Auction 88 - Part II - Unique Items and Early Printed Books
The Canon of Medicine, Hebrew translation of the medical encyclopedia by the Muslim physician and philosopher Ibn Sina. [Naples: Azriel son of Joseph Ashkenazi Gunzenhauser, 1491-1492]. Only Hebrew edition. Five volumes.
The Canon of Medicine (HaKanon HaGadol, originally: al-Qānūn fī al-Ṭibb) – monumental medical encyclopedia compiled by the Muslim physician and philosopher Ibn Sina (Avicenna; 980-1037) in the 11th century. The work is divided into five books, and includes an in-depth overview of the human body, the causes of various ailments and possible methods of treatment (with extensive description of medical substances).
The book was translated into many languages, and for centuries served as the main textbook for the study of medicine in Europe. Most of the work was translated to Hebrew by R. Nathan of Cento (HaMe'ati), yet the first book and presumably several sections of other books were translated by R. Zerachia son of Yitzchak of Barcelona and R. Yosef son of Yehoshua of Lorca (Lorki). The Canon is known to have had on impact on Torah scholars – see Hebrew sidebar.
Square script, in two columns. Date of printing according to colophon (lacking in present copy), originally found at end of second volume.
Many glosses (some trimmed) in cursive Sephardic script, by several writers, and many inscriptions, in all volumes. Contents of the glosses include commentaries and translations, emendations, additions and novellae.
Signatures of R. Shmuel Heller (rabbi of Safed) in two places in vol. II.
Five volumes. Altogether [438] leaves. Originally: [480] leaves. Lacking 42 leaves.
Vol. I (Book I): [57] leaves. Lacking 13 leaves (originally: [70] leaves). Collation: ii-viii8 (lacking [1] unnumbered 4-leaf gathering, including one blank leaf, and lacking gathering i of 8 leaves), ix1 (lacking final blank leaf).
Vol. II (Book II): [55] leaves. Lacking 21 leaves (originally: [76] leaves). Collation: [1]1 (lacking leaves 1-2, 4-6 (leaf 6 blank), i7 (lacking final leaf), ii-iii8, iv7 (lacking leaf 2), v5 (lacking leaves 4-5 and 8), vi6 (lacking first and last leaves), vii3 (lacking leaves 2-6), viii6 (lacking leaves 3-4), ix4 (lacking final two leaves).
Vol. III (Book III): [188] leaves. Lacking 6 leaves (originally: [194] leaves). Collation: [1]7 (lacking leaf 1 – blank), i10, ii-viii8 (first leaf of gathering iii bound out of sequence, after leaf 7), ix4 (lacking leaves 3-6), x-xxii8 (first leaf of gathering xii possibly supplied from a different copy), xxiii7 (lacking final blank leaf).
Vol. IV (Book IV): [96] leaves. Complete. Collation: [1]6, i-x8, xi6, xii4. First four and final two leaves of volume possibly supplied from a different copy.
Vol. V (Book V): [42] leaves. Originally: [44] leaves. Lacking 2 leaves. Collation: [1]7 (lacking first blank leaf), i-iv8, v3 (lacking final leaf).
All lacking leaves of text were replaced in photocopy (final leaf of vol. V replaced in handwriting as well, on separate leaf). 28.5-29.5 cm. Some volumes wide-margined. Condition varies. Vols. I and III in good-fair condition. Vols. II, IV and V in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Vol. IV with many dampstains and traces of past dampness to final leaves. Traces of past dampness and mold to some leaves of vols. II and V. Wear. Worming affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Extensive worming to some leaves of vols. III and IV. Tears, including open tears affecting text, repaired with paper (many open tears to vol. II; missing text on several leaves replaced in photocopy). In various places (particularly in vol. IV but also in other places), large marginal open tears repaired with paper (these leaves may have been supplied from other copies). New bindings (matching). Slipcased.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Mikraot Gedolot, Torah, Neviim Rishonim, Neviim Acharonim and Ketuvim, with commentaries. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1517. Four volumes.
First edition of Mikraot Gedolot. This edition marks an important and significant milestone in the history of the printing of the Bible, and is a first major achievement of the printer Daniel Bomberg.
In this edition, the text of the Bible is printed for the first time accompanied by many commentaries (some printed here for the first time). Likewise, this edition includes several important innovations: chapter numbers in Hebrew characters, appearing here for the first time; the division of Shmuel, Melachim, Ezra Nechemiah and Divrei HaYamim into two books; first printing of Targum Yerushalmi on the Torah and first printing of the Targums to the books of Neviim.
The editor of this edition was the apostate Felix Pratensis, and he dedicated it to Pope Leo X (dedication appears in some copies on verso of title page of part I, lacking in the present copy).
Added at the end of vol. IV: Targum Yerushalmi on the Chumash; Targum Sheni on Esther; table of Haftarot according to all customs; Rambam's 13 principles of faith; positive and negative commandments by R. Avraham ibn Hassan HaLevi; Dikdukei HaTaamim by R. Aharon son of Asher; variants between Ben-Asher and Ben-Naftali; and list of eras of each of the 24 books of the Bible.
Leaf at the end of the Book of Tehillim with Radak's commentary, with Radak's anti-Christian comments to Psalms (appears in some copies only).
Glosses by several writers in vol. IV. Particularly lengthy kabbalistic gloss (trimmed) at end of Book of Daniel, dated 1670, with presumably Sabbatian content (mentions the numerical value of "Tishbi Tzvi" – see enclosed material). Includes eschatological calculations for the years 5435-5440 (1674-1680), and the meaning of the final letters.
Many words deleted with ink and scraped off by censor (partially replaced in handwriting). Censor's signatures and inscriptions on final leaf of vol. IV.
Four volumes: Torah: [97] leaves (leaves [37]-[133]). Lacking first 36 leaves and final leaf (blank). Neviim Rishonim: [119] leaves. Lacking final leaf (blank). Neviim Acharonim: [180] leaves. Ketuvim: [233] leaves. Lacking 4 blank leaves (leaf [70] at end of Tehillim, leaf [166] at end of Esther, leaf [214] at end of Divrei HaYamim, leaf [230] after table of Haftarot). Final leaf of Ketuvim, with printing license from Pope dated 1515, not present in this copy. It appears only in copies originally intended for Christians (some include a dedication to the Pope).
Vol. I: 33.5 cm. Vols. II-IV: 35.5 cm. Condition varies. Vols. I and II in fair to fair-good condition. Vols. III and IV in good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Large stains to final leaves of vol. IV. Tears, including open tears affecting text, repaired with paper (with handwritten text replacement on one leaf in last volume). Marginal open tears to many leaves of vol. I, not affecting text. Large marginal open tears to first 12 leaves of vol. II and to other leaves, affecting text in several places, repaired with paper. Title page of vol. II (of different size, presumably supplied from another copy) with extensive worming, detached. Worming affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Vol. I with old binding, other three vols. with new leather bindings.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Rosh Hashanah – with Rashi and Tosafot, Piskei Tosafot, the Rambam's commentary on Mishnayot and Rabbenu Asher. 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.
"Registro" table on final page, listing the gatherings and opening text of each sheet (to facilitate bookbinding).
Inscription on title page, and marginal glosses in several places.
42 leaves. 36.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains and minor dampstains. Open tears, including large marginal open tears to final leaves, close to text, repaired with paper. Worming to title page and other leaves, slightly affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sukkah – with Rashi and Tosafot, Piskei Tosafot, the Rambam's commentary on Mishnayot, and Rabbenu Asher. [Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1521]. 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.
Marginal handwritten inscriptions on several leaves.
[1], 2-68 leaves. 36.5 cm. Lacking original title page, replaced by title page of second edition. Most leaves in good condition, first leaves in fair-good condition. Stains. Open tears to title page and large marginal open tears to first leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper. Tears, including minor open tears and minor worming, slightly affecting text. Stamps: NLI and "removed". New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Chullin – with Rashi and Tosafot, Piskei Tosafot, the Rambam's commentary on Mishnayot, and Rabbenu Asher. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1521. 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.
"Registro" table on final page, listing the gatherings and opening text of each sheet (to facilitate bookbinding).
Marginal handwritten inscriptions to several leaves.
2-174, 177-179, [1] leaves. Lacking title page (replaced in photocopy). Approx. 34 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Large, dark stains to some leaves. Tears, including large open tears to first and final leaves and to several other leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper (with photocopy text replacement in several places). Worming affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Lot 310 Tractate Menachot – Venice, 1522 – First Talmud Edition Printed by Daniel Bomberg –Fine Copy
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Menachot – with Rashi and Tosafot, and Piskei Tosafot. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1522. 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.
[2] final leaves with Piskei Tosafot.
Signature on title page.
110, [2] leaves. 36.5 cm. Fine copy. Wide margins. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of past dampness. Minor marginal open tears to several leaves, and marginal tears to two final leaves, not affecting text, repaired with paper. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Babylonian Talmud, Tractates Me'ilah, Kinnim, Middot and Tamid – with Rashi and Tosafot, and Piskei Tosafot. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1522. 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.
Two colophons on p. 47b mark the conclusion of the printing of the first Talmud edition issued by Bomberg (although Order Taharot was printed half a year later with the commentary of the Rash, the printers already considered the edition complete since Order Taharot with the commentary of the Rambam had been printed, and presumably not all buyers would purchase an additional edition of Order Taharot).
Signatures on title page and others leaves, including signatures of R. Mordechai Barzani (presumably a Torah scholar in Kurdistan, see enclosed material). Lengthy handwritten inscription on verso of title page. Several glosses.
47 leaves. 34 cm. Condition varies. First 35 leaves in good condition, final ten leaves in fair condition. Stains. Dampstains to final leaves. Large open tears and extensive worming affecting text to final ten leaves, repaired with paper (several leaves may have been supplied from a different copy). Stamps. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbat – with Rashi and Tosafot, Piskei Tosafot, Rambam's commentary on Mishnayot, and Rabbenu Asher. [Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1530]. Second edition.
Volume of the second Talmud edition printed by Daniel Bomberg in Venice.
On p. 157b, text of the Hadran recited upon the completion of a tractate. Concludes with the regular kaddish, rather than the special kaddish usually recited nowadays at a siyum.
Many handwritten references and markings in the margins and body of text. After the kaddish at end of tractate, inscription in early Ashkenazic script with text to be recited at a siyum (from Shimush Tehillim).
Incomplete copy. 3-8, 10-191 leaves. Lacking 4 leaves: title page, leaves 2, 9, and final leaf (replaced in photocopy). 35.5 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Wear. Tears, including tears affecting text, repaired with paper. Large marginal open tears to several leaves, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper (with handwritten text replacement on one leaf). Worming, affecting text. Many stamps (over text in several places). New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Mo'ed Katan – with Rashi and Tosafot, Piskei Tosafot, the Rambam's commentary on Mishnayot, and Rabbenu Asher. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1539. Title page states: "Printed for the second time", though this is in fact the third edition of Mo'ed Katan issued by Bomberg.
Inscriptions on title page and other leaves.
45 leaves. 34.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains and mold stains to several leaves. Marginal open tears to title page and other leaves, and large open tears to final leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper (with photocopy replacement in several places). Worming affecting text, repaired with paper. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Mishnayot Order Zera'im – with the commentaries of the Rambam and Rabbenu Shimshon (the Rash) of Sens, and Mishnayot Order Taharot – with the commentary of the Rash. Venice, 1522. Two parts (in one volume), from the first Talmud edition published by Daniel Bomberg.
In Bomberg's Talmud edition, Order Taharot was printed twice, once with the commentary of the Rambam, and once with the commentary of the Rash of Sens. This volume contains only Order Taharot with the commentary of the Rash of Sens.
Signature in early Italian-Ashkenazic script on the title page: "Eliezer Yitzchak HaKohen", and signature in Italian: "Lazaro Isac Sacerdote", with another inscription on p. 2a of Order Zera'im. The endpapers contain additional Italian inscriptions of the Palestro family of Kohanim (Sacerdote Palestro).
Ownership inscriptions (partially faded) at the beginning of Order Taharot.
Several glosses. Lengthy gloss on p. 33b of Seder Zera'im.
Two parts in one volume. Order Zera'im: 86 leaves. Lacking 6 leaves with the preface of the Rambam to Order Zera'im and the foreword of the translator. Order Taharot: [112] leaves. Lacking title page. [4] blank leaves between the two parts (original). 36 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Wear to some leaves. Stains and traces of past dampness (significant dampstains to some leaves). Worming. Detached leaves. Censor's deletions in a few places, and censorship stamps at beginning and end of volume. Old leather binding, damaged and detached, with torn spine.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Bava Batra – with Rashi and Tosafot, Piskei Tosafot, Rabbenu Asher, and Rambam's commentary on Mishnayot. [Venice: Marco Antonio Giustiniani, 1548].
In 1543, Bomberg was faced with serious competition – Antonio Giustiniani, a Venetian patrician, began issuing his own Talmud edition with the assistance of Jews who had acquired printing skills in Bomberg's press. Giustiniani printed a complete Talmud edition in 1546-1551. His edition included several innovations, which were since incorporated as part of the classic Talmud page layout. His innovations include: Ein Mishpat, Masoret HaTalmud, references to the passages of Talmud quoted by Tosafot, and Kitzur Piskei HaRosh.
Bomberg's printing firm was eventually defeated by Giustiniani's fierce competition, until it stopped printing in 1549. Later, a dispute erupted between Giustiniani and another Venetian printer – Alvise Bragadin, which eventually led to the burning of the Talmud in 1553. This decree resulted in the burning of almost all the volumes of Giustiniani's Talmud edition, and they are therefore exceptionally rare. To the best of our knowledge, Tractate Bava Batra has never before been offered at auction.
Marginal glosses and inscription to several leaves. Signatures on leaves 136 and 142. Many inscriptions, quill trials and drawings on verso of final leaf, as well as signatures and stamps.
3-180; 40 leaves. Lacking first two leaves (replaced in photocopy). Leaves 20-21 of second sequence bound out of order. Approx. 34 cm. Condition varies, first leaves and several other leaves in fair condition, most leaves in good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Tears, including open tears affecting text, repaired with paper. Large open tears to several leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper (with photocopy replacement of missing text). Worming affecting text, repaired with paper. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Neviim Rishonim, with the commentary of R. Yitzchak Abarbanel. [Pesaro: Gershom Soncino, 1511]. First edition, printed several years after the author's passing.
Commentary of the Abarbanel on the books of Yehoshua, Shoftim, Shmuel and Melachim, with the text of the Neviim.
The first page is a half-title for the book of Yehoshua (this leaf is lacking in most copies).
Woodcut border at the beginning (p. [2a]) and end (p. [306a]) of the book. Interesting preface by the author at the beginning of the book, in which he recounts his life story. In the preface to the book of Melachim, he describes his failed attempts to the decree to expel the Jews from Spain, and his settling in Naples, where he continued composing his commentary to Neviim (see Hebrew sidebar).
Signature on half-title in early Ashkenazic script, followed by an inscription in square script, stating that the book was printed in Naples 1493 (at that time the author was still in the process of composing his commentary, as he relates in his preface to Melachim).
[306] leaves. 31.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text (primarily to first and final leaves). Marginal open tears to several leaves, not affecting text. Final leaf (with engraved border) mounted on paper for reinforcement. Stamp and handwritten inscriptions on first leaf. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.