REUCHLIN, JOHANNES

De Accentibus et Orthographia, Linguae Hebraicae [“Accents and Spelling of the Hebrew Language”]
FIRST EDITION. Latin interspersed with Hebrew. Large woodcut device on title and on recto of final leaf. 3pp with the terms of the Hebrew cantillation, lines alternating in red and black, 9pp musical scores (printed from right to left). Extensive use of distinctive Hebrew type. Marginal notations in an early hand.
ff. 83, (5). Trace stained. Bound in Valmadonna-custom blind-tooled calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. 4to. Housed in fitted slip-case. Adams R-380; Benzing 106; Sendrey 2081.
Hagenau: Thomas Anshelm 1518
<< THE FIRST PRINTED APPEARANCE OF JEWISH MUSIC >>a transcription of the Biblical Hebrew cantillation (“Trop.”).===Reuchlin’s last, refined work on Hebrew grammar, De Accentibus contains a transcription of Hebrew cantillation for four voices. Scholars believe the notation was provided by the eminent Christian Hebraist Johann Boschenstein (1472-1540). On account of his proficiency in the Hebrew tongue, Boschenstein was suspected by his fellow Christians of Jewish parentage. See E. Carlebach, Divided Souls (2001) p. 162.===See also B. Sabin Hill, Pierpont Morgan Library Catalogue, Hebraica from the Valmadonna Trust (1989) no. 21.