Lot 7
Tractate Sotah – Venice, 1520 – First Talmud Edition Printed by Daniel Bomberg
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sotah – with Rashi and Tosafot, Piskei Tosafot and the Rambam's commentary on Mishnayot. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1520. First edition.
Volume from the first Talmud edition printed by Daniel Bomberg in Venice. This famous edition (The Venice Talmud), the first to comprise the entire Babylonian Talmud, served as prototype for all future Talmud editions. It established the text of the Talmud, the page layout and foliation used until this day.
Diagram illustrating Rashi's commentary on folio 43a. This is the only printed diagram in Bomberg's Talmud edition. In all other instances where there were supposed to be diagrams and illustrations, Bomberg left an empty space for the drawing to be added after printing.
"Registro" table on final page, listing the gatherings and opening text of each sheet (to facilitate bookbinding).
Complete copy, including title page. 53 leaves (final leaf numbered 54). 6 gatherings of 8 leaves each, seventh gathering – 5 leaves. 35 cm. Good condition. Stains, including large dampstains (ink stains to front endpaper, first leaf and final leaf). Worming to all leaves, affecting text, repaired in part with tape. Wear and several tears, repaired in part with paper. Glosses in early Oriental script (sources and corrections). Stamps (deleted) and ownership inscriptions. New binding.
