Auction 88 - Part II - Unique Items and Early Printed Books
Neviim Acharonim, with the commentary of R. Yitzchak Abarbanel. [Pesaro: Gershom Soncino], 1520. First edition.
Title within a woodcut ornamented border. In some copies, the verso of the title page is blank; in this copy it features a long, 52-stanza poem composed by the author's son, in praise of his father's commentary.
This edition was printed around 12 years after the passing of the author, R. Yitzchak Abarbanel. At the end of his commentary to the book of Yeshaya, the author writes that "the beginning of this commentary was written in the island of Corfu on Rosh Chodesh Av 1495, and since this work was postponed in deference to other compositions, I completed it in Monopoli in the region of Apulia… on Rosh Chodesh Elul [1498]…".
Gershom Soncino, a leading Italian Hebrew printer, also printed Abarbanel's commentary to Neviim Rishonim, in Pesaro 1511 (see previous item).
[397] leaves. Without final blank leaf. 30.5 cm. Overall good condition. Several leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wax stains and dark stains to several leaves. Large open tears and worming to title page, with significant damage to engraved border and text on verso, repaired with paper (border completed in photocopy). Tears to several leaves, affecting text, without loss. Worming, affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Stamps of the NLI (with "removed from library" stamps). Handwritten inscriptions. Early wood and leather binding, repaired (with new leather clasps; spine and corners restored; new endpapers).
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Passover Haggadah and Pirkei Avot, from an Ashkenazi rite year-round siddur. [Italy: Soncino, ca. 1515].
[52] leaves. According to the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book (based on the British Library copy), the book originally comprised at least [288] leaves – 36 gatherings of 8 leaves each. Present gatherings lacking [3] leaves in middle, and final leaf of last gathering. Collation: xiii7 (lacking final leaf), xiv-xv8, xvi6 (lacking first two leaves), xvii-xviii8, xix7 (lacking final leaf). 14.5 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including dark dampstains and food stains. Wear. Tears, including open tears affecting text. Large open tear to one leaf (with loss of approx. half the leaf), affecting text, repaired with paper and handwritten text replacement. Worming, affecting text. New leather binding.
Exceptionally rare edition.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Terumat HaDeshen, responsa part, by R. Yisrael Isserlein. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, [1519]. First edition.
Printed and bound with: Pesakim UKetavim, by R. Yisrael Isserlein. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, [1519]. First edition.
Terumat HaDeshen, comprising 354 halachic responsa, is considered a basic halachic work, and serves as an important source on the practices of Ashkenazi Jews, repeatedly quoted by the Rema in his HaMapa on Shulchan Aruch.
Pesakim UKetavim, responsa compiled by a disciple of R. Yisrael, also contains many rulings and customs which he heard or saw from his teacher.
Both works were usually printed together, and in later editions became two parts of a single work titled Terumat HaDeshen.
On the title page of Terumat HaDeshen, signatures (partially deleted): "Mine, Avraham Rovigo" – possibly R. Avraham Rovigo (1650-1714), leading Italian kabbalist, close disciple of the Remez in Italy. After his immigration to Eretz Israel, he founded the yeshiva for kabbalists in Jerusalem and was appointed Rishon LeTzion.
Other signatures on the title page and inscriptions on final leaf and back endpaper.
Censorship deletions in several places (some of the deleted text rewritten in Italian script).
Two books in one volume. Terumat HaDeshen: [132] leaves. Pesakim UKetavim: [53] leaves. 25 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Traces of past dampness to final leaves. Marginal open tears to title page and several other leaves, repaired with paper. Worming (minutely affecting text in one place), repaired with paper. Many handwritten inscriptions on final leaves. Pen markings on index leaves of Terumat HaDeshen. Censor's signatures at end of Terumat HaDeshen. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Yalkut Shimoni, anthology of teachings of the sages, by R. Shimon HaDarshan, Part II, on Neviim and Ketuvim. [Salonika, Don Judah Gedalia, 1521]. First edition.
Part II, on Neviim and Ketuvim, was published before Part I, on the Torah (Salonika 1526-1527).
Issued without a title page.
This is the first edition of Yalkut Shimoni. The text is interspersed with numbers in Hebrew letters (known as Remazim – hints). These letters were not understood by the publishers of subsequent editions of the book, and errors occurred in their placement and order, until their true meaning was deciphered by R. Ch.Z. Finkel, who explained that the letters mark passages referred to in other places in the Yalkut.
138 [i.e. 140]; 63, [2], 64-66; 139 [i.e. 141]-236 leaves. Leaves 63, [2], 64-66 of commentary on Tehillim, bound between leaves 140-141 of Trei Asar. 28.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Traces of past dampness with mold to some 10 leaves. Tears, including tears with minor damage to text (mostly without loss), and marginal open tears to several leaves, repaired with paper. Large open tears to final leaf, affecting text, repaired with paper (leaf restored and mounted on paper for reinforcement). Minor worming. Marginal paper repairs to several leaves (a few leaves presumably supplied from a different copy). Censorship deletions. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Kabbalistic commentary on the Torah, by R. Menachem Recanati. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1523. First edition.
R. Menachem Recanati, a posek and kabbalist – one of the first Italian kabbalists in the 13th and 14th century.
The Recanati commentary on the Torah was one of the first kabbalistic book ever printed, and it contains many quotations from the Zohar (which was first printed only in 1558).
This is the second book proofread by the famous proofreader Yaakov son of Chaim ibn Adoniyahu (the first being Tzror HaMor, see next item).
Early ownership inscription in Ashkenazic script on title page.
[154] leaves. Originally: [156] leaves. Without blank leaves (leaf [116] and final leaf). 24.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of past dampness. Large open tear to title page, affecting text on verso, repaired with paper. Tears, including open tears affecting text, repaired with paper. Worming, affecting text. Significant worming to approx. 12 leaves in middle of book, with extensive damage to text, repaired with paper. Censor's inscriptions and stamps on final leaf. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Tzror HaMor, commentary on the Torah, following the peshat and kabbalistic approaches, by R. Avraham Saba, a Spanish exile. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1522-1523. First edition.
The author, R. Avraham Saba (1440-1509), rabbi, preacher and kabbalist at the time of the Spanish expulsion. A disciple of R. Yitzchak de Leon. After the expulsion, he fled to Portugal, and later to Fez, leaving his manuscripts behind. He eventually reached Adrianople, where he rewrote his works. He passed away on a ship on his way to Italy, and was buried in Verona.
This book is the first dated book proofread by the famous proofreader Yaakov son of Chaim ibn Adoniyahu.
Ownership inscriptions on title page. Glosses in Italian script.
[171] leaves. 29.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Minor wear. Worming, affecting text. Open tears to title page, not affecting text (title page mounted on thick paper for reinforcement). Two leaves towards end of book (leaves [164-165]) with extensive worming affecting text, and large marginal open tears (not affecting text), repaired with paper (these leaves were presumably supplied from a different copy). Wax seal on title page. Censorship deletions, with some words scraped off (some words replaced in handwriting). Censor's signatures on final leaf. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Sefer HaTerumah, halachic rulings on various topics, by R. Baruch son of R. Yitzchak of France. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1523. First edition.
Sefer HaTerumah is one of the prominent halachic works composed in the times of the Tosafists.
Ownership inscriptions on the title page.
Several inscriptions in Sephardic script.
[139] leaves. Without blank leaf at end of book. Approx. 26 cm. Condition varies. Title page and first and final leaves in fair condition, most leaves in good condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of past dampness, with mold. Tears, including large open tears to title page and second leaf, and open tears to several other leaves (including final three leaves), not affecting text, repaired with paper. Worming, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Stamps. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Meshal HaKadmoni, by R. Yitzchak ibn Sahula. Many woodcut illustrations. [Venice]: Meir son of Jacob Parenzo, [1547?].
Meshal HaKadmoni, the first illustrated Hebrew book, was first printed by Gershom Soncino in Brescia, ca. 1491; and then again in ca. 1497 (a copy of the second edition was sold in Kedem Auction 83, part I, item 16). This is the third edition of the book, printed in Venice.
The author, R. Yitzchak son of Shlomo ibn Sahula, was a philosopher, physician and kabbalist. Born in Spain in 1244, he presumably passed away in late 13th century. His composition Meshal HaKadmoni is a collection of fables, parables and poems, striving to inculcate ethics and positive attributes. Various animal fables are employed by the author as moral allegories. The composition takes the form of a dialogue between the author and his opponent, who argue over the importance and necessity of cultivating moral virtues.
The book includes many woodcuts, illustrating scenes from the parables and fables, depicting both animal and human figures. The illustrations, which originate from the author's manuscript (now lost), were copied in later manuscripts, and eventually printed by the Soncino family. The present edition features a new series of woodcut illustrations, more detailed than the illustrations found in the Soncino editions (the illustrations in the present edition were numbered, 1-79).
Inscription in Sephardic script on final leaf, with biographic details on the author, signed "HeChaviv" (possibly handwritten and signed by R. Chaim Benveniste author of Knesset HaGedolah, who would sign with this acronym). Additional inscription on this page, faded and difficult to decipher.
64 leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text and slightly affecting illustrations, mostly repaired with paper (many leaves restored). Tears, including open tears, affecting text in several places, repaired with paper. Tear across leaf 7, affecting illustration and text (without loss), repaired. Leaf 4 (and possibly other leaves) may have been supplied from a different copy. Leaves trimmed close to headings in several places. Lower margins of several leaves trimmed, with damage to catchword in one place. Stamp and inscriptions on title page. New, elegant leather binding, with gilt decorations.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Six Orders of the Mishnah, with commentary by R. Ovadia of Bartenura. Venice: Carlo Quirino, 1548-1549. First edition. Six volumes.
First edition of the renowned commentary of R. Ovadia of Bartenura to the Mishnah.
R. Ovadia Yareh of Bartenura (Bertinoro; ca. 1440 – ca. 1520), leading commentator of the Mishnah and prominent Torah scholar in his times. He served as rabbi in Italy, and later in Jerusalem, where he was held in very high esteem. He composed several works, though his magnum opus was undoubtedly his commentary to the Mishnah, which, just like Rashi on the Talmud, became the most basic and popular commentary, reprinted in thousands of editions until this day.
The present set comprises all six volumes of the first edition. The first three volumes were printed in 1548, and the last three volumes in 1549. Colophon of the publisher Meir son of Yaakov Parenzo at the end of the first two volumes. Poems in praise of the author at the end of the Kodashim volume. Most volumes mention on the title page R. Ovadia son of R. Zecharia, nephew of the author, as the one who brought the books to print.
Signature on title page of Order Mo'ed. Inscriptions on title page of Kodashim vol. and on verso of title page of Taharot vol. Marginal glosses and inscriptions in Sephardic script.
Six volumes. Zera'im: 2-73 leaves. Lacking title page (recto and verso replaced in photocopy on two separate leaves). Leaf 55 bound after leaf 58 (erroneously marked as leaf 64). Moed: 87 leaves. Nashim: 65 leaves. Lacking final leaf (replaced in photocopy). Nezikin: 3-85, [1] leaves. Lacking first two leaves (replaced in photocopy). Kodashim: 97, [1] leaves. Taharot: 126 leaves. 18.5-19.5 cm. Overall fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Many dampstains to vol. VI. Traces of past dampness with mold to vols. II and III. Wear. Tears, including open tears affecting text, repaired with paper. Large open tears to some leaves in vol. I, repaired with paper, with photocopy text replacement. Open tears to some title pages, repaired with paper, with photocopy text replacement. Worming, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Marginal paper repairs in several places. Leaves trimmed with damage to headings in several places. New (matching) leather bindings.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Arbaa Turim, by R. Yaakov son of Asher. Augsburg: [Chaim son of David Shachor], 1540-[1541]. All parts in one volume.
The title page bears no decorations, but the first page of text of the Orach Chaim part (leaf 7 of first sequence, after table of contents), is set in an ornate woodcut border (by Hans Holbein the younger), depicting the creation of the world and of Adam, David and Solomon, and more.
The present edition includes glosses and textual corrections by R. Avraham son of R. Avigdor, rabbi of Prague.
Signatures on the title page, on leaf with engraved border, and on p. 33a of Even HaEzer.
On the title page, the printer praises this edition for its accuracy.
On the verso of the final leaf of Even HaEzer, lengthy handwritten inscription, documenting the French invasion of Germany in 1688-1689, during the Nine Years' War, and the destruction of towns, Jewish communities and synagogues. An additional inscription records the fire which broke out that year in Prague – see Hebrew sidebar. A later inscription on the same leaf, dated 1770, describes the inflation which occurred that year in several German states.
84; 70; 2, 44; 112 leaves. 29.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains, including significant dampstains to many leaves. Wear. Tears, affecting text, repaired with paper. Open tears, including tears to title page and leaf with woodcut border, affecting border, repaired with paper. Worming, affecting text, repaired with paper. Some 10 leaves from Even HaEzer supplied from a different copy (with marginal open tears and worming, repaired with paper). Inscriptions. New leather binding.
Without final [2] leaf index, lacking in most copies.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Tur with Beit Yosef, four parts in four volumes: Orach Chaim, Yoreh De'ah, Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat – first editions of Beit Yosef, printed in the lifetime of the author R. Yosef Karo:
• Tur Orach Chaim, with Beit Yosef. Venice: Marco Antonio Giustiniani, 1550.
Ownership inscriptions on title page and on final leave.
Endpaper (original?) enclosed, with inscription from 1767.
Censors' signatures (including signature of Dominico Irosolimitano).
24, 459, [1] leaves. 34.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains (several leaves with many stains). Wear. Large marginal open tears to title page (slightly affecting border), and open tears to several other leaves, repaired with paper. Minor worming, slightly affecting text. Two index leaves at beginning of book with smaller margins (remargined for conformity; leaves possibly supplied from a different copy). New leather binding.
• Tur Yoreh De'ah, with Beit Yosef. Venice: Alvise Bragadin, 1551.
Inscription on title page. Several glosses in Italian script. Many late penciled glosses and markings. Censorship deletions. Censor's signatures on final leaf.
[30], 398 leaves. 33.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, including dampstains (dark stains to final leaves). Worming to several leaves, slightly affecting text. Minor worming to title page, not affecting text (with paper repairs on verso). Minor abrasions. Censorship deletions (entire lines deleted on several leaves of tractate Avoda Zara). New leather binding.
• Tur Even HaEzer, with Beit Yosef. Sabbioneta: Tobias Foa, 1553.
Colophon on p. 232b: "The third Tur was completed… Friday, 4th Tammuz 1553, by… Cornelio Adelkind… in the press of R. Tobias Foa…".
232 leaves. 33.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of past dampness (with minor mold stains). Minor wear and marginal tears to title page and other leaves at beginning and end, repaired with paper. Minor marginal worming to some leaves, not affecting text. New leather binding (different from rest of set).
The copies of this edition vary in the typography of leaf 74. The present copy comprises 57 lines on both recto and verso. (see: I. Sonne, Kiryat Sefer, VII, 1930, p. 484, no. 4).
• Tur Choshen Mishpat, with Beit Yosef. Sabbioneta: Tobias Foa, 1559.
Ownership inscriptions on both sides of title page (some faded).
Brief glosses in several places.
332 leaves. 38 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and large, dark stains. Minor worming to title page and other leaves, slightly affecting text in some places. Tears to several leaves, with some damage to text, repaired with paper. Minor defects to title page. Marginal paper repairs to several leaves. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Shulchan Aruch, complete set of all four parts, Orach Chaim, Yoreh De'ah, Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat, by R. Yosef Karo. Venice: [Alvise Bragadin], 1564-1565. First edition of all four parts, printed in the author's lifetime. Four volumes.
This is the first and complete edition of all four parts of Shulchan Aruch – the most basic halachic work of all times, and the founding pillar of Jewish life.
Shulchan Aruch by R. Yosef Karo was accepted throughout the Jewish world as a basic work on halachic ruling. After completing the Beit Yosef on the Tur, R. Yosef Karo set out to author a more concise halachic work, containing only the conclusions reached in the Beit Yosef. Composed with great diligence over the course of three and a half years, the four parts were completed between Elul 1555 and Adar I 1558. Over the years, the Shulchan Aruch became the classic code of Jewish Law, and most subsequent halachic works were based on it. Immediately after its publication, the Shulchan Aruch rapidly became widespread, reaching Ashkenazi countries as well. R. Moshe Isserles, the Rema, hurried to compose HaMapah – glosses to the Shulchan Aruch noting where the rulings and customs of the Ashkenazim differ.
Four volumes. Vol. I (Orach Chaim): 136, [10] leaves. Vol. II (Yoreh De'ah): 131, [1] leaves. Leaves 45-48 (law of interest) bound out of sequence. Vol. III (Even HaEzer): 79 leaves. Vol. IV (Choshen Mishpat): 165, [1] leaves.
Vol. I: 23 cm. Condition varies, fair to good. Stains, including dampstains and minor wax stains (many dark stains to leaves 65-66). Worming to some leaves, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Extensive worming to title page and five following leaves, with significant damage to text, including text and printer's device on title page, repaired with paper (with photocopy and handwritten text replacement). Large, marginal open tears to first 40 leaves, repaired with paper (professionally restored). Some censorship deletions on p. 118b.
Vol. II: 24 cm. Fair to good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Some leaves with many stains (dark marginal ink stains to leaf 112). Worming, mostly marginal, affecting text in some cases, repaired with paper. Tears. Large marginal open tears to first five leaves, and in several other places (including leaves 30-31, 38-39, and final leaf), repaired with paper.
Vol. III: 24.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, chiefly marginal, affecting text in several places (leaves 40-46; minor damage on other leaves), mostly repaired with paper. Minor tear to title page, without loss or damage to text. Censorship deletions on leaf 3.
Vol. IV: 24.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains; some leaves with many stains. Extensive worming, affecting text in some cases (including text of title page), mostly repaired with paper (worming mostly marginal). Tear to leaf 84, slightly affecting text, without loss. Marginal open tears to some leaves, repaired with paper. Censorship deletion on leaf 8.
Inscriptions and signatures – Orach Chaim part – inscription at end of book dated 1626. Yoreh De'ah part – gloss in Sephardic script (trimmed); list of names and inscription in Ladino on final leaf. Choshen Mishpat part – ownership inscriptions on title page and following leaf; glosses in tiny Italian script at beginning of section 1 – copying of glosses of the Rema.
Fine, new uniform leather bindings.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.