engravings of several controversial figures from the point of view of Christianity, the book contains the engraving of the figure of Johannes Reuchlin [1455-1522] - an act that drew criticism from the Christian Church. Reuchlin was a German humanist and scholar of Greek and Hebrew languages. For most of his life he headed the teaching of Greek and Hebrew in Germany, and was one of the promoters of Hebrew studies in various universities throughout Europe. Reuchlin was a fierce opponent of the anti-Semitic writer Johannes Pfefferkorn, and for years published articles against him. Reuchlin is also known for his work "Recommendations whether to confiscate, destroy and burn all Jewish books",  in 1510, at the request of the Holy Roman Emperor. This was in the midst of an internal Christian battle over the question of whether to burn all Jewish books. This work marked a milestone in the history of Jewish-Christian relations, in which the Christian scholar defended the right of Jews to keep their books and live near Christians, and called for no objection to Jewish writings. At the time, Reuchlin himself, because of his defense of the Jews, was in the midst of a personal and public campaign. This was part of the so-called "Books War", which was waged against the scholar Johannes Pfefferkorn, during which Reuchlin even faced an inquisitorial trial. In 1513 he was put on trial by the Inquisition in Mainz, and later in Rome. In this legal battle he was assisted by Bonet de Lattes who was close to the Pope. The trial ended in 1516 with a victory for Johannes Reuchlin. What led Reuchlin to enter such a bitter struggle against the heads of the church is unclear to historians to this day, and there is still a lively historiographical debate. The book before us favors the moderate view designed by Reuchlin, which is why the Church forbade it.

62, 519 [1] p. + [5] Engraving plates. Original cover. Leather spine. Tears in the spine. The title page is folded - printed in red and black letters. Good Condition.