Luchot HaIbur , authored and composed … content … by Rephael HaLevi of Hanover. Astronomic charts. Two parts with separate title pages. Liden-Hanover, 1756-1757. Written and signed by the author, with a notification printed by the author.
The author signed his name on the back of the title page in his hand. There is also a printed page on the front flyleaf, something of a notification from the author, with a [two line] addition at the end in his hand. The author notifies his intention to print four parts to the book and he specifies their contents [the first and second part are as printed, and they are before us. His intent was to write and print another two parts]. As such, he informs purchasers of the first part so that they do not rush to bind the book, rather they should wait until all the parts are printed later (however, in the end, only these first two parts before us were printed). At the end of the notification there is a handwritten note from the author about the price of the books.
At the beginning of the second part, the author wrote about his plan to print another part, Part III, but he did not mention the fourth part, hence the affixed supplement.
Rephael Levi (HaLevi) Segal of Hanover [1685-1779] was a Jewish mathematician and astronomer, author of Tchunat HaShamayim . Rephael HaLevi was born in Weikersheim. He was orphaned of his father, Ya’akov Yosef Levi, at an early age. He studied at the yeshivah in Frankfurt am Main, and then science and languages on his own. He worked as an accountant for Wolf Oppenheimer’s courtiers in Hanover. He then came to the attention of Leibniz, who was a Hanover courtier, and he became the philosopher’s disciple and protégé. He later became a teacher of philosophy, mathematics and astronomy.
Part I: 36 pp. Part II: 38 pp, [1] leaf. 25 cm. Signatures.
Fine-very fine condition: Aging stains. Antique leather binding, partially detached.