Auction 86 - Part I - Rare & Important Items
This is presumably the first printing of the Book of Iyov, or at least the first dated printing (there are fragments of a Bible edition, which some estimate was printed in Spain or Portugal before the expulsion, but those fragments have not been dated. See: A. K. Offenberg, Hebrew Incunabula in Public Collections, Nieuwkoop 1990, no. 33). The present Book of Iyov was printed as part of a Ketuvim edition printed that year in Naples. The commentary of the Ralbag on Iyov was printed earlier, in Ferrara 1477, without the text of Iyov.
The text of Iyov is printed in vocalized, square type (soft consonants marked). The commentary is printed in semi-cursive script (Rashi script).
Initial word on leaf [2] within a decorative woodcut frame (initial word printed in enlarged, Ashkenazic script; the letter Yud ends in a leaf-shaped ornament).
Handwritten inscriptions beside the text in several places; handwritten catchwords.
The printer, Joseph son of Jacob Ashkenazi Gunzenhauser (from Gunzenhausen, Bavaria), was a pioneer in Hebrew printing, active in Italy. Joseph Ashkenazi worked alongside the Soncino family, who set up presses in various Italian cities. He established his printing press in Naples, ca. 1487, and passed away in 1490. That year, the Soncino press moved to Naples (run by Yehoshua Shlomo Soncino). Joseph Ashkenazi's son, Azriel, continued operating the printing press for another two years, until 1492 (the year of the Spanish expulsion) – when both Ashkenazi's and Soncino's printing presses were closed. Joseph Ashkenazi's press produced all of 15 Hebrew titles.
[48] leaves. Six gatherings, 1-6, of 8 leaves each. 24.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including large dampstains (several leaves with dark stains, minor singeing and some mold). Worming, affecting text (and affecting decorative initial word panel), repaired in part with paper. Open tears, repaired with paper. New binding, with worming.
Regarding this edition and the year of printing, see: Y. Yudlov, A Document Regarding the Sale of Incunabulum in Naples in the Fifteenth Century, Asufot, X, 1997, p. 79.
A volume comprising two early works on astrology (originally printed together):
• Liber de Nativitatibus, a work on the subject of nativities, by "Abraham Iudei" ("Abraham the Jew").
• Magistralis Compositio Astrolabii, a work by the Flemish philosopher, astronomer, astrologist, and poet Henry Bate (1246-1310) on the subject of the astrolabe, a compact instrument, used for measuring and calculating the angles and positions of celestial bodies relative to the horizon.
Both works are illustrated with a number of woodcuts: decorative initials, and ten astrological or horoscopic diagrams.
The identity of the author of "Liber de Nativitatibus" is a matter of debate. The bibliographer Moritz (Moshe) Steinschneider (1816-1907) and other scholars ascribed the work to Abraham ibn Ezra; some were convinced it was a translation of the Hebrew composition entitled "Sefer HaMoladot" ("Book of Nativities"). Renate Smithuis, an authority in medieval Jewish studies (see below), insisted that the work was written "directly in Latin for a Latin readership, if not by ibn Ezra himself, then in his name and under his direction." But in an article published in 2018 (see below), Professor Shlomo Sela argued that although the archetype of the text was written in Hebrew by ibn Ezra, the composition itself could not be attributed to him.
[22] leaves Missing [8] leaves (gathering "b" of Liber Abraham Iudei de Nativitatibus, containing a number of illustrations), 22 cm. Good condition. Minor worming to all leaves (with minor damage to text). Foxing. Several (very old) notations in ink in text margins. Card binding with vellum spine and corners. Notations in pencil and bookplate on endpapers.
References:
1. Renate Smithuis, "Abraham Ibn Ezra's Astrological Works in Hebrew and Latin, New Discoveries and Exhaustive Listing, " in "Aleph: Historical Studies in Science and Judaism, " Volume 6, 2006.
2. Shlomo Sela, "Origins and Transmission of Liber Abraham Iudei de Nativitatibus: A New Appraisal Based on the Scrutiny of the Available Manuscripts and other Sources, " article published in "Revue des Etudes Juives" (2018), pp. 317-352.
This book was previously printed in Constantinople, 1516, yet in this edition it was redivided into three parts. The title page states that it was reprinted by the Soncino printers, who corrected what had been overlooked in the first edition.
Part I – "Ten signs of the wars of King Messiah" and midrashim regarding the End of Times. Part II – sections from the writings of R. Moshe de Leon (revealer of the Zohar), later printed in his book HaNefesh HaChachamah, Basel 1608 (in the Constantinople edition, this part was printed under the title "great secrets from kabbalists"; it was later printed under the title "Matok LaNefesh", in Venice 1607, and mistakenly attributed to R. Avraham Zacuto). Part III – composition on Laws Given to Moshe at Sinai.
The name of the printer – "Soncin", appears at the top of the title page. The year of printing includes a reference to the reign of Clement VII – "in the third year of Pope Clement".
Signatures and inscriptions on title page and other leaves.
[16] leaves. Lacking 2 leaves: leaf [9] and final leaf (end of poem and Soncino's printer's device on final page). 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Some words scraped off (for censorship purposes), partially replaced in handwriting. Small hole to title page, affecting border. Abrasions to title page. Inner margins of some leaves reinforced with paper. Old binding.
The Soncino family were prominent Hebrew printers in the 15th and 16th century, and particularly in the incunabula period. They established their first printing press in Soncino, Italy, ca. 1483, and later wandered through various Italian cities with their printing equipment, resuming their printing operations wherever they settled. One of the prominent members of this family was Gershom Soncino, printer of the present edition.
Rare edition, listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on the Schocken copy.
First edition of Sefer Keritut, the renowned work by R. Shimshon of Chinon, which sets forth the methodology of Talmud and Halachic ruling. This work was later reprinted in many editions.
The book is divided into five parts. The first two parts are a detailed treatise on the 13 hermeneutical rules for interpreting the Torah. The third part discusses the 32 hermeneutical rules of R. Eliezer son of R. Yose HaGelili. The fourth part is a chronology of the Tana'im and Amora'im and various rules for deciding halachah, and the fifth part (titled Leshon Limudim), the largest and most comprehensive, explains the methodology applying to the Talmud, Mishnah and Beraita.
The author, R. Shimshon of Chinon, was a French commentator and Halachic authority at the end of the period of the Tosafists, who presumably authored his work in the early 14th century. The book is based on several earlier works, such as Seder Tana'im VeAmora'im and Igeret Rav Sherira Gaon. The final and main part of the book is based on the teachings of the Tosafists.
Glosses in Italian script on two leaves.
[63] leaves. Originally: [64] leaves. Lacking one leaf (leaf [9] from part I). 20.5 cm. Wide margins. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Minor wear. Marginal open tears to several leaves, not affecting text (leaves trimmed unevenly). Worming. Loose leaves and gatherings. Without binding.
See: E.E. Urbach, Baalei HaTosafot, Jerusalem 1976, II, pp. 720-721; Sefer Keritut, R. S.B.D. Sofer's edition, Jerusalem 1965, pp. 21-23.
The author, R. Avraham son of R. Yitzchak Shalom, was a Spanish Torah scholar. He passed away in Spain in 1492, the year of the expulsion.
Colophon on the final page: "Completed on Friday 13th Sivan 5299 [1539]".
Ownership inscription on the title page: "Acquisition of my money, Avraham Yehuda Fontanella". Signature on final page (beneath the colophon): "Yosef Yekutiel Font.". Several (trimmed) glosses. Signatures and glosses in Italian script.
[196] leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains, including minor dampstains. Worming, slightly affecting text. Tears to several leaves (including title page), affecting text, without loss. Title page trimmed with damage to engraved border. Censorship deletion on one leaf. Censor's signatures and inscriptions on final leaf. Old binding, damaged.
The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book records (presumably erroneously) only [194] leaves.
1. Marpeh Lashon by R. Moshe ibn Habib.
2. Sefer HaHarkavah by R. Eliyahu Bachur. Including Pirkei Eliyahu by the same author, with a separate title page (from leaf 45 until the end).
3-6. Dikdukim, four books on Hebrew grammar printed together (each with an individual title page): Mahalach Shvilei Hadaat by R. Moshe Kimchi, with the commentary of R. Eliyahu Bachur; Petach Devarai by R. Eliyahu Bachur; Tzachut BeDikduk by R. Avraham ibn Ezra; Moznei Lashon HaKodesh by R. Avraham ibn Ezra.
The books contain many handwritten glosses, comments, inscriptions and markings.
Marpeh Lashon: [26] leaves. Sefer HaHarkavah: 83, [1] leaves. Dikdukim: [4], 51, [1] blank leaf, 53-236 leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Good condition. Stains, including minor dampstains. Many inscriptions (with ink stains). Stamps. New parchment binding. Slipcased.
Three books by the Chassid R. Yosef Yaavetz; first editions brought to print concurrently by R. Yitzchak Alhakim:
• Maamar HaAchdut. Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque, 1553.
• Yesod HaEmunah. Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque, 1553.
• Or HaChaim. Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque, 1553.
Fine engraved title pages. Usque's printer's device appears in the center of the title page (and in two of the books, on the final leaf as well) – an astrolabe set within a frame, with the verses: "Those who hope in G-d will renew their vigor…", "I hoped in G-d, my soul hoped…".
The author, known as the Chassid Yaavetz, was a leading rabbi in the time of the Spanish expulsion. His book Or HaChaim was reprinted in many editions, and was renowned for its censure of philosophy and its call to return to Emunah Temimah (unquestioning faith) – see below.
Signatures (slightly trimmed) on the title pages of Maamar HaAchdut and Or HaChaim (in Italian script): "Mine, Refael Uri Treves".
Handwritten emendations in Yesod HaEmunah. A brief paragraph from the Zohar was inscribed on leaf [15] of Yesod HaEmunah.
Three books (originally bound together, later separated): Maamar HaAchdut: [16] leaves; Yesod HaEmunah: [16] leaves; Or HaChaim: [28] leaves. 20 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Open tear to title page of Yesod HaEmunah, affecting engraving, repaired with paper. Marginal tears to one leaf in Yesod HaEmunah, repaired with paper close to text. Several leaves reinforced with paper. Abrasions to title pages and colophon leaves from removal of stamps. Without bindings.
The Chassid Yaavetz, Spanish Expulsion and War Against Philosophy
R. Yosef Yaavetz, known as the Chassid Yaavetz (ca. 1440 – 1508), was a leading rabbi at the time of the Spanish expulsion. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, he studied under Don Yitzchak Abarbanel. After the expulsion, he reached Italy and travelled the country together with his son R. Yitzchak. He came to the aid of his fellow Spanish exiles, preaching to them, encouraging them and strengthening their faith. The principles of faith and Divine Providence are topics stressed repeatedly in his works.
Or HaChaim, his most celebrated work, was reprinted in many editions. The book contains fierce censure of the rationalistic philosophy of the Middle Ages, which was widespread in Spain before the expulsion. The Chassid Yaavetz blames the preoccupation with philosophy over Torah study, for the eventual demise of Spanish Jewry. His famously wrote about the importance of Emunah Temimah (unquestioning faith) in face of coerced conversions, that while scholars and philosophers succumbed to the pressure to convert, the simple people remained steadfast in their faith.
Signature on title page: "Mine Refael Uri Treves".
[96] leaves. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming and several open tears, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Minor tears to title page, repaired with paper. Without binding.
Only a few Hebrew books were ever printed in Adrianopolis.
The printers Solomon and Joseph Yaavetz founded a Hebrew press in Salonika, which operated in 1546-1551. They later transferred their press to Adrianopolis, where they printed a few books in 1554-1555. For more information on the Yaavetz brothers, see: A. Yaari, HaDfus HaIvri BeKushta, Jerusalem, 1967, pp. 26-27; Y. Hacker, Dfusei Kushta BaMe'ah HaShesh-Esreh, Areshet, 5, pp. 469-470.
The first edition of this work was printed in Venice, in 1553, in 1500 copies, which were destroyed during the burning of the Talmud that year; very few copies of that edition are extant.
In his preface to the present edition, the author relates that he already printed the book once in Venice, but in Cheshvan 1553, all 1500 copies he printed were destroyed during the burning of the Talmud. He was compelled to try to reconstruct his commentary from memory, and after he had written three chapters, he managed to obtain a single surviving copy. He then proceeded to compare the two versions, and came to the conclusion that the second was more complete than the first, as it contained many added homilies (see: A. Yaari, Mechkarei sefer, Jerusalem 1958, pp. 208, 360).
Author's colophon on p. 163b: "The commentary to Tractate Avot was completed… by me, Yehuda son of R. Shmuel Lerma the Sephardi, on 27th Cheshvan 1552".
Printer's colophon at the foot of the same page: "Printed by Cornelio Adelkind and proofread by Yosef son of R. Yaakov Shalit of Padua, in the house of R. Tobias Foa".
Ownership inscription at foot of title page: "Belongs to R. Yaakov son of R. Shimshon"; and on p. 2a: "Belongs to the distinguished R. Wolf Oppenheim".
163, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Minor marginal open tears and wear to title page. Dark inked stamps to title page, on engraving. Abrasions to title page (from removal of stamp). Inscriptions. Early leather binding, damaged.
Printer's device of Tobias Foa on final leaf: two rampant lions flanking a palm tree with a Star of David in the center, all within a Renaissance-style cartouche. The cartouche is set in a rectangular frame; the verse "The righteous shall flourish like a palm" is inscribed above it, with the initials of Tobias Foa on the other three sides. See: A. Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriim, image 20-21; p. 133 (the present device is slightly different).
The printer Tobias son of Eliezer Foa established a Hebrew printing press in Sabbioneta in 1551, where he printed some 25 titles until 1559.
The present work comprises halachic summaries following the order of the Talmudic tractates (in a similar format to Sefer HaMordechai). The author, R. Yishmael HaKohen Tanuji, was a leading Torah scholar in Egypt (the family originated from Tunis). He composed Sefer HaZikaron in 1543, while still in Egypt, and later immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Jerusalem, where his son, R. Yehuda HaKohen Tanuji was born.
Usque's device at the center of the title page – illustration of an astrolabe set within a frame, with the verses: "But those who put their hope in G-d shall renew their vigor…", "I hoped, G-d, my soul hoped…". The printer's device also appears on the final page.
Colophon on penultimate leaf: "Completed… Today, Tuesday, 26th Av 1555… printed in the house of Avraham ibn Usque…".
The book contains handwritten glosses, deletions and emendations. Inscription on final leaf (beneath the printer's device): "Mine, Reuven Jabali".
Censor's signatures on final leaves, including the signature of the 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.
[216] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears and minor worming to several leaves. Open tear to one leaf, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper. Inscriptions. Old binding, damaged.
Rare. The present edition was the only edition for centuries, until the work was reprinted in London in 1974 (in the 1974 edition, the publisher R. Shraga Dzialowski describes the scarcity of this book – he notes that it is to be found only in large libraries, and even prominent Torah scholars have not seen it or heard of it, and that most the copies of the first edition were destroyed during the burning of the Talmud).
Igeret Orchot Olam is the first Hebrew work discussing the discovery of the New World, including a description of America and of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. The work, authored by R. Farissol in 1524, includes two parts. The first part is a general description of the globe, its climate zones, continents and countries. The second part focuses on the discoveries of Spanish and Portuguese explorers, with a detailed account of the travels of Vasco da Gama around the Cape of the Good Hope on his way to India. The work also discusses the location of Gan Eden, the Sambatyon river and the Ten Lost Tribes.
One chapter (chapter 29) is dedicated to America, and describes its inhabitants and geography – with descriptions of the Indian tribes, their habits, way of life, and wars; and descriptions of its tall mountains and vast forests swarming with ferocious animals and reptiles.
In chapter 14, the author speaks of the fate of the Ten Lost Tribes.
P. 33b features a diagram illustrating the shape of the new continent.
Table of contents at the beginning of the book, after the author's preface.
Signatures on the title page, final leaf and several other places: "Ish Ger" – acronym of R. Avraham Yosef Shlomo Graziano, Jewish-Italian scholar and maskil in the 17th century; renowned collector of books and manuscripts.
The book contains many glosses in his handwriting, including some lengthy ones, comprising explanations, additions and emendations.
Inscriptions on the front endpaper (the Ten Sefirot).
R. Avraham Farissol (ca. 1452 – ca. 1526), Italian Torah scholar and Renaissance man. Born in Avignon in the south of France, he immigrated to Italy at a young age. After a brief period in Mantua, he settled in Ferrara, where he lived most his life. He was involved in the community, serving as cantor and teacher. He was renowned as a meticulous copyist of manuscripts, and copied many books. Due to his familiarity with both Jewish and secular texts, he was chosen by the Jewish community of Ferrara to represent them in the disputation with Dominican monks (this influenced him to write Magen Avraham, a polemical work in part against Christianity and Islam). R. Farissol's great interest in the Age of Discovery led him to compose the present book – Igeret Orchot Olam – which became his most famous work. Igeret Orchot Olam is the first Hebrew geographic work, and the first Hebrew work reporting the discovery of America and other findings.
36 leaves. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, some leaves with many stains. Marginal open tear to title page. Small hole to title page from ink erosion, slightly affecting border. Marginal worming to title page and two other leaves. Title page partially detached. Early parchment binding, damaged and loose.