Colophon: Solomon Ibn Gabirol’s Mivḥar ha-peninim

Cornelio Adelkind

1547

And the work was finished on the eve of Sabbath, in
the month of Shebat, in the year 307, in the great
city of Venice which is under the rule of
the Signoria, may God increase their
glory, and in the first year of
the principate of Francesco
Donato, by the hands
of Cornelio Adelkind.

 

Translated by

David Werner
Amram.

 

Credits

Cornelio Adelkind, “Colophon” in Solomon Ibn Gabirol, Mivḥar ha-peninim (Choice of Pearls). Venice: Bomberg, 1546.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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This Hebrew colophon (a note at the end of a book giving information about its publication) was included at the end of a printed copy of Solomon Ibn Gabirol’s eleventh-century book of ethical sayings, Mivḥar ha-peninim (Choice of Pearls), produced in Venice. In this colophon, Adelkind mentions the Signoria, the governmental body that ruled the Republic of Venice beginning in the fifteenth century, and the principate (term) of Francesco Donato (ca. 1468–1553), a wealthy Italian diplomat who served as Doge of Venice from 1545 to 1553. 

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Page of printed Hebrew text with word set in decorated border on top.
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Creator Bio

Cornelio Adelkind

16th Century

Cornelio Adelkind was an Italian printer of German descent. Adelkind worked in Daniel Bomberg’s printing house in Venice and formed a close attachment to the Bomberg family (he named his son Daniel). Adelkind also on occasion worked for other Venetian printers, among them Dei Farri and Giustiniani. While working for Bomberg, he was involved in the printing of numerous books, among them editions of the Bible, prayer books, commentaries, and the Talmud. Adelkind moved to Sabbioneta in 1553, at the invitation of the printer Tobia Foà. There he supervised the printing of the Talmud. However, following the ban on publishing the Talmud, issued in 1553, only a few tractates were printed. Adelkind continued to work for Foà until 1555. Adelkind was also involved in printing Yiddish works, including the translation of the Psalms by Elye Bokher (Elijah ben Asher Levita). Some scholars have suggested that Adelkind converted to Christianity.

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