Ad Generosam ac Prænobilem Holzhusiorum Gentem – Martin Diefenbach

Ad Generosam ac Prænobilem Holzhusiorum Gentem. By Martin Diefenbach. Frankfurt, Germany: Sumpt. Johannis Davidis Zunneri. Prelo Johannis Philippi Andreae, 1685.

Full Title: Ad Generosam ac Prænobilem Holzhusiorum Gentem de Vero Mortis Genere, ex quo Henricus VII. Imp. Obiit, Dissertatio, Qua quicquid ejus apud antiquos pariter ac recentiores Historicos reperiri potuit, discutitur, variaque scitu non injucunda admiscentur [trans. To the Generous and Noble Nation of Holzhusians concerning the True Kind of Death, from which Henry VII. Imp. Died, a Dissertation, in which whatever of it has been found among ancient and recent historians is discussed, and various not unpleasant things are mixed in with knowledge.]

In Latin language. Printed by Sumpt. Johannis Davidis Zunneri. Prelo Johannis Philippi Andreae, Frankfurt, Germany, in 1685. First Edition. Complete. Size 8 x 7 in. Vellum binding a bit dulled, soiled, and slightly bowed. Relatively minor wear to extremities. A bookplate to front pastedown, with a neatly penned inscription to front end paper. Ex-library. Light to moderate browning and foxing throughout. No insect or water damage. Still an appealing early modern first edition of a, perhaps, controversial work. Neither the original, tight binding nor the text with any serious condition problems.

Martin Diefenbach (1661 – 1709) was German theologian. He devoted himself to the conversion of the Jews and published on this very subject two volumes in German, with Latin titles, “Judaeus Convertendus? [trans. “Jew by Conversion” or “A Jew Must be Converted”] (1696) and “Judaeus Conversus? [trans. “Converted Jew?] (1709).