Auction 93 Part 2 - Ancient Books, Chassidic and Kabbalistic Books, Manuscripts and Letters
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Book of Haftarot, on parchment scroll. [Poland, 18th/19th century].
Ink on parchment. Square Ashkenazic script, vocalized, with cantillation marks.
48 cm. Overall good condition. Stains (yellow paint stains to first membrane). Some wear. Tears in several places. Two membranes almost separated. Other loose membranes.
Book of Haftarot, on parchment scroll. [Northern Italy? 19th century].
Ink on parchment. Italian Ashkenazi script, vocalized, with cantillation marks. Wound on two wooden rollers.
34 cm. Fair-good condition. Many dark stains, tears and defects, slightly affecting text in several places
Esther scroll. [Tunis, ca. 19th century].
Ink on gevil. Sephardic script. 27 lines per column.
21.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, creases and wear. Tears to first membrane, affecting text. Ink fading in several places. Late corrections in several places.
This Mikraot Gedolot edition, edited by Yaakov son of Chaim ibn Adoniyahu, and printed by Bomberg, is considered one of the most important editions of the Bible. It is renowned for its accuracy and beauty, and served as prototype and standard text for all following editions. This edition is also unique for its Masorah (Masorah Gedolah and Masorah Ketanah). Yaakov son of Chaim, who initiated this edition and prepared it for print, established the text of the Masorah based on various manuscripts, with the addition of his glosses to the Masorah and a general foreword which he authored. The present edition is in fact the first edition in which the Masorah is printed alongside the text of the Bible, and it became one of the most important sources for the text of the Masorah for future generations.
Colophon at the end of Divrei HaYamim: "Completed on 24th Tishrei 1525, in the press of Daniel Bomberg, here in Venice…".
This edition includes, apart from the Masorah Gedolah and Masorah Ketanah, Targum and the commentary of Rashi: the commentary of Ibn Ezra to most of the Bible, the commentary of Radak (to Neviim), the commentary of Ralbag (Neviim Rishonim, Mishlei and Iyov) and the commentary of R. Saadiah Gaon (to Daniel). The commentaries to Mishlei, Iyov and Ezra-Nechamia printed under the name of Ibn Ezra were actually authored by R. Moshe Kimchi.
At the end of the fourth volume, the Final Masorah was printed, along with lists of variants between Ben-Asher and Ben-Naftali and between the Western and the Eastern traditions (lacking final two leaves; the present set includes an additional volume containing another copy of the Masorah – also lacking several leaves).
Yaakov son of Chaim ibn Adoniyahu was born in Tunis and fled to Italy due to persecutions. He settled in Venice, where he became a proofreader in Bomberg's press, and took part in several of his prominent printing enterprises, including the present Mikraot Gedolot, the Jerusalem Talmud, and more. At some point, he converted to Christianity. In his book Masoret HaMasoret (second preface), R. Eliyahu Bachur praises the beauty and superiority of the Mikraot Gedolot edited by Yaakov son of Chaim, while at the same time condemning his conversion and criticizing the errors which crept into his work.
In the lengthy foreword at the beginning of the first volume, Yaakov son of Chaim recounts his life story, describing his peaceful years studying in Tunis, and the tribulations he underwent before reaching Venice, where he was approached by Bomberg who employed him to proofread the books he was printing.
Inscriptions and signatures in several places. On the title page of vol. I: "Ours, Binyamin and Shmuel son of R. Shmuel Tzadik, 1670"; on the title page of vol. II: "Belongs to the renowned R. Hertz Neimark…". Inscription on the verso of the title page of vol. III. Several glosses in vol. I. Glosses in neat Sephardic script in vol. III.
Censor's signatures at the end of the Torah vol. and at the end of the Five Megillot (copy bound after Divrei HaYamim). Words deleted with ink or scraped off (for censorship purposes) in several places.
Four volumes: Torah: [234] leaves. Neviim Rishonim: [209] leaves. Without final blank leaf. Neviim Acharonim: [211] leaves. Without final blank leaf. Ketuvim (with Masorah): [337] leaves. Lacking final two leaves of Masorah, with variants and Shaar HaNeginot. Without blank leaf following Divrei HaYamim (leaf [232]). Another copy of of Five Megillot – [42] leaves – bound after Divrei HaYamim.
Approx. 37-42 cm (Neviim Rishonim vol. larger than other volumes). Condition varies, fair to fair-good. Stains, including dark dampstains (many dampstains to vols. II and IV), and traces of past dampness to several leaves. Wear (primarily to vol. II). Worming, affecting text, repaired with paper. Many tears in various places, including large open tears, affecting text, repaired with paper (several leaves with handwritten text replacement). Damage to title pages (worming, closed and open tears, some large, affecting text and borders), repaired with paper; paper on verso of some title pages, for reinforcement. Several leaves possibly supplied from other copies. Leaves trimmed with damage to text in several places. New leather bindings.
Reference: M. Goshen-Gottstein's introduction to Biblia Rabbinica, a reprint of the 1525 Venice edition edited by Jacob ben Hayim ibn Adoniya, Jerusalem, 1972, I, pp. 7-8; J. Penkower, Jacob ben Hayyim and the rise of the Biblia Rabbinica, Jerusalem 1982.
Habermann, The Printer Daniel Bomberg, no. 93.
Torah and Neviim Acharonim. Venice: Cornelio Adelkind for Marco Antonio Justinian, [1551-1552]. Pocket format.
Two volumes from a Bible edition printed in 1551-1552 by Justinian. The first volume comprises the books of Bamidbar, Devarim and Five Megillot. The second volume includes most of Neviim Acharonim; leaves lacking in several places.
Two volumes. Vol. I (Bamidbar, Devarim and Five Megillot): [262] leaves. Without Bereshit-Vayikra. Vol. II (Neviim Acharonim): [440] leaves. Lacking 16 leaves: [5] leaves at beginning of Yeshayahu, [8] leaves from Yirmiyahu (gathering 149), [1] blank leaf after Yechezkel, and [2] leaves from Malachi. 10.5 cm. Condition varies, vol. I in good-fair condition, vol. II in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Worming. Significant worming to some leaves of vol. II, with extensive damage to text. Tears, including open tears. Vol. I with early parchment binding, damaged, mostly detached. Early bookplate. Vol. II with early leather binding, damaged (lacking most of spine).
Rare Bible edition.
This copy includes gathering 72 in vol. I (lacking in the copy listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book and in the NLI copy).
Derech HaKodesh – Hoc est Via Sancta... sive Biblia Sacra eleganti et maiuscula characterum forma; Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim, arranged by Elias Hutter. Hamburg: Iohannem Saxonem [Johann Saxo], 1587. One of the first Hebrew books printed in Hamburg.
This Hebrew Bible, known as Hutter's Hebrew Bible, was prepared by the Hebraist Elias Hutter, professor of Hebrew at the Leipzig University. Hutter aspired to produce a Bible which would be easy to read, and would facilitate the study of Hebrew. He therefore printed it using two different types – the root letters were printed in regular, thick type, whilst the inflectional letters were printed in hollow type. The root letters which do not appear in the word were completed above it in small type.
The editor's foreword in Latin is featured at the beginning of the book, including two tables of Hebrew grammar, with explanations in Latin; and the first thirteen verses of Bereshit, translated to German, Greek and Latin (in some copies, this page comprises different text – a verse from Psalm 117 in 30 languages).
[6] leaves, 1135, [1], 1141-1572 pages. Mispagination. 36 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Minor worming. Marginal open tears to title page and other leaves, repaired with paper. Handwritten inscriptions in body of text. New leather binding, with defects.
Enclosed (separate booklet):
Cubus Alphabeticus Sanctae Ebraeae Linguae – Latin work on Hebrew grammar, with many tables, by Elias Hutter and David Wolder. Hamburg, 1588. This work was printed and bound with the Bible in some copies, occasionally with another Latin work on grammar.
Neviim Acharonim – Yeshayah, Yirmiyah and Trei Asar. Geneva: Kafa [Cephas] Elon, 1617. Pocket edition.
Neviim Acharonim, with vocalization and cantillation marks, from a pocket Bible edition printed by Kafa Elon in 1617-1618.
One volume. [460] leaves (including [4] blank leaves between books). Approx. 11 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear. Open tear to title page of Yeshayah. Many marginal handwritten inscriptions. Early leather binding, with defects and tear to spine.
Tehillim with multifaceted (Pardes) commentary, by the kabbalist R. Immanuel Chai Ricchi, author of Mishnat Chassidim. Livorno: Abraham Meldola, [1742-1743]. First edition.
In the course of the printing of this book, the author was murdered in sanctification of G-d's Name. On the title page, he is referred to as among the living, however, at the end of the book, the author's son tells of his murder.
Signature and stamps (in Cyrillic characters) on title page.
138, [2] leaves. 31.5 cm. Condition varies. Most leaves in good-fair condition, final leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Marginal open tears to some 15 leaves. Large open tears to lower part of four final leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper (with photocopy replacement of text). Minor worming, affecting text. New binding.
Collection of Chumashim shel Ne'arim booklets – Torah portion with Onkelos, Rashi and Haftarot. Klausenburg (Cluj): Weinstein & Friedmann, 1926. 41 of 54 booklets.
Booklets with the Torah portion, intended for youth – one Torah portion per booklet.
Stamp on some booklets of the Medias, Samuel Löwy bookstore.
These booklets are rare today. The present collection comprises almost the entire series – 41 booklets of the 54 printed (see Hebrew description for list of Parashiot included in the collection).
Lacking Parashiot: Bereshit, Lech Lecha, Vayera, Chayei Sara, Toldot, Shemot, Terumah, Vayikra, Tzav, Tazria, Bamidbar, Devarim and VeZot HaBerachah.
41 booklets. Approx. 22 cm. Overall good-fair condition. The booklets were not thoroughly examined, and are being sold as is.
Vaera, Yitro, Pinchas and Matot are lacking in the National Library.
The Kennicott Bible. Elaborate facsimile published by Facsimile Editions. Including a commentary volume. London, [1985]. AP (Ad Personam) copy, out of 50 AP copies identical to the regular copies (altogether 550 copies were produced).
A facsimile of the Kennicott Bible, illuminated Spanish manuscript from 1476. The manuscript was commissioned by Don Solomon de Braga, about twenty years before the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. It was designed and written by Moses ibn Zabara and illuminated by Yosef ibn Haim, in a fashion inspired by Islamic art. The manuscript contains the complete Bible, with the Radak commentary and Sefer HaMichlol.
An exceptionally beautiful facsimile, which was published after five and a half years of preparation. Printed on paper of excellent quality, specially created to reproduce the appearance of the parchment upon which the original Bible was written. The gilding was done by hand, by seven artists who worked continuously for four months. Bound in an ornamented leather box-binding.
Facsimile: [444] leaves. 30 cm. Gilt edges. Commentary volume: 97 pages. Good condition. Facsimile and commentary vol. slipcased. Stains and minor defects to slipcase.
Roman-rite machzor, with the Kimcha DeAvishona commentary. Two parts, year-round prayers for weekdays, Shabbat and festivals, with laws and Haftarot. Bologna: [Menachem son of Abraham of Modena, Yechiel son of Solomon of Ravenna and Dan Aryeh son of Solomon Chaim of Monselice, 1540]. Two volumes.
One of the most prominent machzorim printed in Italy. Only edition of Kimcha DeAvishona, comprehensive commentary to prayers and piyyutim, by R. Yochanan son of R. Yosef Treves (the commentary was published anonymously).
The second volume contains many dozens of handwritten glosses, by several Italian Torah scholars (some identified, see below). The glosses comprise commentaries, kabbalistic kavanot, customs, tikkunim and textual variations.
Glosses by R. Eliyahu Aharon Lattes (d. 1839), rabbi in Turin and Venice; gloss signed Y.Ch.C. – presumably R. Yisrael Chaim Carpi, rabbi in Conegliano, authored Meorot Natan in 1769; several glosses signed A.Sh.L.F – R. Avraham Shimshon Levi Fubini, a Turin Torah scholar, his responsa were published in Pachad Yitzchak and Responsa Shemesh Tzedakah.
Inscription on title page and final page of vol. II.
On the verso of the title page, instructions and prayers for Shabbat and the High Holidays, following the rite of the Ferrara community.
Detailed birth records on the front endpaper, from 1815-1883, mentioning various family members of the writer. Death records from the same family from 1841-1858.
Ownership inscription in French at the end of the first volume: "Israel Malvano". There was a R. Yisrael Malvano who disseminated Torah at the end of the 18th century in Carmagnola (Piedmont).
Vol. I: [185] leaves. Lacking [12] leaves at beginning (partially replaced in handwriting) and leaves [16, 28-29]; Vol. II: [189] leaves. 27-28 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Tears, open tears and defects, affecting text, repaired in part with paper (handwritten text replacement in a few places). Leaves of vol. II trimmed close to text in several places, with damage to text and some glosses. Inscriptions. Censorship expurgations. Old bindings, damaged.
Roman-rite machzor, with the Kimcha DeAvishona commentary. Prayers and piyyutim for weekdays, Shabbat and festivals. Including: Passover Haggadah, Tractate Avot with the commentaries of the Rambam and "the leading physician Rabbenu Ovadia of Sforno". Bologna: [Menachem son of Abraham of Modena, Yechiel son of Solomon of Ravenna and Dan Aryeh son of Solomon Chaim of Monselice], [1540]. Two parts in two volumes. First edition of the commentary of R. Ovadia Sforno to Tractate Avot, printed in his lifetime.
One of the most prominent machzorim printed in Italy. First edition of Kimcha DeAvishona, comprehensive commentary to prayers and piyyutim, by R. Yochanan son of R. Yosef Treves (the commentary was published anonymously).
Both volumes contain hundreds of handwritten glosses in cursive Italian script (some trimmed). In several places, the writer mentions his city – Pesaro. The glosses include commentaries and objections, textual corrections, laws and customs.
One gloss quotes R. Binyamin Vitali Kohen – the Rabach (referred to as amongst the living).
The writer quotes in one place the work Maccabi by R. Yaakov Yisrael Finzi of Recanati, a work which remained in manuscript form until this day.
On the verso of the title page of vol. I, inscription in Italian from the leaders of the Somech Noflim society in Pesaro, dated December 1726.
Five handwritten leaves (in various scripts) bound at the end of part II, with additional texts.
The second volume includes one gathering of eight leaves (gathering 9) printed on parchment (some copies were entirely printed on parchment). Printed leaves pasted over parchment at beginning and end of gathering.
Censorship signatures at the end of vol. II, and censorship expurgations (with open tears in some places due to ink erosion).
Two parts in two volumes. Vol. I: [199] leaves. Lacking one leaf in middle (first leaf of second gathering). Vol. II: [189] leaves. 37.5 cm. Overall fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of past dampness. Wear. Extensive worming, affecting text. Tears, including open tears, affecting text, repaired with paper (with handwritten text replacement in several places). Marginal paper repairs to some leaves. Leaves trimmed with damage to edges of engraved title pages, and with slight damage to text in several places. Early leather bindings, damaged, with worming and tears.
Less than twenty Hebrew books were ever printed in Bologna. This machzor was one of the last books printed there.
Provenance: Estate of Prof. Ephraim Elimelech Urbach.