Tzemach David - Venice, 1587

Tzemach David - Venice, 1587
Tzemach David / Dittionario Novo Hebraico, Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of Shorashim (root-letters), with explanations in Latin and Italian, by "R. David min HaTapuchim, "doctor from the city of Spoleto" [David de Pomis]. Venice: Ioannem de Gara [Giovanni di Gara], 1587. Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Italian.
The lexicon is alphabetically (Hebrew alphabet) arranged in two columns. "Hebrew words" are in the right column while "foreign words" (Aramaic, Mishnaic Hebrew, etc.) are on the left.
The book opens with a Latin dedication by the author, to Pope Sixtus V, dated February 1587. The introductions in Latin, Italian and Hebrew, contain an autobiography by the author and recount the history of the de Pomis family. From the Hebrew introduction: "The tale of the author's tribulations from his youth until today", events that the author and his family experienced. The introduction is dated: "Friday, the 21st of Shevat, 1587".
On verso of the title page is a handwritten list of births from 1720, in Italian Hebrew script. The volume contains several further glosses in Latin characters.
5, [1], 5-62, 238 leaves. 29.5 cm. condition varies; good-fair. Most of the leaves are in good condition. Stains to the title page and other pages. Dampstains. Slight worming. Small tear to the upper margin of the title page. Tears to the last leaves, affecting text on the last leaf. Original leather binding; damaged. Gold blocking on binding: "Yitzchak Nantua, may G-d watch over him"; partially faded.