Auction 88 - Part II - Unique Items and Early Printed Books

Neviim Rishonim with Abarbanel – Pesaro, 1511 – First Edition – Printed by Gershom Soncino – With Half-Title (Lacking in Most Copies)

Opening: $20,000
Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000
Sold for: $32,500
Including buyer's premium

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.


Unique Items and Early Printed Books
Unique Items and Early Printed Books