Auction 74 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot – Berditchev, 1807 – Approbation by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev – First Book Printed in Berditchev
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,375
Including buyer's premium
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, with the commentaries of Rashi, Tosafot, the Rosh, the Maharsha and the Rambam's commentary to Mishnayot. Berditchev (Berdychiv), [1807]. The book opens with approbations by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the dayanim of his Beit Din in Berditchev, R. Betzalel Margolies of Ostroh, R. Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov, and the dayanim of the Ostroh Beit Din.
The printer, R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, founder of the first Hebrew printing firm in Berditchev (see below), wished to inaugurate his press with the publication of a complete Talmud edition. Ultimately, only the present Tractate Berachot was published.
In his approbation to this book, R. Betzalel Margolies indicates that the initiator and driving force behind the printing of this book was R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.
Medium format, each leaf corresponds with one page of the regular Talmud editions.
Ownership inscriptions of "Yosef Leib son of R. Yaakov".
[2], 5-194 leaves. 20.5 cm. Light-bluish paper. Good condition. Stains (including dampstains and dark stains) and wear. Open tears to title page, several subsequent leaves and final leaf, affecting text (also affecting words of approbation by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev), repaired with paper. Worming, slightly affecting text, partially repaired with paper. New leather binding.
This is the first book printed in Berditchev, in the printing press established that year by R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, the industrious and migrant printer, who set up the first Hebrew printing firm in Korets. He worked as a printer in Oleksinets and Shklow, went on to establish the Hebrew printing press in Polonne, and later in Ostroh and Berditchev concurrently. See: A. Yaari, HaDfus HaIvri BeBerditchev, Kiryat Sefer 21, 1944-1945, p. 100 onwards. In his approbation to the present book, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev writes about "R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, printer of Ostroh, who resolved to publish in the printing press which was reestablished here in our community of Berditchev…".
The printer, R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, founder of the first Hebrew printing firm in Berditchev (see below), wished to inaugurate his press with the publication of a complete Talmud edition. Ultimately, only the present Tractate Berachot was published.
In his approbation to this book, R. Betzalel Margolies indicates that the initiator and driving force behind the printing of this book was R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.
Medium format, each leaf corresponds with one page of the regular Talmud editions.
Ownership inscriptions of "Yosef Leib son of R. Yaakov".
[2], 5-194 leaves. 20.5 cm. Light-bluish paper. Good condition. Stains (including dampstains and dark stains) and wear. Open tears to title page, several subsequent leaves and final leaf, affecting text (also affecting words of approbation by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev), repaired with paper. Worming, slightly affecting text, partially repaired with paper. New leather binding.
This is the first book printed in Berditchev, in the printing press established that year by R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, the industrious and migrant printer, who set up the first Hebrew printing firm in Korets. He worked as a printer in Oleksinets and Shklow, went on to establish the Hebrew printing press in Polonne, and later in Ostroh and Berditchev concurrently. See: A. Yaari, HaDfus HaIvri BeBerditchev, Kiryat Sefer 21, 1944-1945, p. 100 onwards. In his approbation to the present book, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev writes about "R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, printer of Ostroh, who resolved to publish in the printing press which was reestablished here in our community of Berditchev…".
Books Printed in Russia-Poland – Slavita, Zhitomir and Elsewhere
Books Printed in Russia-Poland – Slavita, Zhitomir and Elsewhere