Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $1,500
Including buyer's premium
Leshon Limudim, grammatical work by R. David ibn Yachya. Constantinople: Eliezer son of Gershom Soncino, 1542.
Despite the statement on the title page that the author's son agreed to print the book "for a second time", the present book is the third edition (previously printed in Constantinople in 1506 and 1520).
Colophon on last leaf: "This magnificent book was completed on 3rd Nisan 1542… just as G-d granted us the merit to complete it, so may G-d grant us the merit to complete Tehillah LeDavid by the author of this book, and many other books…" (Tehillah LeDavid appears to have never been completed by its author; see: Ben Yaakov, Otzar HaSefarim, p. 616, no. 46).
On last leaf, signatures of censors Domenico Jerosolimitano and Domenico Carretto (second signature dated 1608).
[45] leaves. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains (dark stains to title page). Worming, affecting text. Close trimming, slightly affecting text of several leaves. New binding.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
Sold for: $15,000
Including buyer's premium
Chovot HaLevavot by R. Bachya ibn Pakuda the dayan, and Tikun Midot HaNefesh by R. Shlomo ibn Gabirol, both translated by R. Yehudah ibn Tibbon. Constantinople: Moshe Parnas by Yitzchak son of Chaim Chazan, 1550. Third edition of Chovot HaLevavot and first edition of Tikun Midot HaNefesh.
This edition of Chovot HaLevavot was printed based on a manuscript different from the ones used by other editions. The publisher, R. Yitzchak son of Chaim Chazan, writes in his preface: "I have seen it printed twice, and both are full of errors and omissions… But G-d led me to find this book… proofread by an exceptional scholar from an old manuscript copy… and I set myself to printing it…".
Tikun Midot HaNefesh, attributed to R. Shlomo ibn Gabirol, was first printed in the present book, and was subsequently printed in many editions.
The title page gives the starting date of the printing: "Thursday, 15th Tamuz [1550]". The colophon on the last page gives the end date: "Erev Rosh Hashanah, [1550]".
Inscriptions on title page and last leaf: "Purchased by me, Yosef ibn Reuven".
Early stamps on pp. 9a and 21a ("Yedidiah[?] son of R. Yitzchak HaKohen").
[6], 9-102 leaves. Leaves 13-14 bound out of sequence, after leaf 10. 19.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of former dampness. Wear. Worming, affecting text. Tears affecting text, repaired with tape, and small marginal open tears to several leaves. Old binding.
Rare edition.
CB, no. 4526,3; Zedner, p. 73.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,200
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $1,500
Including buyer's premium
Zichron Torat Moshe, index of rabbinic passages in both Talmudim, Midrashim and early books, by R. Moshe Piccio. Constantinople: [Moshe son of Elazar Parnas HaRofe], 1554. First edition.
The year of printing is given as 1554 on the title page, while the colophon on p. [132a] is dated 11th Tamuz 1553 (another colophon on p. [170b], lacking in the present copy, is dated 8th Elul 1553).
On last leaf, signature of censor Camillo Jaghel, dated 1617.
Handwritten references in margins and within text on most leaves. Several glosses.
[171] leaves. Missing 3 leaves towards the end of the book (leaves [170], [172]-[173]). 31.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including large, dark dampstains, and traces of former dampness with light mold stains. Worming, tears and open tears to title page and other leaves, affecting text, partially repaired with paper filling. Some leaves in several places may have been supplied from another copy. Stamp. New leather binding.
On the printer, see: A. Yaari, HaDefus HaIvri BeKushta, no. 154; Yosef Hacker, Areshet, V, p. 484. On a copy with variants to title page and other pages, see: Yitzchak Rivkind, Dikdukei Sefarim, Kiryat Sefer, IV, 1927-1928, p. 277, no. 31.
Provenance: Christie's, Amsterdam, December 1990, Lot 396.
CB, no. 6463,1; Zedner, p. 573.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000
Sold for: $15,000
Including buyer's premium
Lechem Yehudah, narrative in prose and rhyming poetry by R. Yehudah Zarko of Rhodes. Constantinople: Shlomo son of Yitzchak Yaavetz, 1560. Only edition.
Love story in the form of a maqama about a beautiful princess whose father prevented all her courters from entering the palace, and five princes who, with the help of an elderly advisor, tried with all their might to penetrate to the palace. The lines of poetry are printed in square type. Between the lines of poetry is an allegorical commentary printed in semi-cursive (Rashi) type.
The poems in the book form a complex acrostic of the name of the author and his father, as the author states in his introduction (p. 3b): "The riddle poems are ordered according to the Atbash sequence… with one circuit of poetry going in one direction and the other coming towards it until they meet".
Signature (partially cut off) on second leaf: "Avraham… HaLevi".
[40] leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Light wear to some leaves. Tears, including large open tear to title page, repaired with paper, bordering text, and tears to other leaves, slightly affecting text. New leather binding.
Complete copy of a particularly rare edition. The present book was published in a limited facsimile edition in 1960 with a foreword by the scholar and bibliographer A.M. Haberman. In the foreword, Haberman notes that he knows of only four copies of the book, one of which is the present copy. The book is documented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a facsimile, and the NLI catalogue also only contains a facsimile.
Enclosed (separately) are four leaves of another copy of the book (29-32), with damage and tears.
CB, no. 5772,1; Zedner, p. 395.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $10,000
Including buyer's premium
Responsa of the Geonim. Constantinople: David Casti and Eliezer son of Yitzchak Ashkenazi, 1575. First edition.
The book contains four hundred brief responsa, with an index. Most questions relate to civil law, while the others relate to marriage law.
On the verso of the title page is an introduction by the publisher and proofreader, R. Shlomo Kabuli, who found the work in the estate of his father – R. Menachem Kabuli, a leading Constantinople rabbi.
The book was printed by Eliezer son of Yitzchak Ashkenazi, who printed Hebrew books in various cities, including Prague, Lublin and Constantinople. He was also involved in the first printing of books in Safed in the 16th century. His printer's mark appears on p. 8a, depicting an erect lion donning a crown and facing rightwards, surrounded by a floral frame (see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, Jerusalem 1944, p. 142, note to illustration 51).
While this anthology of responsa preserves early Geonic material, most importantly fragments of Sefer HaMaasim Livnei Eretz Yisrael, it also contains many forged responsa (more than a hundred, over a quarter of the responsa in the book) which, rather than Geonic responsa, are adaptations of the Shulchan Aruch or other sources (see at length: S. Emanuel, Teshuvot HaGeonim HaKetzarot, in: Atara L'Haim, Studies… in honor of Professor Haim Zalman Dimitrovsky, Jerusalem 2000, pp. 439-459).
This responsa anthology was reprinted in several editions. It was reprinted within a few years in Prague, ca. 1590.
46 leaves. 18.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Small marginal open tear to one leaf, not affecting text. Several corrections and short glosses (late script). New binding.
CB, no. 4051.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,500
Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
Sold for: $2,375
Including buyer's premium
Tehillah LeDavid, philosophical work on the principles of faith and the Torah, by R. David son of R. Yehudah Messer Leon. Constantinople: Yosef son of Yitzchak Yaavetz, 1576. First edition.
The book was brought to press by grandsons of the author, R. Aharon Messer Leon.
The work comprises three parts. Part I: "Regarding the virtue of Torah and the perfection of those who accepted it and of Moses"; Part II: "Regarding the principles called faith which are above examination"; Part III: "Regarding the principles of theology, on examining G-d's attributes and names, His thirteen attributes and providence, reward and punishment, investigation of astrology, free will and divine visions".
On leaf 97, the publisher writes: "Up to this point was found in the author's autograph, which he had left open, intending to add lessons and go on at length, but he did not manage to achieve his intention before he was called to the heavenly yeshiva…". The publisher goes on to discuss him and the printing of the present book, also mentioning various works by the author and his father which remained in manuscript.
108 leaves. Leaves 89-92 misordered (misfoliation). Pages of leaves 81-82 printed out of order in original. 19.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Dark stains to last leaves. Worming (mainly to last leaves), slightly affecting text. Tears, including small open tear slightly affecting text of last leaf. Old leather binding.
Without last 4 leaves with two additional homilies by author, which the publisher obtained after the printing was completed, and do not appear in all copies.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $1,625
Including buyer's premium
Ot Emet, glosses and references to various Midrashic books and Yalkut Shimoni, as well as the liturgy, by R. Meir Benveniste. Salonika: Yosef son of Yitzchak Yaavetz, 1565. First edition.
Work comprising hundreds of emendations to the printed editions of Midrashic books (Mechilta, Sifra, Sifrei, Midrash Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma and Yalkut Shimoni), as well as sections of the prayer service ("Seder Kedushah", with glosses copied from the Siddur of R. Shlomo Alkabetz), based on manuscripts and accurate texts.
Handwritten signatures and inscriptions on title page and second leaf. One inscription dated 1623.
182 leaves. 19 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including dampstains and heavy dark stains to several leaves. Worming in many places, affecting text. Tears and open tears, affecting text, partially repaired with paper filling. New leather binding.
CB, no. 6294,1; Zedner, p. 522; Roest, p. 780.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,200
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Lev Avot – Tractate Avot with commentaries of Rashi and R. Shlomo son of R. Yitzchak HaLevi. Salonika: Yosef son of Yitzchak Yaavetz, 1565. First edition.
The author, R. Shlomo HaLevi the Elder son of R. Yitzchak (1532-1600), one of the Jews expelled from Portugal, Rabbi of Salonika and eminent in his generation. His printed works include: Divrei Shlomo (Venice, 1596), Lechem Shlomo (Venice, 1597), Cheshek Shlomo (Salonika, 1600).
In his introduction, the author recounts that after he completed an early manuscript draft of the work, he corrected it about a decade later: "For I authored this work in my youth, and I completed it on Erev Shavuot 1553, the very day I betrothed my beloved wife, as you will discover and see from the first version, and it was also on that day that I sang and recited to her metrical poems about this work… Afterwards… I corrected it again… While I was twenty-one years old in the first version, now upon completing it for a second time I am thirty-one years old…" (p. 2a).
128 leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, slightly affecting text. New leather binding.
CB, no. 6944,3; no. 1442; Zedner, p. 551.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,800
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $3,500
Including buyer's premium
Sefer HaGedarim (Book of Definitions), by R. Menachem son of Avraham, called Bonafos Avraham of Perpignan. Salonika: [Solomon and Joseph Yaavetz], 1567. First edition.
An encyclopedic work on philosophy and medicine, ethics and various disciplines, arranged alphabetically. Also called Michlal Yofi, as stated in the author's introduction to the book.
At the beginning of the book is an introduction by R. Yitzchak son of Moshe ibn Arroyo, stating that some of the definitions were authored by R. Shmuel ibn Tibbon, while others were authored by himself (the additions are incorporated in the main text of the book, with the authors' names indicated by their initials).
On leaves [47]-[50] are printed "Chapters on Happiness by the Rambam" (this is the first printing of these chapters attributed to the Rambam).
On the title page, the printers of the Yaavetz family mention their activities in printing the Talmud: "May G-d mercifully grant us life to merit the completion of the printing of all the Talmud…" (very few tractates survived from this printing, and it is unclear whether they indeed succeeded to print the complete Talmud).
Signature on title page: "Shimon Blin[?], 1754".
[50] leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Small open tears and worming, slightly affecting text. Early binding with leather spine. Damage to binding (tear to top of spine).
CB, no. 6341,1; Zedner, p. 527.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $10,000
Including buyer's premium
Mishneh LaMelech, novellae according to the order of the Rambam, by R. Yehudah Rosanes. Constantinople: Yonah son of Yaakov [Ashkenazi], [1731]. First edition.
First edition of Mishneh LaMelech, printed as a standalone book (it was later included in standard Rambam editions). The book was edited by the author's disciple, R. Yaakov Culi, author of MeAm Loez and a dayan in R. Yehudah Rosanes' Beit Din, who added his own notes and additions.
Copy of R. Chaim Abulafia (the third), Rishon LeTzion and Rabbi of Izmir, author of Nishmat Chaim, with his handwritten glosses. The book later passed into the possession of R. Refael Elazar Nachmias, author of Hon Rav, who also added his own glosses.
At the top of the title page – stamp of R. Chaim son of R. David Abulafia. Many glosses on margins, including lengthy glosses, handwritten by R. Chaim Abulafia.
At the top of the title page, additional ownership inscription handwritten by R. Eliezer Nachmias, attesting that the glosses in the book are handwritten by R. Chaim Abulafia: "I purchased this book from the perfect scholar R. David Vilna for 14 groschen, Elazar Nachmias. And know that the holy writing inside this book is by R. Ch[aim] A[bulafia]". On p. 74b of the last sequence, he writes at the end of a gloss: "…But this is astonishing, as I wrote in a responsum I sent to Trikala in 1749".
In several places in the book appear lengthy glosses handwritten by R. Elazar Nachmias, one signed "Elazar" (p. 45a of third sequence), and some beginning with his name (p. 22b of fourth sequence) or initial (p. 44b of last sequence).
Glosses by several other writers, one signed "Avraham Eli" (p. 89a of third sequence).
Additional signatures and ownership inscriptions on title page: "Yitzchak son of R. Moshe HaLevi" – apparently R. Yitzchak HaLevi, a rabbi in Sofia, where R. Elazar Nachmias also served as dayan for some time; "Purchased by Shem Tov Yarchi"; "Purchased by me in Sofia, Refael…"; When I was in Sofia I purchased this book with the four parts of the Rambam for 72 groschen, Refael…"; "I purchased this book from the perfect scholar R. Shlomo Chason for 63 groschen, 1836, Meir Benveniste".
Inscription on second leaf: "On loan from the lofty scholar Shmuel Don Abravanel".
R. Chaim son of R. David Abulafia (the third; d. 1775), Rabbi of Izmir and leading halachic authority in his times. Nephew of R. Chaim Abulafia, founder of the Jewish settlement in Tiberias. Born in Jerusalem, he studied under R. Yitzchak HaKohen Rappaport, author of Batei Kehunah. At a young age he was appointed dayan in Safed, and ca. 1740 he was appointed rabbi in Larissa, Greece. In 1755, the Larissa community suffered various persecutions, and R. Chaim Abulafia was compelled to leave the city together with some of his community members. He settled in Salonika, where he remained until his appointment as chief rabbi (Chacham Bashi) of Izmir in 1761. R. Chaim was a prominent posek in his times. R. Elyakim Gattegno, a dayan in his Beit Din, attested that he was its leader. Some of his responsa and rulings are recorded in the books of his contemporaries. His comprehensive and important work on the Smag was destroyed in the great fire in Izmir, 1772. A small part of his rulings, sermons and remnants of his book on the Smag were published in his Nishmat Chaim, Salonika, 1806. Additional remnants of his writings were published at the end of Ashdot HaPisgah by his disciple R. Yosef Nachmoli (Salonika, 1790), including some halachic responsa, homilies and commentary on the Passover Haggadah.
R. Refael Elazar Nachmias (d. 1778), head of the Salonika Beit Din. Near the end of his life, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he passed away. His responsa and novellae are printed in his two-part Hon Rav (Salonika, 1777-1784). R. Yosef Nachmoli was his disciple, and his Ashdot HaPisgah (Salonika, 1790) includes several of his halachic rulings (see ibid., Orach Chaim 2, Choshen Mishpat 7-8; R. Yosef Nachmoli was also a disciple of R. Chaim Abulafia; see above).
[3], 2-27; 80; 112; 46; 89 leaves. 31.5 cm. Some leaves browned. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears and open tears to title page and other leaves, slightly affecting title frame and text in several places, partially repaired with paper (margins of title page repaired with paper). Glosses on several leaves slightly affected, apparently by trimming of margins. Worming, affecting text. New binding.
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,400
Estimate: $1,800 - $2,000
Sold for: $5,000
Including buyer's premium
Chok LeYisrael, daily study in Torah, Neviim, Ketuvim, Mishnah, Gemara and Kabbalah, based on the Arizal's study routine, arranged by R. Yitzchak Baruch. Egypt (Cairo): Avraham son of Moshe Yatom, [1740]. First edition. Two parts in two volumes.
First edition of the famous Chok LeYisrael – a work that circulated widely in Jewish communities, in particular of Sephardi Jews and Chassidim.
On title page: "For regular study every morning in order to fulfill the commandment to fix times for studying Torah, based on what is found in the writings of… R. Chaim Vital following… R. Yitzchak Luria [the Arizal]. Arranged and prepared by… R. Yitzchak Baruch".
All pages framed and divided into two columns.
Two volumes. Volume I: [6], 116, 112 leaves. Volume II: [2], 102, 102, 116 leaves. 20.5-21 cm. Volume I in fair-good condition, volume II in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Traces of former dampness and many dark stains to second volume. Wear. Tears and open tears (tears to first leaves in second volume), affecting text; several leaves repaired with paper. In volume II, worming affecting text. Inscriptions to several leaves. New bindings.
One of the first Hebrew books printed in Egypt (apart from two books printed by Gershom Soncino in Cairo in 1557, which are particularly rare, this is the first Hebrew book printed in Egypt).
CB, no. 4715,1; Zedner, p. 178; Roest, p. 266.
The Significance and Segulah of Reciting Chok LeYisrael Daily
The custom of reciting passages daily from the Bible, Mishnah, Talmud and Zohar was established by the Arizal, who observed this custom himself. The order printed in Chok LeYisrael is for the most part based on the writings of the Arizal in various places. The Chida added to this regimen daily halachic passages, taken from the Rambam's Mishneh Torah and Shulchan Aruch, as well as passages from ethical books. The Chida's additions are called Yosef LeChok. The purpose of the Chok LeYisrael order of study, as explained in the writings of the Arizal, is both for the perfection and tikkun of the soul, nourishing it through the study of the various parts of the Torah, and for effecting tikkunim and yichudim in the upper spheres.
Many prominent Chassidic leaders, especially the Tzaddikim of the Chernobyl dynasty, spoke in sublime terms of the segulah of the Chok LeYisrael study regimen, and attested that it provides a tikkun for sins in matters of holiness. Rebbe Yisrael Dov of Vilednik writes in his book She'erit Yisrael (Shaar HaShovavim, homily 1) that studying Chok LeYisrael serves as Tikkun HaBrit, "as I received from my master [Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl], that true tikkun is achieved by attaching the Written Law to the Oral Law through Chok LeYisrael… and therefore in these times with the approach of the Messiah, the Yosef LeChok book has been published, authored by the Chida, disciple of R. Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim, who embodies the lights of both Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yosef, akin to the kabbalistic concept of an all-encompassing Tzaddik capable of effecting a tikkun for the imperfections of the entire Jewish people".
Rebbe Avraham of Trisk, son of Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl, writes: "And following the prayers, one should recite Chok LeYisrael, every single day unfailingly… and through this he causes G-d to be filled with mercy for the Jewish people" (Magen Avraham, 96a).
Great rabbis of previous generations have spoken of great segulot attained by reciting Chok LeYisrael. Some wrote that it is also a segulah for livelihood (the Rebbe of Shinova is said to have based this on the statement of the Talmud, "Chok means sustenance").
R. Yaakov Rokach, in his foreword Maaseh Rokeach to Chok LeYisrael, wrote: "It is a mitzvah for every Jew to buy himself a Chok LeYisrael, to read from it every day…".
Category
Early Printed Books – Turkey and the East
Catalogue