Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9
Lot 161 Roman-Rite Machzor – Special Copy Printed on Blue Paper, Unique Exemplar – Mantua, 1556-1560
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $7,000
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
Sold for: $16,250
Including buyer's premium
Roman-rite machzor, Part I – with weekday, Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh prayers, and prayers and selichot from Chanukah until Shabbat Nachamu, Passover Haggadah, Shemonah Perakim by the Rambam and Tractate Avot with commentaries of Rashi and the Rambam; and Part II – with prayers for Elul and Tishrei festivals, selichot for public fast days and other prayers. Mantua: Meir son of Efraim of Padua and Venturin Ruffinelli, 1556-1560. Two parts in one volume (second part begins on leaf 117, without divisional title page).
This edition was printed based on the first edition of the machzor, Soncino-Casalmaggiore 1486, with corrections and some additions (such as Megillat Antiochus, added to Part I; and the confession for the deathbed added to Part II).
Special copy, printed on blue paper. As far as we know, this is a unique exemplar – the only one in the world.
Blue paper was introduced into Italian Hebrew printing early in the 16th century. Like vellum, it was used for preparing deluxe editions of books, which were printed in a limited number of copies for wealthy individuals (see: Brad Sabin Hill, Hebrew Printing on Blue and Other Coloured Papers, in: Otzrot Yaakov, Treasures of the Valmadonna Trust Library, London and New York 2011, pp. 84 ff).
On title page: "The labor was begun in Chanukah 1557". Colophon: "It was completed on Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 1560, here in Mantua…".
On last leaf, signature of censor "Domenico Gerosolimitano", dated 1597.
Stamps of Schocken library in Jerusalem.
Birth inscription on last leaf, in Italian script, dated 1668.
210 leaves. 26.5 cm. Varying condition of leaves. First leaves and additional leaves in fair condition, many leaves in good-fair condition. Stains, including wax stains. Tears and open tears, including large open tears to several leaves (mainly to first leaves), affecting illustrated title frame and text, repaired with paper, with photocopy text replacements to some leaves. Text affected in many places on first three leaves across length of margins, particularly on leaf 3; both sides of title page and recto of leaf 2 coated with paper. Worming, affecting text. Close trimming, affecting headers and text in several places. New leather binding. Slipcased.
Tractate Avot was also printed separately, in 1560. Rashi's commentary to Avot printed here appears in a unique version. The commentary on chapter 6, attributed to Rashi, is very similar to the commentary printed in Machzor Vitri, attributed to R. Yaakov son of R. Shimshon. See: M. A. Z. Kinstlicher, preface to Rashi's commentary on Avot, in: Tractate Avot with Commentary of Rashi, Bnei Brak 1992, pp. 11-15.
See further: A. Piattelli, Bibliography of Roman-Rite Machzorim and Siddurim, no. 19 (Hebrew).
Provenance:
1. Valmadonna Trust Library collection.
2. Schocken Collection, Sotheby's, London, December 1993.
Category
Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $1,500
Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500
Sold for: $5,250
Including buyer's premium
Seder Meah Berachot – blessings, prayers and piyyutim, including the Passover Haggadah, with Spanish translation. Amsterdam: Albertus Magnus, 1687. Approbations by R. Yitzchak Aboab, R. Yaakov Sasportas and R. Shlomo de Oliveira.
Prayers for various occasions, such as circumcision of converts and slaves, blessing upon the purchase of a slave, redemption of a vineyard, prayer for Marranos burnt at stake in Spain and Portugal, flogging, and more. Also includes laws of shechitah in rhyme, tables for calculating tekufot and festivals, and chronological list of events in the history of the Jewish people until the 1648-1649 Chmielnicki massacres (in Spanish).
Hebrew text and Spanish translation on facing pages (with corresponding pagination).
The editor of the book, Binyamin Senior Godines, writes in his introduction that he found the manuscript of the book in the library of R. Yitzchak son of Matityahu Aboab (mentioned in the Spanish preface as the translator of the book).
Two title pages, the first copper-engraved with illustrations of the blessings over the moon, incense (for Havdalah), Birkat HaMazon, blessings on the shofar and circumcision.
Additional engraved title page, depicting various blessings.
[11] leaves, [1], 303, 304; 54, [11], 7, [20] pages. Approx. 12 cm. Colored edges. Overall good condition; some leaves in good-fair condition. Stains. Worming to title page and many other leaves, affecting text and illustrated title frame, repaired with paper filling (small part of illustrated title frame replaced by hand). Marginal open tear to illustrated title page, repaired with paper. New parchment binding.
According to Fuks, the printer Albertus Magnus did not have his own press (although his name is mentioned on the title page of this book and several others), and the book was likely printed at the press of David de Castro Tartas, due to his experience printing bilingual books. See further: L. Fuks and R.G. Fuks-Mansfeld, Hebrew Typography in the Northern Netherlands, Leiden 1987, Nos. 606-607.
Category
Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $18,000
Estimate: $20,000 - $25,000
Sold for: $22,500
Including buyer's premium
Shaar HaShamayim siddur – prayers for weekdays, Shabbat and festivals, Yotzrot, Passover Haggadah, Tractate Avot, Tehillim and Maamadot. With Shaar HaShamayim – a kabbalistic commentary on the prayers, by R. Yeshayah HaLevi Horowitz – the Shlah. Includes an anthology of laws and customs, by the editor and publisher R. Avraham Segal Horowitz of Posen, great-grandson of the author. Amsterdam, [1717]. First edition. Two volumes, with siddur in one volume and Tehillim and Maamadot in a second volume.
Incomplete copy – both volumes lack leaves in several places (including approx. the first 20 leaves of the siddur, including the title page and approbations, as well as the last 139 leaves of the siddur, comprising the Torah readings, Shir HaYichud and Selichot for Monday and Thursday).
Most of the prayers in this siddur follow the Ashkenazi rite, apart from some prayers which were printed in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi rite side by side, as the author requested in his will (however, the editor and publisher did not in fact make all the changes to the text of the siddur requested by the author).
Praying from this siddur has the special segulah that the prayer will be accepted, as the Bach writes in his approbation to this siddur: "We have no doubt that when it is disseminated throughout the Jewish people, whoever prays from it will not have his prayer go unanswered". The kabbalist R. Naftali Katz, author of Semichat Chachamim, attributes this segulah to the author himself, the Shlah: "He was especially fond of this siddur, and he instructed his descendants to publish it in order to bring merit to the public by praying in this order with those kavanot. And there is a promise on his part that those who follow this order before Him Who hears prayer with all their strength and with those kavanot will not return emptyhanded…". This segulah is repeated by Rebbe Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura in his approbation to the third edition of the siddur (Warsaw 1882) and others including R. Yaakov Rabbi of Lublin and R. Yom Tov Lipmann Heller, the Tosafot Yom Tov.
The Baal HaTanya reputedly followed the kavanot of the Shlah in this siddur for his prayer service during his youth (Beit Rebbe, Berditchev 1902, p. 2, chapter 1).
The Tehillim volume belonged to R. Shmuel Salant, Rabbi of Jerusalem. His stamps appear on the title pages (two different stamps: one in square type and the other in the form of his signature). R. Shmuel Salant (1816-1909), known as a genius from his childhood. At the young age of seven, he travelled to study in the Torah centers of Lithuania. He studied in his youth in Salant together with R. Yisrael Salanter (founder of the Musar movement). At the age of 14, he was forwarded a letter discussing a complicated question pertaining to a divorce by his teacher R. Abele Poswoller head of the Vilna Beit Din, demonstrating the high regard leading rabbis had for his opinion already then. After his marriage with the daughter of R. Yosef Zundel of Salant, he immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1841 to serve as posek and rabbi of the Perushim community of disciples of the Vilna Gaon in Jerusalem. In his capacity as rabbi of Jerusalem, a position he held for close to seventy years, he founded the educational and charitable institutions in the city, established the Beit Din and strengthened the Ashkenazi community. He was renowned for his brilliance and his pragmatic approach to running all communal matters in Jerusalem and worldwide.
Stamps on leaves 34-35 of Tehillim: "Shmuel Kimchi".
Two volumes. Incomplete copies. Volume I (Siddur): 21-48, 50-335 leaves. Lacking 22 leaves at beginning (including title pages, approbations and introductions), leaf 49 (supplied by hand), and 139 last leaves with Torah readings, Shir HaYichud and Selichot for Monday and Thursday. Volume II (Tehillim and Maamadot): 2, 7-38, 43-46, 39-42, 47-109, 111-130; [1], 48 leaves. Lacking 9 leaves: leaves 3-6, 110 of Tehillim (with photocopy replacements), and last 4 leaves (49-52) of Maamadot. Leaves 39-42 of Tehillim bound out of sequence, after leaf 46. 21-21.5 cm. Varying condition of volumes. First volume in overall fair condition, some leaves in fair-good condition. Second volume in fair-poor condition. Many stains, including dark stains and wax stains. Traces of past dampness with mold in second volume. Heavy wear and many signs of heavy use to some leaves (mainly to first volume). Tears and open tears, affecting text of some leaves, partially repaired with tape. Large open tears to title page of Tehillim and other leaves, affecting title frame and text in many places, mostly repaired with paper filling (photocopy replacement for frame of Tehillim title page). Extensive worming to second volume, heavily affecting text, repaired with paper filling. New bindings.
Category
Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $1,250
Including buyer's premium
Machzor with Kavanat HaPaytan, for high holidays and three festivals, "according to the rite of the Ashkenazim and other communities". With translation and explanations in Yiddish. Amsterdam: sons of Shlomo Proops Katz, 1750. Four volumes.
Complete, elaborate four-volume set, in original leather bindings, with gilt decorations.
Two title pages at beginning of each volume, the first illustrated (the illustrated title pages appear only in some copies).
First two volumes (labeled "Part I" on the title page) contain high holiday prayers, and last two volumes (labeled "Part II" on title page) contain prayers for the three festivals.
Early edition of machzor with Kavanat HaPaytan commentary (the commentary on the entire machzor was originally printed in Offenbach, 1744), containing short introductions before piyyutim explaining the author's intended meaning.
All volumes contain approbation of R. Aryeh Leib, Rabbi of Amsterdam, son-in-law of the Chacham Tzvi and father of R. Shaul of Amsterdam.
On all three volumes, ownership inscriptions on endpaper: "This machzor belongs to the distinguished woman Mrs. Simchale, wife of the community leader R. Yaakov Narden".
On back board of Yom Kippur volume, inscription on her passing written by her son, noting the passing of his father R. Yaakov Narden in 1782, his mother Mrs. Simchale in 1784 and his sister Leah in 1890.
Four volumes. Rosh Hashanah: [2], 2-20, 22-29; 12; 100 leaves. Yom Kippur: [2], 2-20, 22-27; 22; 164 leaves. Sukkot: [2], 2-20, 22-29; 109 leaves. Pesach and Shavuot: [2], 2-20, 22-29; 12; 111; 72 leaves. 24 cm. Good to good-fair condition. Bindings in fair-good to fair condition. Stains. Wear. Darkening of leaves, mainly to Yom Kippur volume. Tears and open tears in several places. Worming to several leaves, slightly affecting text. Several gatherings loose. Original leather bindings, worn and damaged (open tear to spine of one volume).
The copies recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book (listing 000172448) have pagination differing slightly from the present volumes.
Category
Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $3,750
Including buyer's premium
Year-round siddur, following the Polish rite, including Torah portions, Shir HaYichud, yotzrot, selichot, hoshanot and maaravit prayers, with Yiddish translation, the Book of Tehillim and techinot. Amsterdam: Hertz Levi Rofe and his son-in-law Kashman, [1760].
Siddur for women, with Yiddish translation in Tzenah URenah typeface.
Divisional title pages with illustrated frames for Tehillim and techinot.
Fine copy in original leather binding, decorated with silver corners and fine silver clasps, marked by the maker.
[1], 184; 59, 61-165; 128; 129-144 leaves. 18 cm. Decorated gilt edges. Good condition. Stains. Many stains from browning to some leaves. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Minute worming. Embossed stamps. Gilt edges, with engraved ornamentation. Original leather binding, with silver clasps and corners. Light damage to binding. Spine repaired.
Recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based only on a photocopy of the title page.
Provenance: Taj Artת Auction 5 , September 2022, Lot 9.
Category
Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $4,750
Including buyer's premium
Year-round siddur, according to the Polish rite, with Yiddish commentary, Tehillim arranged according to the days of the week, and order of techinot. Amsterdam: Yochanan Levi Rofe and his brother-in-law Baruch, [1791].
Siddur for women, with Yiddish commentary in Tzenah URenah typeface on margins.
Divisional title pages for Tehillim and Techinot.
Elaborate copy, bound in original parchment binding, hand-illustrated in several colors, with inscribed decorations of vegetal patterns, and with a large and impressive pair of silver clasps, also decorated with vegetal patterns.
[1], 243; 105; 144 leaves. 18.5 cm. Decorated gilt edges. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Wear and signs of heavy use to margins of several leaves. Tears to several leaves, partially repaired with tape, some over text. Original colorful parchment binding. Damage and wear to binding. Tear across sides of spine and front of binding (spine somewhat detached).
Not documented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book.
Category
Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $1,200
Estimate: $1,800 - $2,500
Sold for: $1,500
Including buyer's premium
Chesed LeAvraham – Kavanot HaAri siddur, weekday, Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh prayers, from the writings of the Arizal. Mantua: Eliezer Shlomo of Italy, [1783].
Fine copy, printed on thin, high-quality paper.
Siddur with commentary, practices and detailed kavanot, compiled by the kabbalist R. Avraham Tubiana of Algiers, based on the writings of the Arizal and his disciples.
Apart from the prayers, the book includes: HaShulchan HaTahor (order of meal with Birkat HaMazon), Tikun Ot HaBrit (bedtime reading of Shema), Kol Bochim (Tikun Chatzot), Tikun HaYom (with Pidyon Nefesh, Mishpat Mavet, Seder Levayah and Birkat Nisuin); Tikun for plague; and more.
[1], 140 leaves. Approx. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears and open tears to several leaves. Minute worming to several leaves, slightly affecting text. Rubbing to erase stamp on title page. New binding.
Category
Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $1,500
Estimate: $2,000 - $2,500
Sold for: $3,250
Including buyer's premium
Korban Aharon machzor (Polish rite), Part I, for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with Mateh Levi and Beit Levi commentaries by R. Aharon HaLevi, author of Nehora siddur. Zhitomir: grandsons of the rabbi of Slavita, R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapiro, 1860.
Some words on title page printed in red ink.
320 pages. 27 cm. Most leaves in good condition, last leaves in fair condition. Stains. Light wear. Tears, including small marginal open tears to several leaves. Marginal tears to last two leaves, including open tears affecting text on last leaf, repaired with tape. Worming to title page and several other leaves, minutely affecting text. New binding.
Category
Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue
Auction 99 Part 2 Rare and Important Items
Nov 5, 2024
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $2,500
Including buyer's premium
Shaarei Shamayim siddur, "containing year-round prayers, according to the Ashkenazi rite, edited based on the siddur of R. Wolf Heidenheim, for the benefit of travelers", by Mordechai Adelman. Jerusalem: Y. Gościnny, 1884.
Miniature in a fine decorated leather and olive wood binding, with colorful decorations on the binding, and a dedication in decorated calligraphy to Sir Moses Montefiore, on the occasion of his hundredth birthday on 8th Cheshvan (October) 1884.
Copy of Sir Moses Montefiore, with original decorated and illustrated binding, made of wooden boards and a leather spine. On the front of the binding appears an illustration of a colorful symbol with a lion and a unicorn (the coat of arms of the United Kingdom), next to the inscription: "Jerusalem, 8th Cheshvan 1885". Below it is a poem bearing the acrostic of the name "Montefiore", praising his deeds and generosity. A dedication appears on the back binding, next to a (mounted) colorful illustration of flowers: "A gift sent by me, Chaim Michel, son-in-law of R. Michel HaKohen, 8th Cheshvan 1884, birthday of Sir Moses Montefiore".
Another handwritten dedication appears on the front endpaper, next to the title page: "A gift sent by me, Chaim Michel, son-in-law of R. Michel HaKohen, scribe of the Torah school".
R. Chaim Michel Michlin (1867-1939), Torah scholar and a famous activist who developed Jerusalem; served as secretary of Etz Chaim yeshiva and Bikur Cholim hospital for an extended period of time, along with his father-in-law R. Michel HaKohen, and was personal secretary of rabbis of Jerusalem – R. Moshe Nechemiah Kahanov and R. Shmuel Salant. In 1893 a rift developed between his father-in-law and rabbis of the Ashkenazi community, and both he and his father-in-law were dismissed from their positions. He then began to serve as secretary of Rishon LeTzion R. Yaakov Shaul Elyashar, as member and manager of the Sephardi Community Council and as chief secretary of the Misgav LaDach hospital which was founded at that time by his father-in-law.
[1], 144 leaves. 7 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Tears, including marginal open tears to several leaves, slightly affecting text of last leaf. Original binding, made of wooden boards and leather spine. Damage to binding and spine. Front side of binding and spine mostly detached. Placed in original case, fabric-coated cardboard.
Rare edition, not documented by Sh. Halevy.
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Siddurim and Prayer Books
Catalogue