Venice: Confraternity for the Redemption of Captive Jews

'Copie di lettere di Pidiom Seboim, prencipia l'ano 5431 ...'.

Letter book containing copies of 524 out-letters sent by the officers of the Confraternity (Deputati del riscatto degli schiavi ebrei) to their agent in Malta, and to Jews and Jewish communities throughout Europe.

Mainly Italian, but partly Spanish, Portuguese and Hebrew.

1671-1711

181 ff 1 volume: 300 × 220 mm. Vellum binding with leather ties.

Sotheby's 15-17 Feb. 1932, lot 293.

The Confraternity (Hebrat Pidyon Shebuyim) was concerned with ransoming captive Jews, especially those captured by the Knights of St John in raids on Turkish shipping.

Cf. Moisè Soave, 'Malta e gli schiavi ebrei', Il Corriere Israelitico, anno 17, 1878, pp. 54-223 passim.

Database description taken from that in: Richard Palmer, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine: Western Manuscripts 5120-6244 (London: The Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine, 1999).