Auction 69 - Part I -Rare and Important Items
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Shenei Luchot HaBrit contains many halachic novellae, Kabbalistic principles, homily and ethics, and incorporates all realms of the Torah. The book was received with awe throughout the Jewish world, and its teachings are quoted in the books of leading poskim and kabbalists. Many renowned Chassidic leaders were extremely attached to the study of the books of the Shelah.
The Bach – R. Yoel Sirkis, notably acclaimed the author and his works in his approbation to the Shaar HaShamayim siddur: "R. Yeshaya HaLevi… he left behind blessing in his holy compositions, and upon seeing or reading them, we sensed the outpouring of holiness in all our limbs, and this is the sign that his works were composed for the sake of heaven, to elevate future generations…". The Tosafot Yom Tov in his approbation to the siddur writes: "He is a holy, awe-inspiring man… no doubt he was invested with a heavenly spirit".
The book Vavei HaAmudim is printed on the final 44 leaves, with a separate title page.
Several handwritten glosses.
Two volumes. Vol. I: [2], 263 leaves. Vol. II: 264-421, [1]; 44 leaves. Leaves 325-328 bound upside-down. 28.5-29 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Dark stains to some leaves of vol. I. Worming to many leaves in both volumes, affecting text, professionally restored with paper. Significant worming to Vavei HaAmudim part, affecting text of divisional title page and other leaves. Damage and tears in other places, repaired. New leather bindings.
![Igeret Baalei Chaim, fable about animals and people, by R. Kalonymus son of Kalonymus. Mantua: Venturino Ruffinelli, [1557].](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale69a-public/95.jpg "Igeret Baalei Chaim – Mantua, 1557 – First Edition")
The book is comprised of five parts, and recounts a fable regarding animals, men, kings and evil spirits, interwoven with ethics and words of wisdom. As R. Kalonymus son of Kalonymus wrote in his foreword to the book, this composition is part of a lengthy literary work in Arabic, which he translated, adapted and edited.
R. Kalonymus son of Kalonymus, a 14th century Jewish French-Italian scholar, a scion of the prominent Kalonymus family. In the framework of his literary work, he translated books of ethics, philosophy and medical literature from Arabic to Hebrew. His renowned book of ethics, Even Bochan, was widely distributed in numerous editions.
A poem composed by R. Avraham ibn Ezra (forming an acrostic of his name), "containing all the topics of this pleasing book", is printed at the end of the book, based on the Arabic original. This poem was omitted from all subsequent editions (apart from the Jerusalem 1949 edition).
This composition was reprinted over the years in many editions, including Yiddish translations.
Initial words and letters within fine woodcut frames.
The name of the printer is mentioned on the colophon leaf at the end of the book: "And the printing was completed on Rosh Chodesh Iyar 1557, here in Mantua in the house of Venturino Ruffinelli, by and on behalf of Yosef son of R. Yaakov of Padua…". The printer's device of Joseph of Padua appears beneath the colophon (see: A. Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriim, p. 12, image no. 19; and p. 132).
A (trimmed) ownership inscription, in Italian script, at the top of the title page: "A gift from the sons of R. Yehuda Norzi[?]". Several other inscriptions on the title page and flyleaf (initials D.B., and others). Censors' signature on final leaf.
[92] leaves. Final leaf blank (this leaf was not recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book). 14.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Light worming. Hole to one leaf, slightly affecting text. Old binding, with damage and worming. Bookplate.
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.
The important book of German cartographer Jacob Ziegler, considered the first atlas of Palestine. At the end of the book are eight maps – double-spread woodcuts; on verso of the left pages of the maps are "title pages". The most important map of the book – a detailed map of Palestine, from Damascus and Sidon in the north to Rafah and the Arab Desert in the south, is unique in the eight lines that stretch from its center indicating the distance between Jerusalem and various cities in the world (Rome, Venice, Babylon and other major cities). This map is considered the first map of Palestine to include a compass showing magnetic declination. The other maps depict Palestine and its surroundings – Syria, Egypt, the Sinai Desert and the Mediterranean basin. The last map of the book depicts a different geographic area – Scandinavia.
Jacob Ziegler (ca. 1470-1549), a humanist, theologian and cartographer, an important representative of the German Renaissance. A wandering scholar, Ziegler lived for a while in the court of Pope Leo X, but after his decision to adopt Protestant Christianity, his books were put on the list of prohibited books (Index Librorum Prohibitorum) of the Catholic church.
Ziegler's maps, inspired by various ancient sources (he relied especially on the works of Ptolemy), are among the first scientific maps of Palestine. Although Ziegler's original plan was much more ambitious – to make dozens of maps of various areas around the world, he completed only eight maps before his death, all of which were published in "Terrae Sanctae".
"Terrae Sanctae" is considered the first atlas of Palestine. See: Maps of the Holy Land, Images of Terra Sancta Through Two Millennia, by Kenneth Nebenzahl (New-York: Abbeville Press, 1986), pp. 70-71.
This is a copy from the second edition (the first edition was published in 1532), which incorporates an index of biblical place-names on Ziegler's maps and a text by pastor Wolfgang Wissenburg.
CVIII, CIII-CXLII, [16] leaves + [8] maps (double-spread), 27.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor creases. Tears and open tears to edges of several leaves (mostly small). Parchment binding with blemishes, partly detached from the book. Bookplate to inside front binding.
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.
Collection of thousands of books, on widely varying topics, from Jewish religious texts to scholarly and reference works, bibliophile books and art works, from the library of the renowned bibliographer and book collector Israel Mehlman, printed ca. 1640-1985.
A large collection from the estate of Israel Mehlman, reflecting the wide range of his fields of interest. The collection includes: • Books printed in the 17th and 18th centuries. • Books printed in the 19th century (prayer books, Kabbalah, Musar and Chassidism). • Early Haskalah movement and Judaic studies works. • Hebrew bibliography works. • Books of Jewish thought, philosophy, art and poetry. • Books in bibliophile and limited editions. • Folk literature in Yiddish and Ladino. • Periodicals, polemic books and various publications. • And more.
A comprehensive list of the books will be sent upon request. The list was drawn up by the family, and the books were not examined by Kedem specialists. There may be slight differences between the list and the actual library, as well as in the state of the books. The buyer is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information.
The viewing of the collection will take place at the family's home. Appointments can be scheduled through the Kedem office.
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Dr. Israel Mehlman (1900-1989) is renowned as one of the greatest book collectors, and for the bibliographic wealth of his library, which he laboriously and meticulously compiled. He began building up his library as a young refugee in Vienna, continually adding books and works after immigrating to Eretz Israel in 1935, and as head of educational and academic institutions. Until his final days, Dr. Mehlman continued collecting and methodically cataloging his books.
Dr. Israel Mehlman was born in Eastern Galicia; at the age of fourteen, as WWI broke, his family fled to Vienna, where he continued his studies, eventually graduating from the Vienna University. A teacher and educator, he continued his work in Palestine after immigrating there in 1935. He was appointed principal of the David Yellin Teachers College in Jerusalem, and head of the Jewish Agency Department of Education. Dr. Mehlman was also one of the founders of the Tel-Aviv University, and served as head of the department of literature and dramatic studies.
A large part of his library, which comprised at its zenith approximately 35,000 books, was donated to the National Library in Jerusalem, and to Beit Hatfutsot. After the donation, Dr. Mehlman enthusiastically resumed the development of his library. The National Library, upon receiving the collection, published a catalog, Ginzei Yisrael – The Israel Mehlman Collection in the Jewish National and University Library, An Annotated Catalogue of the Hebrew Books, Booklets and Pamphlets, with a bibliographic record of 1893 books from the collection, with 47 plates.