Von den Jüden und jren Lügen, by Martin Luther. Wittenberg: Hans Lufft ("Gedrückt zu Wittemberg, Durch Hans Lufft"), 1543. German.

First edition of Martin Luther’s infamous antisemitic tract On the Jews and Their Lies.

Title page with ornamental woodcut border (possibly by Lucas Cranach); two decorated woodcut initials.

One of the last works published during Luther’s lifetime, Von den Jüden und jren Lügen is considered one of the most virulent texts in the history of Christian antisemitism, and is often seen as a precursor to modern racial antisemitism.

In this treatise, Luther accuses the Jews of deliberately falsifying biblical interpretation to deceive Christians, claiming they had made a pact with the Devil and must therefore be fought to the bitter end. He denounces any further hope of their conversion to Christianity, views them as a threat to Christian society, and calls for harsh punitive measures: the burning of synagogues and homes, destruction of Jewish books, prohibition of rabbinic preaching, a ban on Jewish trade and moneylending, and their expulsion from Christian lands.

Nearly 400 years after its publication, the book was reprinted in Nazi Germany, featured in public displays during the Nuremberg rallies, and even staged theatrically. A copy of the present edition was gifted to Julius Streicher, editor of the Nazi publication Der Stürmer, who stated during his postwar trial: "A book I had, written by Dr. Martin Luther… Dr. Martin Luther would very probably sit in my place in the defendants' dock today, if this book had been taken into consideration by the Prosecution".

This edition does not appear in the NLI catalogue.

[143] leaves. 17 cm. Good condition. Tears to edges of title page, professionally restored with acid-free paper (with minor damage to text on verso). Restored tears to several leaves. Contemporary handwritten inscriptions on one leaf. Handsome half parchment binding, lightly worn. Bookplate of collector Isaac Meulman.

See: Nuremberg Trial Proceedings, Vol. 12, p. 317 (available online via the Avalon Project).

Provenance: Mozes Heiman Gans collection.