JACOB BEN NAPHTALI HA-KOHEN:
Italian printer; born in Gazolo; lived in the sixteenth century. For some time prior to 1556 he was the manager of Tobiah Foa's printing establishment at Sabbionetta, which issued Abravanel's "Merkebet ha-Mishneh" (1551). In 1556 Jacob removed to Mantua, where he superintended the printing of a great number of works in Rufellini's printing-house, first alone, afterward in association with Meïr b. Ephraim Sofer, then from 1560 to 1563 again alone. The first work printed by Jacob at Mantua was Elijah Levita's "Sefer ha-Baḥur"; the last, "Midrash Yelammedenu."
Bibliography:
- Fürst, Bibl. Jud. ii. 24, 25;
- Zunz, Z. G. pp. 252 et seq.;
- Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. col. 2930.
