Meor Einayim by Rabbi Azaria de Rossi – First Edition – Mantua, 1574 – Banned Immediately after Publishing

Meor Einayim by Rabbi Azaria de Rossi – First Edition – Mantua, 1574 – Banned Immediately after Publishing
Meor Einayim, by R. Azaria de Rossi (min HaAdumim). Mantua, 1574.
Divided into three parts: Kol Elokim (account of the earthquake in Ferrara in 1570), Hadrat Zekenim (about the Septuagint) and Imrei Bina (various essays and homilies).
R. Azaria de Rossi (1512-1578, Otzar HaRabbanim 16731) was an Italian scholar, proficient in Torah and science. His book Meor Einayim was banned by Italian rabbis immediately after its publishing, having found it containing teachings opposing tradition and disrespectful to the words of Chazal. The book was brought before R. Yosef Karo – the Beit Yosef, who ordered the book to be banned, yet the ban was never applied. The Maharal sharply criticizes the book and his book Be'er HaGolah was reputedly written in response to this book (despite the book's negative standing, there are authors who quote it and the Sdei Chemed endorses them, writing that the fact the Beit Yosef's ban was never applied is a sign from Heaven that the book is acceptable).
During the controversy over the book, a condition was made with R. Azaria that six leaves (52-53, 81-82, 87-88) containing unfit ideas must be replaced, and that he print and attach to his book the objection of R. Moshe Provençal to his words.
Dr. Mehlman writes on the endpaper that leaves 81-82 of the book are the original, non-replaced leaves. However, our research seems to show that in this copy, all the leaves are of the replacements (see enclosed photocopy). Two leaves of "objection" by R. Moshe Provençal were bound at the end of the book, followed by four leaves with the author's "response to the objection".
Three notes in early Oriental handwriting appear in the book. The top of the title page contains a (trimmed) signature: "…son of R. Yom Tov HaKohen". The subsequent leaf contains a stamp: "Who is hoping for salvation of G-d, Yisrael son of R. Yom Tov HaKohen". Additional signatures on the title page: "Chai Moshe Picciotto" (rabbi in Aleppo, author of VaYechal Moshe. Died 1816, see: Likdoshim Asher BaAretz, entry 452), signature of "Yehoshua Zorogon".
194 leaves. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming. Repaired damage to first and last leaves. New half-parchment binding.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman.