Auction 78 - Rare and Important Items
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Auction 78 - Rare and Important Items
May 25, 2021
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000
Sold for: $5,250
Including buyer's premium
Sodot Gedolim MiChachmei HaEmet [Great Secrets from the Kabbalists], part of the book Avkat Rochel, attributed to R. Machir son of Yitzchak Sar Chessed. [Constantinople, 1515].
The present book comprises most of Avkat Rochel, printed in Constantinople in its early years of Hebrew printing. The book originally began with six leaves of part I – "Signs of the ten wars of King Machiach". The present item contains the part named Sodot Gedolim MiChachmei HaEmet, which forms the majority of the book. Colophon on the final leaf: "This book was completed… Tuesday, 15th Kislev 1515, Constantinople…".
This book was attributed to R. Machir son of Yitzchak Sar Chessed, disciple of the Rosh, yet in fact these are writings of the kabbalist R. Moshe de Leon, revealer of the Zohar, later printed in his book HaNefesh HaChachamah (Basel 1608). These writings were also published under the title Matok LaNefesh, erroneously attributed to R. Avraham Zacuto (see listing in Bibliography of the Hebrew Book).
The first leaf features a poem by R. Moshe de Leon (see: Davidson, Thesaurus of Hebrew Mediaeval Poetry, no. 245).
A few glosses in early Sephardic script (from time of printing).
[14] leaves. Originally: [20] leaves. Lacking first six leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains. A few tears in several places. Paper reinforcements. Without binding.
Yaari, HaDfus HaIvri BeKushta, no. 44.
The present book comprises most of Avkat Rochel, printed in Constantinople in its early years of Hebrew printing. The book originally began with six leaves of part I – "Signs of the ten wars of King Machiach". The present item contains the part named Sodot Gedolim MiChachmei HaEmet, which forms the majority of the book. Colophon on the final leaf: "This book was completed… Tuesday, 15th Kislev 1515, Constantinople…".
This book was attributed to R. Machir son of Yitzchak Sar Chessed, disciple of the Rosh, yet in fact these are writings of the kabbalist R. Moshe de Leon, revealer of the Zohar, later printed in his book HaNefesh HaChachamah (Basel 1608). These writings were also published under the title Matok LaNefesh, erroneously attributed to R. Avraham Zacuto (see listing in Bibliography of the Hebrew Book).
The first leaf features a poem by R. Moshe de Leon (see: Davidson, Thesaurus of Hebrew Mediaeval Poetry, no. 245).
A few glosses in early Sephardic script (from time of printing).
[14] leaves. Originally: [20] leaves. Lacking first six leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains. A few tears in several places. Paper reinforcements. Without binding.
Yaari, HaDfus HaIvri BeKushta, no. 44.
Category
Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue
Auction 78 - Rare and Important Items
May 25, 2021
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Lekach Tov, commentary on the Torah, with excerpts from the Talmud, Mechilta, Sifra and Sifrei, following the order of the Rambam's listing of the mitzvot, by R. Moshe Najara. Constantinople: Solomon and Joseph Yaavetz, [1575]. Only edition.
The author, R. Moshe Najara (d. 1581), was a Safed Torah scholar during the times of the Arizal, and one of the latter's disciples. His family originated from Nájera, Spain. His father, R. Levi Najara, was a Spanish exile, and after spending a few years in Constantinople, he relocated with his family to Safed, where Moshe was born. R. Moshe possessed outstanding talents, and was rabbinically ordained at a young age. Following the 1579 attack on the Jews of Safed, R. Moshe fled together with many other Jews to Damascus, where he was shortly appointed a head of the rabbis. He married the daughter of R. Yisrael di Curiel, one of the four disciples ordained by R. Yaakov Berav. His son, R. Yisrael Najara, composed the famous piyyut Kah Ribbon.
Afterword and poem by R. Yisrael Najara, son of the author, on the final leaf.
Inscriptions at top of title page (partly trimmed): "This book belongs to the woman…", "Belongs to the exceptional leader…".
Fine copy. 149, [1] leaves. Leaves 84-85 bound out of sequence. 27.5 cm. Light-colored, thick, high-quality paper. Good condition. Stains. Small open tear to top of title page, repaired with paper. Worming (mostly minor) in several places. Worming affecting text to approx. ten leaves (104-113), and with minor damage to several other leaves. New, elegant leather binding. Slipcased.
Provenance: Valmadonna Trust Library.
The author, R. Moshe Najara (d. 1581), was a Safed Torah scholar during the times of the Arizal, and one of the latter's disciples. His family originated from Nájera, Spain. His father, R. Levi Najara, was a Spanish exile, and after spending a few years in Constantinople, he relocated with his family to Safed, where Moshe was born. R. Moshe possessed outstanding talents, and was rabbinically ordained at a young age. Following the 1579 attack on the Jews of Safed, R. Moshe fled together with many other Jews to Damascus, where he was shortly appointed a head of the rabbis. He married the daughter of R. Yisrael di Curiel, one of the four disciples ordained by R. Yaakov Berav. His son, R. Yisrael Najara, composed the famous piyyut Kah Ribbon.
Afterword and poem by R. Yisrael Najara, son of the author, on the final leaf.
Inscriptions at top of title page (partly trimmed): "This book belongs to the woman…", "Belongs to the exceptional leader…".
Fine copy. 149, [1] leaves. Leaves 84-85 bound out of sequence. 27.5 cm. Light-colored, thick, high-quality paper. Good condition. Stains. Small open tear to top of title page, repaired with paper. Worming (mostly minor) in several places. Worming affecting text to approx. ten leaves (104-113), and with minor damage to several other leaves. New, elegant leather binding. Slipcased.
Provenance: Valmadonna Trust Library.
Category
Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue
Auction 78 - Rare and Important Items
May 25, 2021
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Three books published in Venice and Constantinople in the 16th-17th centuries, bound together:
• Chelkat Mechokek, commentary on the Book of Iyov, by R. Moshe Alshech. Venice: Zuan di Gara, [1603]. First edition.
• Lev Chacham, commentary on Kohelet, by R. Shmuel Aripul. Constantinople: David Kasti and Eliezer son of Isaac Ashkenazi, [1586]. Only edition.
The author, R. Shmuel Aripul, was a rabbi in Safed in the times of the Arizal. A disciple of R. Moshe di Trani.
• Meir Iyov, commentary on the Book of Iyov (with the text of Iyov), by R. Meir son of R. Yitzchak Arama. [Riva di Trento]-Venice: Antonio Bruin and Giorgio di Cavalli, [1562-1567].
This edition of Meir Iyov was printed in two different places: the gatherings of the first half of the book were printed in Riva di Trento in 1562, while the rest of the gatherings were printed in Venice, 1567 (there are perceptible differences in the typeface and typography between the two parts). There are differences between copies as to the first gathering. In this copy, the first gathering (including title page) was printed in Venice (see Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, no. 182214 and 182224).
Several inscriptions in Italian script on title page of Chelkat Mechokek. Inscription in tiny characters: " I purchased it from R. Refael Verona, who said he was selling it in order to buy food and clothing for the orphan, Rosa daughter of R. Yisrael Morello"; followed by the signature: "Shmuel Ghiron"; inscription at the top of the title page (mostly trimmed): "That which G-d granted his young servant, Yaakov HaLevi[?]…1605".
Handwritten inscriptions on the blank leaf at the end of Chelkat Mechokek (in Hebrew and Italian): "I, Moshe Artom".
Three books in one volume. Chelkat Mechokek: 103 leaves. Lev Chacham: 80 leaves. Meir Iyov: 124 leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including large dampstains to some leaves. Minor worming to Chelkat Mechokek. Significant worming to final leaves of Meir Iyov, affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Marginal tears to two leaves, with minor loss to text. Tears to title page of Meir Iyov, and tear to final leaf of Chelkat Mechokek, repaired with paper (without loss of text). In Meir Iyov, leaves trimmed close to text, affecting leaf numerals. Scribbles, inscriptions and many ink stains to several leaves of Lev Chacham. Censorship deletion of several lines on one leaf of Meir Iyov. Original leather binding, with leather strap closures. Damage to binding.
Censors' signatures on final leaf, including signature of censor Dominico Irosolimitano – a Jewish convert to Christianity, who became a notable censor of Hebrew books in Italy. He compiled Sefer HaZikuk (Book of Expurgation) intended for Christian censors of Hebrew books.
• Chelkat Mechokek, commentary on the Book of Iyov, by R. Moshe Alshech. Venice: Zuan di Gara, [1603]. First edition.
• Lev Chacham, commentary on Kohelet, by R. Shmuel Aripul. Constantinople: David Kasti and Eliezer son of Isaac Ashkenazi, [1586]. Only edition.
The author, R. Shmuel Aripul, was a rabbi in Safed in the times of the Arizal. A disciple of R. Moshe di Trani.
• Meir Iyov, commentary on the Book of Iyov (with the text of Iyov), by R. Meir son of R. Yitzchak Arama. [Riva di Trento]-Venice: Antonio Bruin and Giorgio di Cavalli, [1562-1567].
This edition of Meir Iyov was printed in two different places: the gatherings of the first half of the book were printed in Riva di Trento in 1562, while the rest of the gatherings were printed in Venice, 1567 (there are perceptible differences in the typeface and typography between the two parts). There are differences between copies as to the first gathering. In this copy, the first gathering (including title page) was printed in Venice (see Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, no. 182214 and 182224).
Several inscriptions in Italian script on title page of Chelkat Mechokek. Inscription in tiny characters: " I purchased it from R. Refael Verona, who said he was selling it in order to buy food and clothing for the orphan, Rosa daughter of R. Yisrael Morello"; followed by the signature: "Shmuel Ghiron"; inscription at the top of the title page (mostly trimmed): "That which G-d granted his young servant, Yaakov HaLevi[?]…1605".
Handwritten inscriptions on the blank leaf at the end of Chelkat Mechokek (in Hebrew and Italian): "I, Moshe Artom".
Three books in one volume. Chelkat Mechokek: 103 leaves. Lev Chacham: 80 leaves. Meir Iyov: 124 leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including large dampstains to some leaves. Minor worming to Chelkat Mechokek. Significant worming to final leaves of Meir Iyov, affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Marginal tears to two leaves, with minor loss to text. Tears to title page of Meir Iyov, and tear to final leaf of Chelkat Mechokek, repaired with paper (without loss of text). In Meir Iyov, leaves trimmed close to text, affecting leaf numerals. Scribbles, inscriptions and many ink stains to several leaves of Lev Chacham. Censorship deletion of several lines on one leaf of Meir Iyov. Original leather binding, with leather strap closures. Damage to binding.
Censors' signatures on final leaf, including signature of censor Dominico Irosolimitano – a Jewish convert to Christianity, who became a notable censor of Hebrew books in Italy. He compiled Sefer HaZikuk (Book of Expurgation) intended for Christian censors of Hebrew books.
Category
Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue
Auction 78 - Rare and Important Items
May 25, 2021
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Sold for: $4,250
Including buyer's premium
Masoret HaMasoret, grammatical and Masoretic composition, by R. Eliyahu Bachur-Ashkenazi. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, [1538]. First edition.
This copy belonged to the author's grandson, the apostate Vittoria Eliano, a famous proofreader in Italian printing firms who assisted his grandfather in proofreading this edition. Ownership inscription at the top of the title page in Italian script: " This book is mine, so says Vittorio, grandson of the grammarian R. Eliyah HaLevi". This is followed by an additional inscription: " Acquired with my money, I, Vittorio, previously named Yosef son of Yitzchak". A further inscription by Vittorio at the foot of the title page.
Additional inscription: "I, Gershon son of R. Moshe HaKohen Rofe". The names in all the inscriptions were crossed out, yet remain legible. Two other inscriptions are deleted in a way that they are no longer legible.
The book contains many inscriptions and emendations (including some which don't appear in the errata). Lengthy handwritten inscriptions on leaf 87 (in Italian script) relating to the final poem. Several glosses in Latin. Glosses by several writers.
Two errata leaves were added at the end of the book. In his introduction to the errata, the author writes that he asked his grandson Yosef to assist him in proofreading the book. The grandson mentioned is the apostate Vittorio, owner of this copy. A handwritten inscription (deleted with ink) appears near the words "my grandson Yosef", and it appears to read: "now named Vittorio… 28th October 1548".
Vittorio Eliano (b. 1528), whose Jewish name was Yosef, was the son of R. Yitzchak son of R. Yechiel Pihem of Bohemia, son-in-law of R. Eliyahu Bachur. Yosef converted to Christianity shortly before the passing of his grandfather, and he was joined several years later by his brother Solomon Romano, who adopted the Christian name Giovanni Battista. Both brothers became Catholic priests, and were largely responsible for the condemnation and burning of the Talmud. Giovanni Battista is recorded as one of the apostates who caused the burning of the Talmud in 1553, while his brother Vittorio was connected to the burning of Jewish books in Cremona (see: Benayahu, HaDfus HaIvri BeCremona, pp. 95-99; Benayahu raises doubt as to Vittorio's involvement in the decree and the exact part he played in it). Concurrently, Vittorio Eliano became a prominent proofreader and censor of Hebrew books. He first worked in Cremona (1557-1560), and later in Venice (1560-1567), and finally in Rome. In the colophons of books he proofread, he would pride himself of his prominent grandfather R. Eliyahu Bachur the grammarian. Vittorio was also one of the proofreaders of the first edition of the Zohar, printed in Cremona in 1559-1560.
In the rhymed preface to this book, R. Eliyahu Bachur refers to the famous proofreader Yaakov son of Chaim son of Adoniyahu, editor of the Bomberg Mikraot Gedolot edition printed in Venice, as "previously named Yaakov". This phrase indicates that this Yaakov converted to Christianity (see enclosed material). One gloss in this copy, in Italian script, relates to this: " It appears from this that the author of the Mikra Gedolah converted, and so I heard from elders".
12, 15-87 pages, [2] leaves (without [1] blank leaf found in some copies between pages 12 and 15). Final leaf, after errata of Masoret HaMasoret, contains errata for the book Tuv Taam (originally printed with this book). Approx. 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming to upper part of leaves, not affecting text. Inscriptions. New binding.
This copy belonged to the author's grandson, the apostate Vittoria Eliano, a famous proofreader in Italian printing firms who assisted his grandfather in proofreading this edition. Ownership inscription at the top of the title page in Italian script: " This book is mine, so says Vittorio, grandson of the grammarian R. Eliyah HaLevi". This is followed by an additional inscription: " Acquired with my money, I, Vittorio, previously named Yosef son of Yitzchak". A further inscription by Vittorio at the foot of the title page.
Additional inscription: "I, Gershon son of R. Moshe HaKohen Rofe". The names in all the inscriptions were crossed out, yet remain legible. Two other inscriptions are deleted in a way that they are no longer legible.
The book contains many inscriptions and emendations (including some which don't appear in the errata). Lengthy handwritten inscriptions on leaf 87 (in Italian script) relating to the final poem. Several glosses in Latin. Glosses by several writers.
Two errata leaves were added at the end of the book. In his introduction to the errata, the author writes that he asked his grandson Yosef to assist him in proofreading the book. The grandson mentioned is the apostate Vittorio, owner of this copy. A handwritten inscription (deleted with ink) appears near the words "my grandson Yosef", and it appears to read: "now named Vittorio… 28th October 1548".
Vittorio Eliano (b. 1528), whose Jewish name was Yosef, was the son of R. Yitzchak son of R. Yechiel Pihem of Bohemia, son-in-law of R. Eliyahu Bachur. Yosef converted to Christianity shortly before the passing of his grandfather, and he was joined several years later by his brother Solomon Romano, who adopted the Christian name Giovanni Battista. Both brothers became Catholic priests, and were largely responsible for the condemnation and burning of the Talmud. Giovanni Battista is recorded as one of the apostates who caused the burning of the Talmud in 1553, while his brother Vittorio was connected to the burning of Jewish books in Cremona (see: Benayahu, HaDfus HaIvri BeCremona, pp. 95-99; Benayahu raises doubt as to Vittorio's involvement in the decree and the exact part he played in it). Concurrently, Vittorio Eliano became a prominent proofreader and censor of Hebrew books. He first worked in Cremona (1557-1560), and later in Venice (1560-1567), and finally in Rome. In the colophons of books he proofread, he would pride himself of his prominent grandfather R. Eliyahu Bachur the grammarian. Vittorio was also one of the proofreaders of the first edition of the Zohar, printed in Cremona in 1559-1560.
In the rhymed preface to this book, R. Eliyahu Bachur refers to the famous proofreader Yaakov son of Chaim son of Adoniyahu, editor of the Bomberg Mikraot Gedolot edition printed in Venice, as "previously named Yaakov". This phrase indicates that this Yaakov converted to Christianity (see enclosed material). One gloss in this copy, in Italian script, relates to this: " It appears from this that the author of the Mikra Gedolah converted, and so I heard from elders".
12, 15-87 pages, [2] leaves (without [1] blank leaf found in some copies between pages 12 and 15). Final leaf, after errata of Masoret HaMasoret, contains errata for the book Tuv Taam (originally printed with this book). Approx. 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming to upper part of leaves, not affecting text. Inscriptions. New binding.
Category
Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue
Auction 78 - Rare and Important Items
May 25, 2021
Opening: $1,800
Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000
Sold for: $3,000
Including buyer's premium
Tzedah LaDerech, halachic composition on various topics, by R. Menachem son of Aharon ibn Zerach. Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque: [1554]. First edition.
A comprehensive composition by R. Menachem ibn Zerach, a Spanish scholar in the 14th century and disciple of R. Yehuda son of the Rosh, covering all the year-round laws and customs. The lengthy preface contains many important details relating to the Tosafists and Rishonim and to the author's time. The author writes that his book is geared to "members of His Majesty the King's court… [who] due to the turbulences of the time and desire for luxuries… become lax in their fulfillment of Mitzvot…".
Usque's printer's device occupies the center of the title page: illustration of an astrolabe, set within a frame, together with various verses. The device was printed again on the final page, followed by the colophon: "And the work of G-d was completed, here in Ferrara, in the house of the exalted R. Avraham ibn Usque".
Ownership inscriptions on the title page: "Was allotted to me, Shmuel son of R. Yehuda [---]"; "From the Hekdesh funds of the late R. Yehuda Chaim Pesaro".
Censorship glosses and expurgations. Censors' signatures on final leaves, including the signature of censor Dominico Irosolimitano – a Jewish convert to Christianity, who became a notable censor of Hebrew books in Italy. He compiled Sefer HaZikuk (Book of Expurgation) intended for Christian censors of Hebrew books.
[14], 32, [3], 38-75, [212] leaves. Approx. 21 cm. Light-colored, high-quality paper. Condition varies. Most leaves in good condition. First and final leaves in fair condition. Stains. Extensive worming to first and final leaves, affecting text (including damage to engraved title page and printer's device on final leaf), repaired in part with paper (on title page and final leaf). Censorship expurgations. Several leaves with many expurgations, and tears from ink erosion. New, elegant leather binding. Slipcased.
In this copy, as in most copies, leaves 33-37 containing a commentary to Birkat HaMinim (blessing on the heretics), were omitted for censorship reasons, and replaced with three unpaginated leaves containing an abridged version (see article by Yitzchak Rivkind, Alexander Marx Jubilee Volume, New York, 1950, Hebrew vol., p. 416; and article by S. Hasida, Birkat HaMinim in Sefer Tzedah LaDerech, Moriah, Tishrei 2012, pp. 15-17). Regarding differences between various copies of this edition, see: Y. Sonne, Kiryat Sefer, VII, 1930-1931, p. 485.
Provenance: Valmadonna Trust Library.
A comprehensive composition by R. Menachem ibn Zerach, a Spanish scholar in the 14th century and disciple of R. Yehuda son of the Rosh, covering all the year-round laws and customs. The lengthy preface contains many important details relating to the Tosafists and Rishonim and to the author's time. The author writes that his book is geared to "members of His Majesty the King's court… [who] due to the turbulences of the time and desire for luxuries… become lax in their fulfillment of Mitzvot…".
Usque's printer's device occupies the center of the title page: illustration of an astrolabe, set within a frame, together with various verses. The device was printed again on the final page, followed by the colophon: "And the work of G-d was completed, here in Ferrara, in the house of the exalted R. Avraham ibn Usque".
Ownership inscriptions on the title page: "Was allotted to me, Shmuel son of R. Yehuda [---]"; "From the Hekdesh funds of the late R. Yehuda Chaim Pesaro".
Censorship glosses and expurgations. Censors' signatures on final leaves, including the signature of censor Dominico Irosolimitano – a Jewish convert to Christianity, who became a notable censor of Hebrew books in Italy. He compiled Sefer HaZikuk (Book of Expurgation) intended for Christian censors of Hebrew books.
[14], 32, [3], 38-75, [212] leaves. Approx. 21 cm. Light-colored, high-quality paper. Condition varies. Most leaves in good condition. First and final leaves in fair condition. Stains. Extensive worming to first and final leaves, affecting text (including damage to engraved title page and printer's device on final leaf), repaired in part with paper (on title page and final leaf). Censorship expurgations. Several leaves with many expurgations, and tears from ink erosion. New, elegant leather binding. Slipcased.
In this copy, as in most copies, leaves 33-37 containing a commentary to Birkat HaMinim (blessing on the heretics), were omitted for censorship reasons, and replaced with three unpaginated leaves containing an abridged version (see article by Yitzchak Rivkind, Alexander Marx Jubilee Volume, New York, 1950, Hebrew vol., p. 416; and article by S. Hasida, Birkat HaMinim in Sefer Tzedah LaDerech, Moriah, Tishrei 2012, pp. 15-17). Regarding differences between various copies of this edition, see: Y. Sonne, Kiryat Sefer, VII, 1930-1931, p. 485.
Provenance: Valmadonna Trust Library.
Category
Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue