Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
Levush HaOra – First Edition Printed in the Lifetime of the Author – Prague, 1604 – Illustrated Map of Eretz Israel
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Sold for: $4,250
Including buyer's premium
Levush HaOra, commentary on Rashi's commentary on the Torah, by R. Mordechai Yaffe – "Ba'al HaLevush". Prague: Chaim son of Ya'akov HaCohen, [1604]. First edition, printed in the author's lifetime.
Commentary of R. Mordechai Yaffe Rabbi of Posen, "Ba'al HaLevush", on the Rashi commentary on the Torah. On the verso of the printed title page: "This book is the sixth Levush of the book Levush HaMalchut, composed by R. Mordechai called Yaffe… contains explanations of Rashi's commentary on the Torah and discussion of a few of the commentaries on Rashi - R. Eliyahu Mizrachi and the Maharal of Prague, author of Gur Aryeh… and he named this book Levush HaOra after the verse The Jews had light (ora)…".
The device of the printer, Chaim son of Ya'akov HaCohen, appears on the verso of the title page. The device of another printer, Yehuda Loewy son of Moshe, an employee of the printing press, appears on the last page.
An illustrated map of Eretz Israel appears on p. 84b, prefaced on the previous page: "This is a drawing of the borders of Eretz Israel according to the Rashi commentary as I have been taught and it is true and correct according to Rashi's words as I will explain. Just as we have merited drawing it, so shall we merit seeing it with our own eyes rebuilt and settled…".
The [9] last leaves contain appendixes and novellae by the author to his books Levush HaTechelet and Levush HaChur after their printing.
Page [5b] bears an illustration of a palm of a hand, with signs for calculating the tekufot of the months of the year, accompanied by a discussion and detailed explanation of the correct way to calculate the months according to the parts of the palm of the hand.
Ancient ownership inscription on the title page: "Given to me as a gift by--- Meir son of R. L. of Łęczyca, the 22nd of Shevat 1703". Stamps on title page and in other places: "--- Yitzchak Tuvia Landau", "From the estate of my dear father R. Yisrael Mordechai, Lodz 1810, Yehuda Leibush Morgenstern", "R. Zeligman".
91, [9] leaves. 29.5 cm. Condition varies among the leaves. Most of the inside leaves of the book are in good to good-fair condition. The title page, the following leaf and approximately the last 12 leaves have tears and damage, primarily to the margins, mostly without affecting text. These leaves have been restored with paper and gluing (perhaps some were replaced with leaves from other copies). The next to last leaf is a high-quality photocopy. The rest of the leaves have stains and dampstains. Minor worming to margins of several leaves. New binding.
The map was not recorded in the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection.
Commentary of R. Mordechai Yaffe Rabbi of Posen, "Ba'al HaLevush", on the Rashi commentary on the Torah. On the verso of the printed title page: "This book is the sixth Levush of the book Levush HaMalchut, composed by R. Mordechai called Yaffe… contains explanations of Rashi's commentary on the Torah and discussion of a few of the commentaries on Rashi - R. Eliyahu Mizrachi and the Maharal of Prague, author of Gur Aryeh… and he named this book Levush HaOra after the verse The Jews had light (ora)…".
The device of the printer, Chaim son of Ya'akov HaCohen, appears on the verso of the title page. The device of another printer, Yehuda Loewy son of Moshe, an employee of the printing press, appears on the last page.
An illustrated map of Eretz Israel appears on p. 84b, prefaced on the previous page: "This is a drawing of the borders of Eretz Israel according to the Rashi commentary as I have been taught and it is true and correct according to Rashi's words as I will explain. Just as we have merited drawing it, so shall we merit seeing it with our own eyes rebuilt and settled…".
The [9] last leaves contain appendixes and novellae by the author to his books Levush HaTechelet and Levush HaChur after their printing.
Page [5b] bears an illustration of a palm of a hand, with signs for calculating the tekufot of the months of the year, accompanied by a discussion and detailed explanation of the correct way to calculate the months according to the parts of the palm of the hand.
Ancient ownership inscription on the title page: "Given to me as a gift by--- Meir son of R. L. of Łęczyca, the 22nd of Shevat 1703". Stamps on title page and in other places: "--- Yitzchak Tuvia Landau", "From the estate of my dear father R. Yisrael Mordechai, Lodz 1810, Yehuda Leibush Morgenstern", "R. Zeligman".
91, [9] leaves. 29.5 cm. Condition varies among the leaves. Most of the inside leaves of the book are in good to good-fair condition. The title page, the following leaf and approximately the last 12 leaves have tears and damage, primarily to the margins, mostly without affecting text. These leaves have been restored with paper and gluing (perhaps some were replaced with leaves from other copies). The next to last leaf is a high-quality photocopy. The rest of the leaves have stains and dampstains. Minor worming to margins of several leaves. New binding.
The map was not recorded in the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection.
Kabbalah Books and Basic Books
Kabbalah Books and Basic Books