Lot 292
Kehunat Avraham - Six Parts in One Volume - Venice, 1719 - Illustrated Title Pages - Signatures of R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi Rabbi of Padua
Kehunat Avraham, poetic commentary to the five books of Tehillim, with Eleh Bnei Ketura - The Song of Creation in rhyming verses, six parts, by R. Avraham son of Shabtai HaKohen of Zante (Zakynthos). Venice, [1719]. Seven title pages. Individual title page for each of the six parts.
At the beginning of the book, a general title page for all parts of the book, featuring many illustrations. The title pages of the first five parts are illustrated with trumpet-bearing angels. Title page of Part I: Signature of R. Ben Tzion Ghirondi, and signatures of his son R. Mordechai Shmuel, who signed with his acronym: "HaGeSheM", and with his full signature: "Mordechai Shmuel son of my father, the wise and sage R. Ben Tzion Ghirondi". Another ownership inscription on the front endpaper: "For Avraham as possession, Avraham HaKohen of Głogów, Abraham Cohn - Posen" (author of Be’er Avraham, Poznań 1896). The preceding page contains rhyming verses in Italian script.
R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi (1799-1852), rabbi of Padua, a kabbalist, bibliographer, teacher in the rabbinical seminary of Padua and researcher of the biographies of Italian rabbis. He served as rabbi of Padua since 1831, for 21 years. He composed several books on Halacha and ethics, yet is renowned primarily for his book Toldot Gedolei Yisrael U’Geonei Italia (Trieste, 1853). One of the leading Torah scholars of his generation praised his eminence in Kabbalah: "I have never seen anyone well-versed in Kabbalah like the kabbalist R. Mordechai Shmuel… Ghirondi". His son, R. Efraim Refael Ghirondi, describes his father: "A father to the poor… humble like Hillel, brought back many from sin… very well-versed in responsa and Halacha, rabbis of his time posed halachic questions to him, and his wise responsa to them are recorded in his book of responsa named Kevutzat Kesef which remains in manuscript…".
1, [1] leaves (lacking leaf [2] following title page, with author’s portrait), 2-8; 49; 40; 30 (lacking 4 leaves in Part IV - leaves 9-12, erroneously replaced with leaves 9-12 of Part V); 26; 64 leaves. General title page (of all six parts of the book) bound after title page of Part I. 20 cm. Good condition. Tear to title page of Part I, repaired. General title page mounted on paper for preservation. Inner margins of first three leaves reinforced with paper. Stains. Worming. Parchment binding, with minor damage.
