Printed booklet, Provisione contra li Hebrei obtenuta Nel magnifico Senato & Consiglio de 48. di Sua Eccellenza Illustrissima – Decree against the Jews, mandating marking of dress by Jews of the Duchy of Florence. Florence: Valente Panizzi, & M. Peri, 1567. Italian.
The decree, enacted on 6 May, 1567 in the Senate and in a council of 48 dukes of Florence, mandates that ten days from its promulgation, "every person of the Hebraic, that is Jewish, faith and religion, male or female, of whatever age, nationality, status or condition, residing or staying in the city, region or province of Florence" shall wear a permanent mark of their Judaism: Jewish men were to place a yellow circle in the shape of the letter O upon the kippah or hat (or, at his choice, on the hood or back of the coat) – clearly visible and identifiable by others. Jewish women were to wear a yellow sleeve on her arm – "so that it would be immediately known well, both by him and by her, that they are members of the same false religion, the Jewish religion".
The decree later exempts bankers and moneychangers who pay a fixed annual tax to the state. Additionally, the decree exempts the Jews from the obligation to wear this identification while at home or in the synagogue. It levies a fine of fifty scudi for each violation. In addition, it holds the father responsible for his son, the husband for his wife, the teacher for his student and the master for his servant.
The obligation of marking the Jews' clothing in yellow enacted in 1567 was an early measure that preceded a more dramatic move only four years later: the establishment of the Florence ghetto by Duke Cosimo I de' Medici in 1571. This deterioration in the Jews' living conditions had its roots in wide-ranging religious and political changes in Europe. As part of the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church began pressing Catholic rulers to enact strict measures and restrictions against the Jews. To gain the title of Grand Duke, Cosimo I de' Medici had to demonstrate his faithfulness to the Church by a series of strict anti-Jewish measures – first by requiring marking the dress in yellow, later establishing a Jewish ghetto.
On first page, Medici family coat of arms.
[3] leaves (5 printed pages). 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, creases and wear. Inscriptions. Bound with new paper wrapper.
Rare. Not recorded in NLI catalogue (three additional copies recorded in WorldCat were printed by two other Florence presses – Giorgio Marescotti and Giunti). To the best of our knowledge, this item has not previously been sold at auction.
