Auction 27 - Books, Manuscripts and Rabbinical Letters

Seder Olam Raba / Seder Olam Zuta / Megillat Ta'anit / Sefer HaKabbalah – Mantua, 1513

Opening: $7,500
Unsold
Complete copy. Printed without title page. On last leaf of colophon: "Completed Sefer HaKabbalah of the Rosh Av Beit Din of Mantua…".
This is the first printed edition of four important historiographical works: Seder Olam Raba – attributed to the Tana Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta, chronological-midrash composition on the progression of generations and events from Adam until the times of Alexander the Great;Seder Olam Zuta – Summary and completion of Seder Olam Raba with 89 generations from Adam until Mar Zutra who was executed close to the end of the fifth century; Megillat Ta'anit – early work which contains a list of 36 yamim tovim during the year when it is prohibited to fast due to good events that took place on these days. The book is composed of two parts, “Mishna” and “Gemara”. The “Mishna” is written in Aramaic with a short note of the event and the “Gemara” is written in Hebrew with a longer version of the event. The Aramaic part is from the time of the Second Temple and the Hebrew part is from the time of the Talmud and later; Seder HaKabbalah, by Rabbi Avraham Ibn Daoud [called the "first Ra'avad'], a Spanish scholar of the 12th century – historical chronology from the time of the Bible until his time, "A history of Rome from its construction to the beginning of the Yishmael rule"
and the "History of Jewish kings during the period of the Second Temple". This work is the source for the famous story Arba'at HaShvuyim (The Four Captives), which was the foundation for establishing the Torah center in Spain.
[Several cutoff glosses in Oriental handwriting. Written on one gloss signed "C. T. C. ": "In the Shas… and they are liable for killing… needs to be studied". Another writer added: "It should say and it does not need study].
[51] leaves. 17 cm. Fair condition. Stains, moth damage and wear. All leaves have non-professional restorations with tape. Unbound.
Early printed books – Resh and Shin Years
Early printed books – Resh and Shin Years