Auction 88 - Part II - Unique Items and Early Printed Books
Year-round Ashkenazi rite machzor, with commentary by R. Binyamin son of R. Meir HaLevi, parts I and II. Sabbioneta-Cremona: Tobias Foa in Sabbioneta [and Vincenzo Conti in Cremona, 1556-1560].
The printing of this machzor, which was begun by Tobias Foa in Sabbioneta, was interrupted with the closure of Foa's press. The printing was completed by Vincenzo Conti in Cremona, who issued two different printings of part II.
Several glosses in early Ashkenazic script. Bound at the end of the machzor are leaves with copyings of piyyutim not appearing in the machzor and a list of selichot for the High Holidays, in early Ashkenazic script.
392, [2] leaves. 20 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Some leaves with many stains, including dark dampstains. Wear. Open tears to title page and other leaves, affecting border and text in several places, repaired with paper. Marginal open tears to final two leaves, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper (leaves presumably supplied from a different copy). Worming, affecting text, repaired with paper. Original, early, ornamented leather-covered wood binding; original clasps lacking, replaced with new leather strap closures. Defects to binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
HaEmunot VehaDeot by R. Saadia Gaon. Constantinople: [Solomon son of Isaac Yaavetz, 1562]. First edition.
The first Jewish philosophical work, and one of the classic works on Jewish thought authored in the Middle Ages.
Original composed in Judeo-Arabic, the work was translated in the 11th century and again later by R. Yehuda ibn Tibon. The present edition comprises the latter translation.
On title page, signature of R. Natan Coronel (1810-1890), prominent Jerusalem Torah scholar, communal worker, publisher and emissary.
87, [1] leaves. 18 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming to title page and other leaves, affecting text, repaired in part with paper. Open tear to lower part of title page, and minor open tears to final leaves, not affecting text, repaired with paper. Leaves trimmed close to headings in several places (with loss of one heading). Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding, with minor defects.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Torat HaOlah, philosophical-kabbalistic work explaining the Temple and sacrifices, by R. Moshe Isserles – the Rema. Prague: Mordechai (son of Gershom) Katz, 1570. First edition, printed in the author's lifetime.
The book is divided into three parts: Part I pertains to the plan of the Temple and its utensils; Part II explains the meaning of the sacrifices and kohanim in general; and Part III discusses each sacrifice in detail.
In his preface, the Rema explains that one of the purposes of his work is to achieve true appreciation of the great benefit gained from the Temple, and what we lost with its destruction. The book provides a philosophical interpretation of the Temple laws, combined with corresponding Kabbalistic concepts. Its philosophy is greatly influenced by the teachings of the Rambam, who is mentioned in almost every chapter.
Title page set in fine engraved border.
Ownership inscriptions on title page, deleted with ink and difficult to decipher.
[6], 173 leaves. 28 cm. Browned paper. Fair-good condition. Stains, including large dampstains, dark stains and wax stains. Tears and worming, slightly affecting engraved title page border. Tears affecting text in several places, and open tears to title page without damage to text, repaired with paper. Minor damage (singeing). Stamp at foot of title page. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Chochmat Shlomo, the Maharshal's glosses on the Talmud. Kraków: [Isaac son of Aaron Prostitz?, 1582]. First edition.
First edition of the famous glosses of the Maharshal, with which he establishes the correct wording of the Babylonian Talmud. The work, which was copied from the margins of the Maharshal's Talmud volumes, was later integrated in all printed editions of the Talmud.
The present, thick volume contains the complete work. Original ornamented leather binding, from the time of the printing.
The book was printed by the Maharshal's sons after his passing, though it opens with two approbations granted to the Maharshal in his lifetime: one by R. Kalman of Worms, and one by the Rema.
There are numerous in-text illustrations throughout the book, especially in tractates Eruvin and Sukkah. Illustration of the globe and the Zodiac at the end of tractate Shabbat.
The tractates in the present volume were bound differently to what is recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book (there are other copies in which the tractates were arranged differently).
Faded ownership inscription on title page. Brief handwritten gloss in Tractate Gittin, p. 23b, and emendation on p. 26a. Other handwritten inscriptions on back endpaper.
Complete copy. [595] leaves. Separate foliation for each tractate. Berachot: 17 leaves. Shabbat: 61 leaves. Eruvin: 44 leaves. Pesachim: 40 leaves. Betzah: 12 leaves. Sukkah: 22, [1] leaves. Bava Kama: 27 leaves. Bava Metzia: 34 leaves. Bava Batra: 69 leaves. Ketubot: 33 leaves. Kiddushin: 34 leaves. Gittin: 28 leaves. Sanhedrin: 39 leaves. Shevuot: 13 leaves. Makkot: 10 leaves. Yevamot: 52 leaves. Sotah: 19 leaves. Niddah: 16 leaves. Chullin: 24 leaves. Blank leaves bound between some tractates. 20.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Large, dark stains to several leaves. Wear. Tears, including marginal open tears to some leaves, not affecting text. Minor worming to final leaves, not affecting text. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. Original, ornamented leather binding, with defects, lacking clasps.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Gevurot HaShem, Passover and the Exodus from Egypt, with a commentary to the Passover Haggadah by R. Yehuda Loew – the Maharal of Prague. Kraków: Isaac ben Aaron Prostitz, 1582. First edition, printed anonymously in the Maharal's lifetime.
93, [3] leaves. 28.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Open tears to title page, affecting engraved border, repaired with paper and photocopy replacement. Tears to several leaves, including open tears to final 3 leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper. Final leaf mounted on paper for reinforcement. Marginal paper repairs to several leaves. Worming, with slight damage to text, repaired in part with paper. Leaves trimmed close to headings in several places. Ownership inscriptions, signatures and stamps. New leather binding.
Yaari 23; Otzar HaHaggadot 29.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Be'er HaGolah, commentaries on Aggadah, by R. Yehuda Loew – the Maharal of Prague. Prague, [printer not indicated, 1598]. First edition, printed anonymously in the Maharal's lifetime.
46 leaves. 28.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including minor dampstains. Worming, affecting text, repaired with paper. Marginal open tears to approx. 13 leaves, close to text, slightly affecting text in several places, repaired with paper. Tiny tear to title page, slightly affecting border. Large open tear to final leaf, not affecting text, repaired with paper. Remnants of inked stamps. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Netzach Yisrael, regarding Mashiach and the Redemption of the Jewish people, by R. Yehuda Loew – the Maharal of Prague. Prague: Moshe son of R. Y. Bezalel Katz, [1599]. First edition.
The book contains many hundreds of particularly lengthy glosses, by an unidentified writer, in cursive Ashkenazic script (Germany?, ca. 19th century). The glosses occasionally fill entire pages, and form a complete composition, which was presumably never published. The glosses contain the writer's original commentaries and novellae on the words of the author, and occasionally Judeo-German translations. The author was evidently an outstanding Torah scholar well versed in Kabbalah and philosophy. Many markings and underlines in the body of text.
63 [i.e. 64] leaves. Misfoliation. 29 cm. Paper partially browned. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Leaves trimmed close to text in several places. Stamps. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Yosef Daat, commentaries and emendations to Rashi's commentary on the Torah, by R. Yosef Miklas of Prague. Prague: Gershom son of Betzalel Katz, [1609]. Only edition.
The purpose of this work is to correct errors which crept into Rashi's commentary on the Torah, while expanding upon and justifying the correct text of Rashi, occasionally with the addition of original commentaries and novellae by the author and his teachers.
The book contains many woodcut illustrations to be used by teachers as teaching aids. The illustrations include Jacob's ladder, the Temple menorah, the Ephod and priestly breastplate (on folding plate), map of Eretz Israel with the trajectory of the Jews in the desert, and more – see Hebrew description for a full list of illustrations.
R. Yosef son of R. Yissachar Miklas (ca. 1580-1654), a Torah scholar of Prague, disciple of the Maharal of Prague, the Kli Yakar and the Levushim.
Ownership inscription on the title page.
Gloss in early Ashkenazic script on p. 103b.
60, [1] folded plate, 65-152 leaves. 19.5 cm. Browned paper. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Open tears to upper margin of title page and to margins of other leaves (slightly affecting text on final leaf), repaired with paper. Marginal tears to folding plate, including open tears affecting text and edge of illustrations (illustrations completed by hand). Small tear slightly affecting illustration of Jacob's ladder, without loss. Worming to title page and other leaves, affecting border and text, repaired in part with paper. Censorship stamp and inscription. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Megaleh Amukot, 252 kabbalistic interpretations of the VaEtchanan prayer, by R. Natan Nata Shapira Rabbi of Kraków, disseminator of the Arizal's teachings in Ashkenazi countries. Kraków, [Menachem Nachum Meisels, 1637]. First edition.
First edition of one of the earliest and most prominent kabbalistic works printed in Poland.
In his foreword, R. Shlomo, son of the author writes that his father intended to compose one thousand commentaries on the VaEtchanan prayer, yet he received a Heavenly directive to only reveal 252.
Signatures and inscriptions on the title page, some deleted.
[5], 166; 16, [8] leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Tears to title page, including open tears slightly affecting border and affecting text on verso, repaired with paper (missing text partially replaced in handwriting). Tears in several other places, including tear affecting text on final leaf. Worming to title page and other leaves, affecting border and text, repaired in part with paper. Strips of paper (for repair) to margins on several leaves, close to text. Stamps. Handwritten inscriptions. New leather binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Psalterium Hebraeum, Graecum, Arabicum & Chaldaeum cum tribus latinis interpretationibus & glossis – polyglot Psalter, edited by Agostino Giustiniani. [Genoa (Italy): Petrus Paulus Porrus for Nicolai Jiustiniani Pauli, 1516].
First polyglot edition of the Book of Tehillim. This is the first printed translation of Tehillim to Aramaic (Chaldaeum), and the second book ever printed in Arabic characters.
The text on the title page is printed in five languages: Latin, Hebrew, Greek, Arabic and Aramaic. The Latin, Greek and Aramaic text are printed in red. Framed in a fine decorative border.
Text printed from left to right, eight columns across every two pages – the original Hebrew text, followed by a literal Latin translation, the Latin Vulgate, Greek translation, Arabic translation, Targum (Aramaic translation, with vocalization and cantillation notes), and Latin translation of the Targum. The final column comprises Latin notes and commentaries (occasionally quoting lengthy passages of Hebrew texts).
Headings and prefatory text at beginning of translation printed in red. First Psalm with floriated initial (in all languages).
Particularly lengthy Latin note to Psalm 19, verse 4: "and their words shall go to the ends of the earth...", relating to Columbus' discovery of America, including much previously unpublished information on the life of Columbus (a native of Genoa) and his second voyage (in 1493-1494).
This edition was supervised and financed by Agostino Giustiniani (1470-1536), Bishop of the Diocese of Nebbio, who intended to publish a polyglot edition of the entire Bible (only the Book of Tehillim was ever published, 2000 copies on paper and 50 elaborate copies on parchment).
Handwritten inscriptions (in Latin) on verso of title page, and in several other places.
[200] leaves. Collation: A10, B-Z8, &8, C6. 33 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains to many leaves. Minor marginal open tears to title page and several other leaves. Bookplate. Library stamps. New binding.
This is the first book printed in Genoa, and the only book printed there in the first quarter of the 16th century.
Regarding the uniqueness of this edition, see: B. Sabin Hill, Hebraica from the Valmadonna Trust, The Piermont Morgan Library (1989), no. 18.
Darlow & Moule, 1411.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Zera Shimshon, homiletics on the Torah and the Five Megillot, by R. Shimshon Chaim son of R. Nachman Michael Nachmani. Mantua: Eliezer Solomon of Italy, [1778]. Segulah for offspring, good life and abundant livelihood.
The author, R. Shimshon Chaim Nachmani (1706-1779), was an Italian kabbalist and Torah scholar. He disseminated Torah in Modena and Mantua and educated disciples who later held rabbinic positions in several Italian communities. He also authored Toldot Shimshon on Tractate Avot. The Chida wrote that R. Nachmani was well versed in practical Kabbalah and ordered his kabbalistic writings to be buried with him in his grave (Shem HaGedolim, Maarechet Sefarim, 46).
In the preface, the author implores "with ten expressions of prayer" to study his book, and blesses those who do so: "The One who repays will recompense you… with the threefold blessing of offspring, life and abundant livelihood". Further in the preface, the author writes that since his only son had passed away, leaving him without descendants, he named his book Zera Shimshon, and promises: "And your eyes will witness sons and grandsons like olive shoots around your table, wise and intelligent, and houses full of goodness, neither wealth nor honor will cease from your descendants…".
In recent years, interest in this book has grown considerably, and many accounts have been publicized of couples who were blessed with children in the merit of this book. These stories were recorded in the Niflaot Shimshon leaflets and later in Kovetz Sipurei Yeshuot printed at the end of the new edition of the book (published by the Association for Spreading the Teachings of the Zera Shimshon, Arad 2015).
104, 108-115, [2], 117-62 [i.e. 162]; 21, [1] leaves. 35.5 cm. Fine copy. Light-colored paper. Good condition. Stains. Minor marginal open tears and worming to some leaves, not affecting text. Dark tape repairs to margins of several leaves. Stamps. New binding.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
Pair of miniature tefillin uniquely and meticulously crafted by R. Netanel Sofer Tefillinski. Beit Yosef (Ashkenazic) script. Jerusalem, [ca. 1890s].
These tefillin belonged to R. Yehoshua Leib Diskin Rabbi of Brisk (1818-1898), who wore them throughout the day while studying. The tefillin were specially manufactured for him following his detailed instructions, by his disciple the renowned scribe R. Netanel Sofer of Jerusalem, who scribed the parashiot and crafted the batim with many enhancements.
The Maharil Diskin gifted these tefillin to his disciple R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Yadler, author of Tiferet Tzion, as a tribute to his years of toil in composing the Tiferet Tzion series on the Midrash. The tefillin were then passed down from generation to generation in the Yadler-Goldberg family: first to his son, the Jerusalem Maggid R. Benzion Yadler-Goldberg, and later to his grandson R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Yadler-Goldberg. The latter attested in a letter (enclosed) that the Maharil Diskin, who purchased these tefillin at great cost from R. Netanel Sofer and donned them throughout the day, later gifted them to his grandfather R. Yitzchak Ze'ev Yadler, who also wore them all day. Upon the latter's passing, the tefillin were inherited by R. Benzion Yadler, who likewise wore them throughout the day. (Enclosed: letter from the son of R. Benzion Yadler and additional letter from his grandson, attesting to the authenticity of the tefillin, the transfer of ownership and the sale to the present owner).
R. Netanel Sofer's tefillin were legendary, and requests were received from all over the world for the holy tefillin he produced. Many prominent Torah leaders tried to obtain tefillin and mezuzot scribed by R. Netanel Sofer, including: R. Shmuel Salant, the Maharil Diskin, R. Chaim Berlin, the Leshem, the Alter of Slabodka, R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, and others. It is known that the Chafetz Chaim expended great effort in obtaining such tefillin, and greatly rejoiced upon receiving them.
R. Netanel Sofer Tefillinski-Lipschitz (1866-1918), a holy Tzadik and prominent Torah scholar of the Etz Chaim Yeshiva in Jerusalem, who was blessed with remarkable technical and creative abilities. He personally performed all the tasks required for making tefillin from beginning to end: processing the parchment for the parashiot and the leather for the batim and straps, preparing the ink, cutting the straps, crafting the batim, etc. When it came to writing the parashiot, R. Netanel would scribe each letter and tag in holiness and purity, wrapped in his tallit and tefillin, never speaking while writing. R. Netanel Sofer worked so meticulously, that he produced very few sets of tefillin, and even during his short lifespan (he passed away at the age of 52), the tefillin of R. Netanel Sofer were rare commodities.
Until this day, several mezuzot and parashiot of tefillin made by R. Netanel Sofer are extant, and they are remarkable for the special halachic precision of the shape of the letters and for their superb scribal writing. The special ink produced by R. Netanel Sofer remains sharp and black, even a hundred years later.
Reputedly, R. Netanel produced altogether around 30 pairs of tefillin, most of which were in regular, not miniature size. The present pair of tefillin is the only known extant miniature pair of tefillin by R. Netanel. Experts attest that these tefillin have an additional enhancement not found in other tefillin produced by R. Netanel – the parashiot were written in four lines only, rather than in the usual seven lines.
R. Netanel Sofer would paste printed papers inside the tefillin boxes, detailing the virtues of his tefillin, in regard to the script, parchment and ink, which he guaranteed would last for a very long time. He writes that the various enhancements were approved by leading Torah scholars, reputedly referring to R. Shmuel Salant and the Maharil Diskin, whom he consulted on all halachic issues relevant to the manufacture of tefillin.
Torah leaders yearned to don the tefillin worn by the Maharil Diskin during his Torah study. They viewed it as a great segulah, and expended much effort to merit to lay them even once.
Arm-tefillin: Bayit: approx. 17.5X17.5 mm. Base: approx. 28.7X28.5 mm. Base including passageway: approx. 45.8X28.7 mm. Height: 26.5 mm.
Head-tefillin: Bayit: approx. 18.5X18.5 mm. Base: approx. 29.5X29.3 mm. Base including passageway: approx. 45.1X29.5 mm. Height: 27.1 mm.
Non-original straps, tied in accordance with halachah. Enclosed separately are worn straps (possibly the original straps by R. Netanel). New, non-original plastic protective cases, placed in a new leather tefillin pouch.
Tefillin in good condition. Examined over the years by Stam proofreaders and experts, who confirmed that they are indeed in the distinctive hand of R. Netanel Sofer, and attested to the kashrut and exceptional beauty of the tefillin (see enclosed reports). The tefillin are sewn and closed – we did not examine the parashiot; see photographs of parashiot in enclosed material and in the Pe'er Yerushalayim institute – code TPBB 1466.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.