Lot 317
Ramban on the Torah – Signature of Rabbi Gershon Rapa of Porto
Ramban commentary on the Torah. [Venice, 1545].
Few comments (some chopped) in Sephardi handwriting [of Rabbi Avraham Yisrael?].
Many signatures in ancient Ashkenazi handwriting: "Me, Gershon Ben Avraham Port...".
Rabbi Gershon Cohen [Rapa] of Porto (1538-1585, Otzar Ha-Rabanim 4446), sermonizer and teacher, of the leading rabbis of Mantova. Born in Porto, Italy. Buried in Vienna, [Inscription on his tombstone found in the book Vienna's Tombstones]. Rabbi Simcha Ha-Cohen Rapa of Port author of "Kol Simcha" is his son. Forefather of Rapaport family. ["Ba'al Shem Tov" considered this family of Cohanim as a distinguished one with no improper intermarriages].
The writer mentions in the introduction to "Kol Simcha" that Rabbi Gershon's father was "Moshe", and herewith is an explicit signature with "Avraham" as his father's name.
4-165 leaves (missing are title page, first leaves and last leaf). 28.5cm. Condition varies: first leaves to leaf 35 are damaged with moth-holes, detached. Leaves 36-150 in good condition, stains and slight damages. Last leaves damaged, moth-damages.
Last leaf bound is of "Kad Ha-Kemach" book (Venice 1545).
