Sefer HaIkarim, principles of Jewish faith, by R. Yosef Albo. Salonika: printer not indicated (see below), 1520.
Fine woodcut on title page featuring title of work, Sefer HaIkarim.
On verso of title page, introduction by printer that appeared in the first edition of the book (Soncino, 1485; see Lot 57), followed by a sort of colophon, with details on location and date of printing of the present edition: "Here in Salonik… typeset on the fourth of Kislev [1520]". One known copy has the last lines with the date omitted.
Another edition of Sefer HaIkarim was printed in 1520-1521, by Daniel Bomberg in Venice. The colophon to Bomberg's edition states that it was printed "a second time", but it does not include a precise date, leaving it unclear whether or not the Venice edition preceded the present edition.
Gloss (trimmed) on leaf [12].
Incomplete copy. [90] leaves (handwritten foliation to margins, inaccurate in part). Original: [100] leaves. Lacking ten leaves from middle of book: [31]-[40] (all of gathering iv). Collation: i-iii10, v-vi10, vii-viii6, ix-x10, xi8. 25.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains (dark stains to inner margins). Traces of former dampness on some leaves. Tears and open tears to title page and most leaves (mainly to inner margins), some bordering text, repaired with paper filling. Worming, affecting text, partially repaired with paper filling. Stamp and handwritten inscriptions on title page. New binding.
The identity of the printer is unclear. A.M. Habermann posits that it was printed by Moshe son of Shlomo Soncino (who printed three books in Salonika, 1526-1527, including Yalkut Shimoni), but also casts doubt on the theory (see: A.M. Habermann, Perakim BeToldot HaMadpisim HaIvrim, Jerusalem, 1978, p. 47, and p. 19, note 11).
Especially rare edition. Recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a copy in the British Library. The NLI catalogue records only a facsimile of a copy from the Bodleian Library, Oxford. To the best of our knowledge, this edition has never before been offered at auction.
