Auction 27 - Books, Manuscripts and Rabbinical Letters
Knesset HaGedolah, Yoreh De’ah – Glosses and Signatures
Opening: $600
Sold for: $2,125
Including buyer's premium
Rabbi Yitzchak Frances, Signature Rabbi Chaim Nissim Abulafia
Sefer Knesset HaGedolah, Yoreh De’ah, by Rabbi Chaim Benvenisti. Constantinople, [1711]. First edition.
Title page of book contains ownership signature: “Acquisition for worship of my Creator, 1723, I, Yitzchak son of Rabbi Moshe Frances”. Many glosses in his handwriting upon title page, inner leaves of binding and sheets of book, some of which are signed in initials “Amitz” [=Amar [said] Yitzchak]. On leaf preceding title page copy of response pertaining to law of cheese production, sent by Rabbi Shlomo Amarelyev to Larissa. Leaf of back binding contains response by Rabbi Yitzchak Frances, signed “in my humble opinion it appears, Yitzchak, 15 Sivan, 1733”.
More recent ownership notations: “I was granted this…” [apparently, Rabbi Chaim Nissim Abulafia, 1774-1861, among greatest Torah scholars of Tiberias, Jerusalem and Eretz Yisrael. From 1855 served as chief rabbi of Jerusalem]. Ownership notation “in honor of prominent philanthropist… Meir Lisbona”.
Rabbi Yitzchak Frances, among scholars of Thessaloniki, served as chief rabbi in city of Larissa. Passed away before 1743 and in his well-known book “Pnei Yitzchak”, printed in Thessaloniki in 1743 he is referred to by term used for deceased “of blessed memory”. Approximately one hundred years preceding him, there was another Torah scholar in Thessaloniki by the name of Rabbi Yitzchak Frances who passed away in 1655 or 1672 who was a disciple of Rabbi Yitzchak Barki and of Rabbi Chaim Shabtai.
In the book Sha’arei Knesset HaGedolah (Jerusalem, 2006), glosses of Rabbi “Yitzchak son of Rabbi Moshe Frances” were printed from the manuscript in “Knesset HaGedolah” Choshen Mishpat (which were printed upon sheets of 1658 Izmir edition, a copy obtained from the estate of Rabbi Eliyahu Shlomo Kaviya Zitoni Av Beit Din of Beirut). In article by editors, they tend to ascribe the glosses to the senior Rabbi Yitzchak Frances [see attached material], however according to this book (printed in 1711), and the date accompanying the signature, it has been ascertained that Rabbi Yitzchak son of Moshe Frances is the second Rabbi Yitzchak Frances Av Beit Din of Larissa author of “Pnei Yitzchak” who lived in the first half of the 18th century.
[2], 206 leaves. 40.5 cm. Wide margins, fair condition, extensive wear and moth damage, majority of glosses complete. Antique leather binding, worn and damaged.
Sefer Knesset HaGedolah, Yoreh De’ah, by Rabbi Chaim Benvenisti. Constantinople, [1711]. First edition.
Title page of book contains ownership signature: “Acquisition for worship of my Creator, 1723, I, Yitzchak son of Rabbi Moshe Frances”. Many glosses in his handwriting upon title page, inner leaves of binding and sheets of book, some of which are signed in initials “Amitz” [=Amar [said] Yitzchak]. On leaf preceding title page copy of response pertaining to law of cheese production, sent by Rabbi Shlomo Amarelyev to Larissa. Leaf of back binding contains response by Rabbi Yitzchak Frances, signed “in my humble opinion it appears, Yitzchak, 15 Sivan, 1733”.
More recent ownership notations: “I was granted this…” [apparently, Rabbi Chaim Nissim Abulafia, 1774-1861, among greatest Torah scholars of Tiberias, Jerusalem and Eretz Yisrael. From 1855 served as chief rabbi of Jerusalem]. Ownership notation “in honor of prominent philanthropist… Meir Lisbona”.
Rabbi Yitzchak Frances, among scholars of Thessaloniki, served as chief rabbi in city of Larissa. Passed away before 1743 and in his well-known book “Pnei Yitzchak”, printed in Thessaloniki in 1743 he is referred to by term used for deceased “of blessed memory”. Approximately one hundred years preceding him, there was another Torah scholar in Thessaloniki by the name of Rabbi Yitzchak Frances who passed away in 1655 or 1672 who was a disciple of Rabbi Yitzchak Barki and of Rabbi Chaim Shabtai.
In the book Sha’arei Knesset HaGedolah (Jerusalem, 2006), glosses of Rabbi “Yitzchak son of Rabbi Moshe Frances” were printed from the manuscript in “Knesset HaGedolah” Choshen Mishpat (which were printed upon sheets of 1658 Izmir edition, a copy obtained from the estate of Rabbi Eliyahu Shlomo Kaviya Zitoni Av Beit Din of Beirut). In article by editors, they tend to ascribe the glosses to the senior Rabbi Yitzchak Frances [see attached material], however according to this book (printed in 1711), and the date accompanying the signature, it has been ascertained that Rabbi Yitzchak son of Moshe Frances is the second Rabbi Yitzchak Frances Av Beit Din of Larissa author of “Pnei Yitzchak” who lived in the first half of the 18th century.
[2], 206 leaves. 40.5 cm. Wide margins, fair condition, extensive wear and moth damage, majority of glosses complete. Antique leather binding, worn and damaged.
Glosses
Glosses