Auction 88 - Part II - Unique Items and Early Printed Books

Arbaa Turim – Augsburg, 1540-1541 – Four Parts in One Volume – Important Edition Comprising Glosses of Rabbi Avraham of Prague – Handwritten Historical Documentation

Opening: $10,000
Estimate: $14,000 - $16,000
Sold for: $13,750
Including buyer's premium

Arbaa Turim, by R. Yaakov son of Asher. Augsburg: [Chaim son of David Shachor], 1540-[1541]. All parts in one volume.
The title page bears no decorations, but the first page of text of the Orach Chaim part (leaf 7 of first sequence, after table of contents), is set in an ornate woodcut border (by Hans Holbein the younger), depicting the creation of the world and of Adam, David and Solomon, and more.
The present edition includes glosses and textual corrections by R. Avraham son of R. Avigdor, rabbi of Prague.
Signatures on the title page, on leaf with engraved border, and on p. 33a of Even HaEzer.
On the title page, the printer praises this edition for its accuracy.
On the verso of the final leaf of Even HaEzer, lengthy handwritten inscription, documenting the French invasion of Germany in 1688-1689, during the Nine Years' War, and the destruction of towns, Jewish communities and synagogues. An additional inscription records the fire which broke out that year in Prague – see Hebrew sidebar. A later inscription on the same leaf, dated 1770, describes the inflation which occurred that year in several German states.
84; 70; 2, 44; 112 leaves. 29.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains, including significant dampstains to many leaves. Wear. Tears, affecting text, repaired with paper. Open tears, including tears to title page and leaf with woodcut border, affecting border, repaired with paper. Worming, affecting text, repaired with paper. Some 10 leaves from Even HaEzer supplied from a different copy (with marginal open tears and worming, repaired with paper). Inscriptions. New leather binding.
Without final [2] leaf index, lacking in most copies.


PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.


Unique Items and Early Printed Books
Unique Items and Early Printed Books