Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Displaying 49 - 53 of 53
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $500
Estimate: $800 - $1,000
Sold for: $2,125
Including buyer's premium
Yavin Shemuah, commentary by R. Nissim Shlomo Algazi on Halichot Olam by R. Yeshuah HaLevi; and Talmudic methodology by R. Yosef Karo. Venice: Giovanni Martinelli for Giovanni Vendramin, 1639. First edition of the Yavin Shemuah commentary, printed in the lifetime of the author.
Signature deleted with ink on title page.
129, [1] blank leaf; [16] leaves. 28 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains, and inkstains to title page. Small open tears to title page, slightly affecting title frame. Worming, slightly affecting text. Early binding, with light worming and damage.
CB, no. 6894,8.
Category
Early Printed Books – Italy
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $5,750
Including buyer's premium
Yeven Metzulah, "tells extensively of the persecutions and wars in Russia, Lithuania and Poland", by R. Natan Nata Hannover. Venice: Vendramin, 1653. First edition, printed in the lifetime of the author.
An important chronicle of the history of the Chmielnicki massacres (1648-1649) and the wars in Russia, Lithuania and Poland, and the Tatar and Cossack Revolt led by Bogdan Chmielnicki.
The author, R. Natan Nata Hannover (d. 1683), author of Shaarei Tzion and Safah Berurah, was an eminent kabbalist who served as rabbi in Iziaslav, Livorno, Jassy and elsewhere (see Lots 36 and 179). He was an eyewitness to the destruction of Jewish communities in Poland in the years 1648-1649 and documented the events in the present work, which is one of the primary sources for the history of that period.
On the last page, a lamentation by the proofreader "Yaakov son of Naftali of Gniezno near Poznań" (this text forming the acrostic and printed in larger type; the lamentation within a decorated frame).
Signatures on title page: "I, Yosef Heilprun ---"; "--- Achiyah Segre".
12 leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Some tears, including open tear affecting text of one leaf. Title page repaired with paper strips to verso. New binding.
Category
Early Printed Books – Italy
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $800
Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000
Sold for: $2,000
Including buyer's premium
Two books published by R. Yosef Richetti in Mantua, 1676, in one volume:
· Chochmat HaMishkan, explanation of the form of the Tabernacle vessels and the priestly vestments, by R. Yosef Richetti. Mantua: printer not indicated, [1676]. Only edition.
The introduction to the work was authored by the famous kabbalist R. Moshe Zacuto – the Ramaz (see article by M. Benayahu, cited below).
The final page of this book contains a key for 18 illustrations of each of the Tabernacle vessels and priestly vestments. The author intended to print along with the book illustrations for each one of the Tabernacle vessels and priestly vestments, as he writes in the "author's apologia" on the last leaf: "At the beginning of this labor of mine I intended to design pictures… And I began to make considerable efforts to have the artists engrave the pictures, but it all came to nought, for the labor was ruined, since the artists in this city are not so adept at this work…". The author goes on to state his intention to complete the printing of the pictures when he arrives in Venice, based on the detailed key he printed, but the planned illustrations were evidently never produced.
Gloss in Sephardic script on p. 13a, trimmed, signed: "Ze'eiri HaKohen".
· "Letter on the attribution of Tzaddikim of Eretz Israel", on gravesites of Tzaddikim and holy sites in Eretz Israel. Mantua: printer not indicated, 1676. Published by R. Yosef Richetti.
This work contains the names and descriptions of holy sites in Eretz Israel, with the names of Tzaddikim buried in each of the sites.
Early pilgrims to Eretz Israel would perform "Ziyarah" – tours following a set route, the central element of which was visiting various gravesites of Tzaddikim (most of which were based on identifications by the Arizal). The book begins by listing the sites included in the "Hakafah Ketanah" (short tour), intended for pilgrims visiting only Safed and the area; and continues with the details of the "Hakafah Gedolah" (long tour), which includes various sites throughout the Galilee; followed by the sites to be visited as part of the tour of Jerusalem.
Further details about the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, as well as Hebron and Halhul, are printed on the last page, with each pair of cities within a decorative frame.
The content of this work was printed by emissaries of Eretz Isael throughout the 17th century in several editions, both in book format and as printed posters. A statement from the emissaries of Eretz Israel is printed on the verso of the title page: "When we see… how unfortunately, due to the length of the exile… our holy city has almost been forgotten by our brethren…" (this text appears in the first known edition of the letter in leaf format, 1626).
On the various editions of the letter, both as a book and as a printed poster, see: M. Benayahu (cited below).
R. Yosef Richetti was a talented artist who worked as copyist, scribe and decorator of Megillot and ketubot, painter, potter, metalworker and more. Born in Italy (most likely in Venice) to R. Eliezer Shalit Richetti, he immigrated to Safed in his youth, between 1640-1643, later returning to Italy as emissary of Safed between 1674-1676. He printed the two present works in Mantua that year. See on him at length: M. Benayahu, R. Yosef Richetti – A Young Artist from Italy Who Immigrated to Safed, Asufot, II, 1988, pp. 359-372 (Hebrew).
Chochmat HaMishkan: 9, [3] leaves; Letter on gravesites of Tzaddikim: [4] leaves. Approx. 19 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including large dampstains. Close trimming, affecting bottom of title frame of first book, and slightly affecting text of several leaves. New binding.
Category
Early Printed Books – Italy
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $500
Estimate: $800 - $1,200
Sold for: $1,375
Including buyer's premium
Chanukat HaBayit, explanation of the layout and structure of the destroyed Temple, by R. Moshe Chefetz. Venice: Bragadin, [1696]. Only edition.
Includes many illustrations of the Temple and its vessels. The book was apparently printed in two stages: during printing, blank spaces were left for the illustrations, which were later added from engraved plates. This copy contains all the illustrations.
Large folded plate with plan of the Temple, courtyards and Temple Mount, bound after first [4] leaves. At the bottom is a legend to locations marked in the map with letters (in other copies the legend is handwritten rather than printed).
At the beginning and end of the book are printed poems by Italian rabbis.
[4], 52 leaves + [1] folded plate. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text and folded map. Tears to map affecting illustrations, and open tear to last leaf, not affecting text, repaired with paper filling. New binding.
CB, no. 6451,1.
Category
Early Printed Books – Italy
Catalogue
Auction 100 – Important Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Jan 21, 2025
Opening: $2,000
Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000
Sold for: $8,125
Including buyer's premium
Maaseh Toviah, astronomy and science, medicine and anatomy, by R. Toviah Katz HaRofe (Tobias Cohn, physician). Venice: Bragadin, 1707. First edition.
The title page is dated 1707, while the approbations are dated 1708.
Numerous illustrations and diagrams, including an engraved portrait of the author at age 48 on verso of title page.
A detailed illustration of the human body including the internal organs, paralleling it to a multi-story building, is featured on p. 106a.
The book comprises three parts, with divisional title pages. Approbation by R. David Oppenheim and Venetian rabbis. Poems in praise of the author and book.
On leaves 27-29, Zikaron Livnei Yisrael, a report on the examination of Nathan of Gaza by the rabbis of Venice (first printed on a single leaf in Venice, 1668).
On last page, license of censor in Padua (in Italian), dated 1708.
[6], 158 leaves. 21.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Small tear to title page and small marginal tears to several other leaves. Close trimming, affecting headers of leaves in several places. Stamps. Old binding, with leather spine. Wear and damage to binding.
Category
Early Printed Books – Italy
Catalogue