CATECHISMS, IRISH, 1722, 1712; AND HEBREW CATECHISM, 1722; 3 WORKS IN ONE VOLUME

B4 cropped at outer margin [together with:] Lewis, John. The church catechism explain’d by way of question and answer; and confirmed by Scripture proofs: collected by John Lewes, Minister of Margate in Kent. And render’d into Irish by John Richardson... Caitecism na Heaglaise... (Prayers for the use of Charity-Schools. Ornaig... Scol Charthanais; The elements of the Irish language). London: Eleanor Everingham, 1712, first edition in Irish--Abraham Yagel (born Hananiah dei Gallichi). Eine grundliche Verfassung der jüdischen Lehre... Von neuen aber 1704 in Helmstädt aus dem hebräischen ins lateinische übersetzet worden von Hermann von der Hardt... Auff etlicher guten Freunde begehren aber aus dem lateinischen ins hochdeutsche übersetzet worden. (Sefer Leqah tov... [in Yiddish]). Jesnitz: Georg Klesser, 1722,(Hebrew imprint: Jesnitz: Israel ben Abraham), 2 parts, with some leaves misbound or upside down[Steinschneider 4241.10]; 3 works in one volume, eighteenth-century half calf, red morocco lettering-piece, red edges

The Library of the earls of Macclesfield, Part Eight, 25/26 October 2006, lot 2568

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The first item, printed in Belfast, has Irish transliterated into Roman letter; in the preface reference is made to the fact that nobody can read the Irish alphabet, but this may be more to do with attempts to suppress the language as somehow tainted with Catholicism: "I will only say, that Time and want of Use, hath made them unknown; that to us now, they are almost as hard to be learn’d, as Greek or Hebrew or any other new Alphabet wou’d be". The work is anonymous, but strongly Protestant in tone. John Lewis (for whom see the life by Scott Mandelbrote in ODNB and the older article by J. Shirley, "John Lewis of Margate", in Archaeologia Cantiana, 64 (1951), 39-56) was from the West Country and although destined by his family for trade, became a clergyman, scholar and the author of a number of interesting works, including one on William Caxton. His Church Catechism Explained was a popular work and was translated not only into Irish, a version which was frequently reprinted, but also into Welsh. The translator was John Richardson (1664-1747) and the Irish text is printed in Irish letter, a type said by E. Rowe Mores to have been cut by Moxon in the 1680s, and which passed to Eleanor Everingham.

The Hebrew catechism, cast in the form of a dialogue between a rabbi and his pupil, was printed first in Venice in 1595 and was widely printed and translated into Latin and other languages. A Latin edition was printed in London in 1679 and a unique copy of an English translation, published in London in 1680, survives at the Folger Library (Wing J122A-C). The author was an Italian scholar working in a number of cities, who seems to have acted as a tutor to various families. The Yiddish version was made in the seventeenth century and printed at Wilmersdorf and Jesnitz in 1714 and 1719. A copy of the German part only of this edition is to be found in the Bodleian (Opp. Add. 8vo iii.185(1)). The translator, Hermann von der Hardt, was abbot of Marienthal.