Auction 72 - Rare and Important Items
Mishneh Torah by the Rambam – Complete Set, Venice 1574-1575 – First Edition of the Kesef Mishneh Commentary – Signature of the Maharitz, Early Glosses and Signatures
Opening: $6,000
Estimate: $12,000 - $18,000
Sold for: $12,500
Including buyer's premium
Mishneh Torah by the Rambam, with Hasagot HaRaavad and Maggid Mishneh, and the Kesef Mishneh commentary by R. Yosef Karo. Venice: Bragadin, 1574-1575. Complete set, four parts in four volumes. Separate title page for each part.
First edition of the Kesef Mishneh commentary, the majority of the volumes printed in the lifetime of the author. On the title pages of Parts I, II and III, R. Yosef Karo is mentioned as amongst the living; whilst on the title page of Part IV, he is already mentioned as deceased ("zatzal"). At the end of Part IV, there is a postface from the proofreader, R. Chizkiyah Fano, informing of the passing of the author R. Yosef Karo during the course of the printing (on 13th Nissan 1575). This is followed by a poem composed by R. Avraham Hayun, disciple of the author, in praise of the Kesef Mishneh composition.
All four volumes bear early signatures, ownership inscriptions and glosses by various writers:
The title page of Vol. III bears an ownership inscription in Yemenite script which appears to be the handwriting of the prominent Yemenite rabbi, R. Yichye Tzalach, the Maharitz: " Property of the synagogue of Yichye son of R. Yosef Tzalach, purchased from donations… the donors should merit Torah". Another ownership inscription on the title page: "…Yosef son of Sueliman Al-Iraqi… ". This volume also bears glosses in Sephardi script from the time of printing, by several writers (some glosses refer to the text of the Rambam while others refer to the words of the Kesef Mishneh). Several additional glosses in a Yemenite script (possibly in the handwriting of the Maharitz).
On the verso of the title page of Vol. IV is an ownership inscription in an early Sephardi script: "Purchased by Avraham son of R. Yehuda ibn Yaish" – possibly R. Avraham ibn Yaish, a prominent Constantinople sage that taught Torah in the community of expelled Jews in Bursa and exchanged responsa with R. Yosef Karo. M. Benayahu surmises that he may have immigrated to Safed to study Torah from R. Yosef Karo and from the Mabit (see: Benayahu, Yosef Bechiri, p. 320). This volume bears a few glosses in Sephardi script, by several writers, as well as a a signature on the title page, slightly trimmed: "This book belongs to Refael Yitzchak Yerushal[mi?]", possibly R. Refael Yitzchak Yerushalmi, an 18th century Constantinople dayan.
The title page of Vol. II bear signatures in Italian script: "…In 1771, this fell to my possession, Yisrael Pugliesi son of R. Shlomo", "Purchased by Shimon Yedidya, Yisrael and Matitia Yosef Pugliesi from their private funds". Several glosses in Italian script appear on the leaves of this volume, as well as an ownership inscription on the last page in square script: "G-d has merited me to complete this second part here in Casale, so He should grant me the merit to complete the other books, and above all, G-d should grant me the merit to immigrate to Jerusalem my birthplace… Ch.D.Sh.".
An inscription in Italian script appears on the title page of Vol. I: "…the derogatory words about pagans do not refer to Christians" (Benayahu in Haskama UReshut BiDefusei Venetzia, p. 192, notes that this inscription, which appears in several books, was written by an apostate censor). An Italian censor signature appears alongside this inscription. One leaf bears a gloss in Italian script.
Four volumes. Vol. I: [22], 316 leaves. Vol. II: [10], 217, [1] leaves. Vol. III: [20], 451 leaves. Lacking [1] final leaf. Vol IV: [10], 297, [9] leaves. Approx. 29 cm. Condition varies. Stains. Worming. Vol. I and Vol. II in overall fair condition. Vol. I: Extensive dampstains and traces of past dampness to title page and additional leaves with many signs of mildew. Tears repaired with paper to last leaves. Vol. II: Worming in many places, at times affecting text. Vol. III and Vol. IV are in overall good-fair condition. Repaired tears to title page of Vol. III (the title page is mounted on paper for reinforcement concealing the illustration on verso). Dampstains to last leaves. Vol. IV is printed on light-colored high-quality paper. Worming. Minor traces of past dampness. Stamps to some of the volumes. New, uniform bindings.
First edition of the Kesef Mishneh commentary, the majority of the volumes printed in the lifetime of the author. On the title pages of Parts I, II and III, R. Yosef Karo is mentioned as amongst the living; whilst on the title page of Part IV, he is already mentioned as deceased ("zatzal"). At the end of Part IV, there is a postface from the proofreader, R. Chizkiyah Fano, informing of the passing of the author R. Yosef Karo during the course of the printing (on 13th Nissan 1575). This is followed by a poem composed by R. Avraham Hayun, disciple of the author, in praise of the Kesef Mishneh composition.
All four volumes bear early signatures, ownership inscriptions and glosses by various writers:
The title page of Vol. III bears an ownership inscription in Yemenite script which appears to be the handwriting of the prominent Yemenite rabbi, R. Yichye Tzalach, the Maharitz: " Property of the synagogue of Yichye son of R. Yosef Tzalach, purchased from donations… the donors should merit Torah". Another ownership inscription on the title page: "…Yosef son of Sueliman Al-Iraqi… ". This volume also bears glosses in Sephardi script from the time of printing, by several writers (some glosses refer to the text of the Rambam while others refer to the words of the Kesef Mishneh). Several additional glosses in a Yemenite script (possibly in the handwriting of the Maharitz).
On the verso of the title page of Vol. IV is an ownership inscription in an early Sephardi script: "Purchased by Avraham son of R. Yehuda ibn Yaish" – possibly R. Avraham ibn Yaish, a prominent Constantinople sage that taught Torah in the community of expelled Jews in Bursa and exchanged responsa with R. Yosef Karo. M. Benayahu surmises that he may have immigrated to Safed to study Torah from R. Yosef Karo and from the Mabit (see: Benayahu, Yosef Bechiri, p. 320). This volume bears a few glosses in Sephardi script, by several writers, as well as a a signature on the title page, slightly trimmed: "This book belongs to Refael Yitzchak Yerushal[mi?]", possibly R. Refael Yitzchak Yerushalmi, an 18th century Constantinople dayan.
The title page of Vol. II bear signatures in Italian script: "…In 1771, this fell to my possession, Yisrael Pugliesi son of R. Shlomo", "Purchased by Shimon Yedidya, Yisrael and Matitia Yosef Pugliesi from their private funds". Several glosses in Italian script appear on the leaves of this volume, as well as an ownership inscription on the last page in square script: "G-d has merited me to complete this second part here in Casale, so He should grant me the merit to complete the other books, and above all, G-d should grant me the merit to immigrate to Jerusalem my birthplace… Ch.D.Sh.".
An inscription in Italian script appears on the title page of Vol. I: "…the derogatory words about pagans do not refer to Christians" (Benayahu in Haskama UReshut BiDefusei Venetzia, p. 192, notes that this inscription, which appears in several books, was written by an apostate censor). An Italian censor signature appears alongside this inscription. One leaf bears a gloss in Italian script.
Four volumes. Vol. I: [22], 316 leaves. Vol. II: [10], 217, [1] leaves. Vol. III: [20], 451 leaves. Lacking [1] final leaf. Vol IV: [10], 297, [9] leaves. Approx. 29 cm. Condition varies. Stains. Worming. Vol. I and Vol. II in overall fair condition. Vol. I: Extensive dampstains and traces of past dampness to title page and additional leaves with many signs of mildew. Tears repaired with paper to last leaves. Vol. II: Worming in many places, at times affecting text. Vol. III and Vol. IV are in overall good-fair condition. Repaired tears to title page of Vol. III (the title page is mounted on paper for reinforcement concealing the illustration on verso). Dampstains to last leaves. Vol. IV is printed on light-colored high-quality paper. Worming. Minor traces of past dampness. Stamps to some of the volumes. New, uniform bindings.
Yemenite Jewry – Manuscripts and Letters
Yemenite Jewry – Manuscripts and Letters