Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items
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Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items
December 3, 2019
Opening: $3,000
Estimate: $4,000 - $8,000
Unsold
Tzurat HaAretz LiGevuloteha Saviv VeTochnit HaBayit, verses pertaining to the design of the Temple from the books of Melachim and Yechezkel, with the commentaries of Rashi and the Gaon of Vilna. Shklow, 1802. First edition.
Signatures of R. Moshe Chaim of Baghdad – grandfather of the Ben Ish Chai, and of his son R. Eliyahu Chaim – father of the Ben Ish Chai, on the title page and in various other places in the book: " Moshe Chaim Moshe Abdal", " Eliyahu son of R. Moshe Chaim".
R. Moshe Chaim, son of R. Chaim, son of R. Moshe Abdallah (1756-1837), a leading Babylonian Torah scholar in his times, rabbi and dean of Baghdad. Already as a young man, in 1787, he was appointed rabbi and posek in Baghdad. He edified many disciples and was the prime teacher of R. Abdallah Somech, leader of all Babylonian Torah scholars (in his book Zivchei Tzedek, the latter mentions his teacher's rulings and novellae). He would devote his entire week to teaching Torah to his illustrious disciples, and on Shabbat would deliver sermons before the people (both his son R. Eliyahu Chaim and his grandson R. Yosef Chaim the Ben Ish Chai succeeded him in this capacity).
This book testifies to the rapid spread of the teachings of the Gaon of Vilna, all the way to distant Baghdad. R. Moshe Chaim was also in contact with the disciples of the Gaon of Vilna who immigrated to Eretz Israel at that time, and gave his approbation to the book Pe'at HaShulchan by R. Yisrael of Shklow, disciple of the Gaon of Vilna. This was the only approbation ever issued by R. Moshe Chaim, who generally refrained from according approbations to books. In the heading of his approbation, R. Yisrael of Shklow refers to him with great reverence as "The outstanding rabbi and Torah scholar… leader of Babylonia… prominent in his generation, R. Moshe Chaim, dean of Baghdad…".
His son and successor, R. Eliyahu Chaim (1803-1859), outstanding Torah scholar and kabbalist. Following his father's passing, he succeeded him and earned the reputation of a prominent speaker. Most of the community affairs were under his jurisdiction. The Baghdad community marked his passing with a seven-day mourning period. When his son R. Yosef Chaim delivered a sermon on the seventh day of mourning, the community recognized his preeminence and appointed him as his father's successor, a position he held faithfully for fifty years.
42, 39-40 leaves (leaf of map lacking, a small part of heading remains). Greenish paper, wide margins. Fair condition. Grease stains, breaks to edges of wide margins. Light worming. Non-original cardboard and leather binding, worn and repaired with tape.
Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra, no. 22.
Enclosed: Expert's report authenticating the signatures.The expert surmises that the book was part of the library of the grandson – the Ben Ish Chai.
Signatures of R. Moshe Chaim of Baghdad – grandfather of the Ben Ish Chai, and of his son R. Eliyahu Chaim – father of the Ben Ish Chai, on the title page and in various other places in the book: " Moshe Chaim Moshe Abdal", " Eliyahu son of R. Moshe Chaim".
R. Moshe Chaim, son of R. Chaim, son of R. Moshe Abdallah (1756-1837), a leading Babylonian Torah scholar in his times, rabbi and dean of Baghdad. Already as a young man, in 1787, he was appointed rabbi and posek in Baghdad. He edified many disciples and was the prime teacher of R. Abdallah Somech, leader of all Babylonian Torah scholars (in his book Zivchei Tzedek, the latter mentions his teacher's rulings and novellae). He would devote his entire week to teaching Torah to his illustrious disciples, and on Shabbat would deliver sermons before the people (both his son R. Eliyahu Chaim and his grandson R. Yosef Chaim the Ben Ish Chai succeeded him in this capacity).
This book testifies to the rapid spread of the teachings of the Gaon of Vilna, all the way to distant Baghdad. R. Moshe Chaim was also in contact with the disciples of the Gaon of Vilna who immigrated to Eretz Israel at that time, and gave his approbation to the book Pe'at HaShulchan by R. Yisrael of Shklow, disciple of the Gaon of Vilna. This was the only approbation ever issued by R. Moshe Chaim, who generally refrained from according approbations to books. In the heading of his approbation, R. Yisrael of Shklow refers to him with great reverence as "The outstanding rabbi and Torah scholar… leader of Babylonia… prominent in his generation, R. Moshe Chaim, dean of Baghdad…".
His son and successor, R. Eliyahu Chaim (1803-1859), outstanding Torah scholar and kabbalist. Following his father's passing, he succeeded him and earned the reputation of a prominent speaker. Most of the community affairs were under his jurisdiction. The Baghdad community marked his passing with a seven-day mourning period. When his son R. Yosef Chaim delivered a sermon on the seventh day of mourning, the community recognized his preeminence and appointed him as his father's successor, a position he held faithfully for fifty years.
42, 39-40 leaves (leaf of map lacking, a small part of heading remains). Greenish paper, wide margins. Fair condition. Grease stains, breaks to edges of wide margins. Light worming. Non-original cardboard and leather binding, worn and repaired with tape.
Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra, no. 22.
Enclosed: Expert's report authenticating the signatures.The expert surmises that the book was part of the library of the grandson – the Ben Ish Chai.
Category
Books with Glosses and Signatures and
Books of Important Ownership
Catalogue
Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items
December 3, 2019
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $10,000
Sold for: $5,000
Including buyer's premium
Torat Zevach, laws of Shechita, Terefot and porging, by R. Shlomo Ganzfried author of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. Lemberg (Lviv), 1848. First edition.
Wide-margined copy, previously owned by the author. His signature appears at the top of the title page: " Shlomo Ganzfried". Marginal emendations and glosses, handwritten by the author.
This copy, with the handwritten emendations of the author, served as basis for the third edition – Ungvar, 1869. The title page of the third edition states: "Reprinted with emendations from the author". Indications of this copy having been used in the printing press remain in several places: numerous ink stains; scores around sections of text on some leaves; "24" inscribed on leaf 39 (both sides) – corresponding with the beginning of gathering 24 in the third edition (see enclosed material).
In addition, two leaves (4 written pages) of the initial draft of this composition were bound in this copy (between leaves 5 and 6). The draft leaves are handwritten by the author, with many marginal and interlinear additions and emendations. These leaves include the text of the end of section 9 until the beginning of section 16, with variations compared to the printed version. At the beginning of section 14 (of the handwritten leaves), the author added: "Requires rearrangement".
R. Shlomo Ganzfried (1804-1886), son of R. Yosef (rabbi and posek in Ungvar). From the age of 8, with his father's untimely passing, he was raised by R. Tzvi Hirsh Heller (R. Hirshele Charif), author of Tiv Gittin (during that period, his condisciple was Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Friedman of Liska, author of Ach Pri Tevua). R. Ganzfried's first book, Keset HaSofer, on the laws of scribal writing
of Torah scrolls, tefillin and mezuzot (Óbuda, 1834), earned the effusive approbation of the Chatam Sofer, who stated that no scribe should be ordained without demonstrating proficiency in this book. The Chatam Sofer even recorded his glosses to this book. R. Ganzfried at first avoided assuming a rabbinical position, earning a living through commerce, but when he lost his money, he agreed to serve as rabbi of Brezewitz (Brezovica). From 1850, he served as head of the Ungvar Beit Din, until his passing in 1886. He was a prominent leader of Hungarian Orthodox rabbinate.
He authored dozens of important works, including Torat Zevach, however he is best known for his Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, a clear summary of the Shulchan Aruch, printed in many editions since its first publishing in 1864 in Ungvar (Otzar Yisrael, New York, 1909, notes that up until that point, half a million copies had already been published, and according to the bibliographer Dr. Yitzchak Rivkind, over a million copies had been published by 1960).
Torat Zevach also became a basic book, reprinted in many editions. Apart from this first edition, it was reprinted in Lviv, 1860, and a third time (with emendations based on this copy), in Ungvar 1869. It was then printed in Zhitomir 1870, Lviv 1879, Munkacs 1893, and more.
[1], 46, [4] leaves (four leaves with a responsum from R. Shlomo Kluger and more, which were originally printed at the beginning of the book. In this copy, they were bound at the end, not in the correct order. It must be noted that in the third edition, the contents of these leaves appear at the end of the book) + [2] handwritten leaves (4 written pages). Lacking lower half of leaf 19. 26 cm. Wide margins. Fair condition. Stains, ink stains, wear, worming, tears and cuts, affecting text in some places. Many leaves professionally restored. New, elaborate gilt tooled leather binding.
Wide-margined copy, previously owned by the author. His signature appears at the top of the title page: " Shlomo Ganzfried". Marginal emendations and glosses, handwritten by the author.
This copy, with the handwritten emendations of the author, served as basis for the third edition – Ungvar, 1869. The title page of the third edition states: "Reprinted with emendations from the author". Indications of this copy having been used in the printing press remain in several places: numerous ink stains; scores around sections of text on some leaves; "24" inscribed on leaf 39 (both sides) – corresponding with the beginning of gathering 24 in the third edition (see enclosed material).
In addition, two leaves (4 written pages) of the initial draft of this composition were bound in this copy (between leaves 5 and 6). The draft leaves are handwritten by the author, with many marginal and interlinear additions and emendations. These leaves include the text of the end of section 9 until the beginning of section 16, with variations compared to the printed version. At the beginning of section 14 (of the handwritten leaves), the author added: "Requires rearrangement".
R. Shlomo Ganzfried (1804-1886), son of R. Yosef (rabbi and posek in Ungvar). From the age of 8, with his father's untimely passing, he was raised by R. Tzvi Hirsh Heller (R. Hirshele Charif), author of Tiv Gittin (during that period, his condisciple was Rebbe Tzvi Hirsh Friedman of Liska, author of Ach Pri Tevua). R. Ganzfried's first book, Keset HaSofer, on the laws of scribal writing
of Torah scrolls, tefillin and mezuzot (Óbuda, 1834), earned the effusive approbation of the Chatam Sofer, who stated that no scribe should be ordained without demonstrating proficiency in this book. The Chatam Sofer even recorded his glosses to this book. R. Ganzfried at first avoided assuming a rabbinical position, earning a living through commerce, but when he lost his money, he agreed to serve as rabbi of Brezewitz (Brezovica). From 1850, he served as head of the Ungvar Beit Din, until his passing in 1886. He was a prominent leader of Hungarian Orthodox rabbinate.
He authored dozens of important works, including Torat Zevach, however he is best known for his Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, a clear summary of the Shulchan Aruch, printed in many editions since its first publishing in 1864 in Ungvar (Otzar Yisrael, New York, 1909, notes that up until that point, half a million copies had already been published, and according to the bibliographer Dr. Yitzchak Rivkind, over a million copies had been published by 1960).
Torat Zevach also became a basic book, reprinted in many editions. Apart from this first edition, it was reprinted in Lviv, 1860, and a third time (with emendations based on this copy), in Ungvar 1869. It was then printed in Zhitomir 1870, Lviv 1879, Munkacs 1893, and more.
[1], 46, [4] leaves (four leaves with a responsum from R. Shlomo Kluger and more, which were originally printed at the beginning of the book. In this copy, they were bound at the end, not in the correct order. It must be noted that in the third edition, the contents of these leaves appear at the end of the book) + [2] handwritten leaves (4 written pages). Lacking lower half of leaf 19. 26 cm. Wide margins. Fair condition. Stains, ink stains, wear, worming, tears and cuts, affecting text in some places. Many leaves professionally restored. New, elaborate gilt tooled leather binding.
Category
Books with Glosses and Signatures and
Books of Important Ownership
Catalogue
Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items
December 3, 2019
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000
Sold for: $2,750
Including buyer's premium
Chafetz Chaim, laws of guarding one's speech – "Laws pertaining to the prohibitions of derogatory speech and talebearing, according to the halacha derived from the Talmud and halachic literature". Vilna, 1873. First edition.
This is the first book authored by R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin, and it was published anonymously, though his name appears in Russian at the foot of the title page.
The book contains several handwritten emendations and glosses by the author. There is a five-word correction on p. 46, and a six-word gloss on p. 159, both handwritten by the Chafetz Chaim (these corrections were later incorporated in the second edition, Vilna, 1877).
R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin (1837-1933; Otzar HaRabbanim 12262), leader of the Jewish people, was widely known by the name of his first book, the Chafetz Chaim. He founded the Radin yeshiva and authored many halachic and ethical works: Mishna Berura, Shemirat HaLashon, Ahavat Chessed and dozens more.
5, [1], 8-81 leaves. [Without the 4 prenumeranten leaves added to some copies]. 22 cm. Fair condition. Upper half of title page (containing most of text) lacking, replaced in photocopy. Stains and many dampstains to some leaves, mostly at beginning of book. Wear and signs of usage. Marginal damage and minor tears to several leaves. Many inscriptions inside binding. Stamp and ownership inscriptions on title page. Old binding, worn and damaged.
This is the first book authored by R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin, and it was published anonymously, though his name appears in Russian at the foot of the title page.
The book contains several handwritten emendations and glosses by the author. There is a five-word correction on p. 46, and a six-word gloss on p. 159, both handwritten by the Chafetz Chaim (these corrections were later incorporated in the second edition, Vilna, 1877).
R. Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin (1837-1933; Otzar HaRabbanim 12262), leader of the Jewish people, was widely known by the name of his first book, the Chafetz Chaim. He founded the Radin yeshiva and authored many halachic and ethical works: Mishna Berura, Shemirat HaLashon, Ahavat Chessed and dozens more.
5, [1], 8-81 leaves. [Without the 4 prenumeranten leaves added to some copies]. 22 cm. Fair condition. Upper half of title page (containing most of text) lacking, replaced in photocopy. Stains and many dampstains to some leaves, mostly at beginning of book. Wear and signs of usage. Marginal damage and minor tears to several leaves. Many inscriptions inside binding. Stamp and ownership inscriptions on title page. Old binding, worn and damaged.
Category
Books with Glosses and Signatures and
Books of Important Ownership
Catalogue
Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items
December 3, 2019
Opening: $5,000
Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000
Unsold
Chazon Ish, on laws of divorce, marriage and slaves, by R. Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz. Vilna, 1932. First edition.
Personal copy of the author, the Chazon Ish. The book contains three lengthy glosses handwritten by the author (on pp. 10b, 52a). These glosses were incorporated in later editions, published after the author's passing.
The Chazon Ish begins one gloss: "I have later seen that this is a mistake…" (p. 10b). The gloss was written on a section pertaining to difficulties in the teachings of the Ran. The Chazon Ish remarks that he was mistaken in his understanding of the words of the Ran, and he suggests a different meaning.
The Chazon Ish was accustomed to recording his notes in the margins of his books, whether on volumes of the Talmud and Shulchan Aruch, or on books of contemporary authors (some of his notes were published in Teshuvot UKetavim MiMaran HaChazon Ish, Bnei Brak, 1991). The Chazon Ish would also extensively scrutinize and correct books he had authored, and even change his mind on teachings he had published, not hesitating to write that he was mistaken and was retracting his original words (Pe'er HaDor, III, pp. 44-45; in one book the Chazon Ish wrote in regard to the Beit Yosef, who retracted one of his rulings: "For is it uncommon for a leading Torah scholar to retract his ruling? Isn't the sole objective of the holy Beit Yosef and all scholars, to reach the law and truth?" – Chazon Ish, Sheviit, section 20).
Editions of the Chazon Ish published after the author's passing feature his glosses to his books in the final pages, and in later editions, his glosses were incorporated in the body of the text, in square brackets, introduced by "נ"ב" (=marginal inscription).
R. Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (1879-1953), the Chazon Ish, a foremost scholar in Halacha and Jewish philosophy in our times. A preeminent Torah scholar and hidden righteous man, his first book Chazon Ish was published in 1911 anonymously, and he thereafter became known under that title. In his great modesty, he would sign using his acronym only: "Ish". He authored and published numerous volumes of Chazon Ish, which were written with great toil and in-depth study, covering nearly all Talmudic topics. In 1933, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, where he soon became recognized as the leading Torah and halachic authority, and stood at the helm of the resurrection of the Torah world in our generation. From 1920-1933, the Chazon Ish lived in Vilna. During those years, he would go every day to the home of his brother-in-law R. Shmuel Greineman who lived in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. He would closet himself in a room which his brother-in-law provided for him, deeply immersing himself in Torah study and recording his novellae. Once his writings accumulated to the volume of a book, he would hand them over to his brother-in-law R. Greineman and the latter would prepare them for print. During the years he resided in Vilna, he composed three books, including this book on Gittin and Kiddushin.
[2], 182 pages. 33 cm. Good condition. Stains. Marginal tears to some leaves. Dry, brittle paper. Original binding.
Category
Books with Glosses and Signatures and
Books of Important Ownership
Catalogue