Auction No. 102
Holy books, Chassidut, Manuscripts, Rabbinical & Admors' letters, Eretz Yisrael & Zionism, Americana, Judiaca & Prof. Albert Einstein
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Toldot Adam V'Chava and Sefer Meisharim, by Rabbeinu Yerucham of Provence. Constantinople, [1516]. First edition. Copy in special condition.
Specifications: 272, [14]; 122 leaves. 26 cm. Ya'ari Kushta 50.
Unique features: Complete copy, including the leaves of indexes. First edition of the renowned halachic work by one of the foremost Rishonim, who the Beit Yosef quotes thousands (!) of times. Figure of a lion on the title page as the symbol of the printer Yehuda Sasson at the printing press of Shmuel Nachmias, and a small similar symbol at the end of the colophon. Refer to: A. Ya'ari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvri'im no. 8. Handwritten glosses.
Background: The book before us is the first book known to have been printed booklet by booklet, which were distributed on Shabbat in synagogues, so that the purchasers could pay by instalment and the printers did not have to invest large sums of money in advance only to receive the money after the entire book was printed, which, at the time, took many months. A halachic question was raised as to whether this is permitted on Shabbat. Rabbi Shmuel HaLevi ibn Chakim who permitted the matter in the polemic in 1546 regarding such a sale, relied on the precedent of Rabbeinu Yerucham's book, that the rabbi would preach about it in the synagogues on Shabbat.
One of the first products of the Hebrew printing press in Constantinople, which was the first Hebrew printing press in the oriental countries and in the Ottoman Empire.
Condition: Very fine. Magnificent leather binding.
Commentary on the book of Eicha by Rabbi Yoel son of Shueb. Salonica, 1521. First edition.
Specifications: [40] leaves, 18 cm.
Background: Early commentary on the book of Eicha, with the text of the Megillah. A verse from the megillah, followed by the commentary. On the title page: Commentary on the book of Eicha (only), and on the back of the title page: An exegesis on the book of Eicha and the author's introduction.
The author, Rabbi Yoel Shueb was a rabbi in Aragon, Spain, and moved to Salonica after the expulsion. He also wrote Olat Shabbat which was published after his passing [Venice, 1577]. An only edition as its own book, the commentary was later printed in Kol Bochim, [Venice, 5789] and in editions of Mikraot Gedolot.
Unique Features: One of the earliest books from Salonica. Extremely rare book, especially in such perfect condition.
Condition: Very fine. Minimal aging stains. Isolated worming holes on the last leaf which damage very few letters. Soft parchment binding.
Kitzur Sefer HaAruch authored by Rabbi Natan son of Rabbi Yechiel of Rome [1511]. Post-incunabula.
Specifications: [59] leaves, 19 cm. Pages [29-34] of this copy have been completed with reproductions. Also, it is missing the first leaf that features a blank front and a poem on its back. This leaf is not included in all copies. Yaari, Kushta 18.
Unique features: First edition of the Kitzur Sefer HaAruch. The book was printed without a title page and without the name of the author. The location of print is noted in the colophon. The title page bears a cropped Oriental-style owner signature.
Condition: Fine. Minimal reinforcements and aging stains. Simple binding.
Commentary on the Torah from Rabbeinu Bachya son of Rabbi Asher, Venice, 1544.
Specifications: 233 [should be: 243] leaves, 28.5 cm.
Unique Features: Early edition of Rabbeinu Bachya's commentary on the Torah, one of the most important commentaries on the Torah.
Background: Rabbeinu Bachya son of Rabbi Asher (1260-1315), one of the greatest Spanish Rishonim in Spain and one of the most prominent commentators on the Torah.
Condition: Fine. The margins of the title page are professionally restored. Minimal worming holes. New semi-leather and marbled paper binding.
Halachic rulings according to the order of the Talmud and the rulings of the Geonim and the Tosefists, by Rabbi Mordechai son of Hillel Ashkenazi. Krakow, 1598.
Specifications: 191 [should be: 190] leaves, 35 cm. Ownership signatures on the title page.
Background: Early and important edition of the rulings of Rabbi Mordechai, one of the earliest and more important adjudicators, who was martyred in Nuremberg in 1298. The first edition with glosses and novellae by Rabbi Menachem David of Tiktin - the Maharam of Tiktin, author of Chiddushei Anshei Shem, which were printed here for the first time by his son.
Condition: Moderate. Aging stains. Minimal tears. Faded binding.
Explanation of the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol [SMaG] by Rabbi Yosef son of the holy Rabbi Yosef of Kremnitz. Venice, 1605.
Specifications: 76 leaves, 18.5 cm. Haberman - Yudlov, Giovanni di Gara press 227.
Background: The author was known as a student of the Rama, and in the introduction he writes: "I wrote this explanation ... all that I learned in my youth from three geniuses ... Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen, ob"m ... Rabbi Yisrael son of ... Rabbi Shachna, ztz"l, Rabbi Moshe Isserel [- the Rama] and Rabbi Mardush when I was in his yeshiva in Ostrava." The book was printed in his lifetime. With a rare approbation signed by the leaders of the generation, among them, Rabbi Mordechai Jaffe 'Ba'al HaLevushim,' Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Edeles - the Maharsha.
Condition: Fine. Professional restoration in the margins of the title page. Aging stains. A few worming holes, mainly in the margins. New semi-leather binding.
Even Bochen, words of mussar and derech eretz by [Klominus son of Rabbi Klominus]. Venice, at the printing press of Cornelius Aidelkind, 1646.
Specifications: 57-88 leaves, approximately 21 cm. Haberman, HaMadpis Daniel Bombergi 185. Vinograd, Venice, 260.
Unique Features: Printed with the book Mivchar HaPeninim, with a separate title page, listed by the bibliographers as a separate book. Printed on the last pages: Image of King Solomon's throne. Three glosses in ancient Italian handwriting.
Condition: Fine-very fine. Minimal aging stains. Slightly worn ancient semi-parchment binding.
Commentary on tractate Avodah Zara, by Rabbi Shlomo Elgazi. Venice, 1664.
Specifications: 134 leaves, approximately 20 cm. First edition.
Background: The author [1610-1683], one of the sages of Bursa, immigrated to Jerusalem and returned to Turkey in 1646. He was rosh yeshiva of the yeshiva in Izmir, and one of the first to fight against the Shabbateans, and was even forced to run away from them with his son-in-law Rabbi Aharon Lapapa. He returned to Jerusalem in 1670 and headed the "Beit Yaakov" yeshiva which was founded by Rabbi Yaakov Chagiz. Appointed Av Beit Din of Jerusalem in 1673. Wrote Shema Shlomo and more.
Unique Features: The book was edited by Rabbi Mordechai Zakut - the Remaz, who even wrote a poem about the book. Illustrations of Moshe and Shlomo are on the title page. There are copies with typographic changes.
Condition: Very fine. Ancient leather binding.
Sermons and articles by Rabbi Avraham Laniado. Venice, 1603.
Specifications: 100 leaves, 19 cm. Only edition.
Background: The author, Rabbi Avraham Laniado, was born in 1545 and lived in Safed. As he writes in the introduction, he studied under Rabbi Yosef Karo, and was the son-in-law of Rabbi Shmuel Laniado 'Ba'al HaKelim.' In 1603-1604 he lived in Venice, where he printed his father-in-law's book the Kli Yakar, as well as the book before us. He later became rabbi of Aleppo until his death in c. 1620.
Condition: Fine. Aging stains. Water marks on the edges of the white margins. Slight tear on page 26 with damage to text. New semi-leather binding.
![Panim Chadashot. Venice [1651], First Edition](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/sale_102-public/196.jpg)
Halachic decisions from books of responsa, by Rabbi Yitzchak Yeshurun. Venice, [1651].
Specifications: [4] 159 leaves, 19 cm. First edition.
Content: Halachic decisions from dozens of books of responsa and some books of halacha, arranged in the order of the Arba Turim and also in the order of the tractates of Shas.
Unique Features: Includes an interesting introduction by the author who writes about the dissemination of the Shulchan Aruch and the comments of the Rama. Important composition that has been printed in the past in a number of editions with the Shulchan Aruch.
Background: The author was one of the rabbis in Hamburg in the 17th century.
Condition: Fine-very fine. Professional restoration in the margins of the upper corner without damage to text. A few aging stains. New binding.
Ruach Chen. Philosophical work attributed to Rabbi Yehuda ibn Tibbon. With commentary by an unknown author. Cremona, Conti printing press, 1566.
Specifications: 20 leaves, 18 cm.
Unique Features: The author's introduction is on the reverse side of the title page: "When the honorable work The Guide for the Perplexed passed before me, and when I understood a little of its hints and secrets ... the work awakened me ... to investigate a little of the matters useful to understand the book." However, the author's name is not mentioned.
Condition: Moderate-fine. Aging stains. One leaf is loose. Title page slightly cut off. Pleasant ancient parchment binding.
Sefer Rabot. Midrash Rabbah on the Torah and the Five Megillot with the commentary Matnot Kehunah. Amsterdam, 1641-1642.
Specifications: 302: 130 leaves, two pretty title pages. Approximately 31 cm.
Unique Features: Early and pleasant copy of the Midrash Rabbah with the commentary Matnot Kehunah by Rabbi Yissachar Ber Katz. As the proofreader wrote, this is a magnificent edition. Large illustration of Noah's ark according to Rabbi Yehuda and according to Rabbi Nechemiah on page 33.
Italian ownership signature on the last page. Uncommon book. Impressive copy.
Condition: Fine. Minimal worming holes. Slight restored blemishes on an isolated number of leaves. Magnificent ancient leather binding.