Auction 102 Part 1 Hebrew Manuscripts and Books from the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection
Tehillim, with Dutch translation, edited by Johann Leusden. Amsterdam: Joseph Athias, 1666.
Hebrew with Dutch translation in facing columns. At beginning of book, introduction in Dutch by Leusden.
Original elaborate leather binding, with fine gilt decorations.
Throughout the book, asterisks are printed beside many verses. Leusden states in his introduction that 564 verses were marked, together comprising all the roots of words appearing in Tehillim, a total of 1184 Biblical roots. He states that the entire Bible is comprised of 1867 root words, hence the remainder of roots not included in the marked verses (683 roots) are found in a list of references to 546 more Biblical verses in the last three leaves.
6 pages; 240, [3] leaves. 11.5 cm. Gilt edges. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Tears, including open tear to one leaf, affecting text, repaired with paper. Close trimming, slightly affecting text. Original leather binding, with fine gilt decorations. Wear and damage to binding (one corner of binding broken and lacking).
Leusden published two more editions in tandem: a Hebrew-only edition (1666-1667) and an edition with a Latin translation by Pagnini. The Hebrew typesetting is identical across all three.
CB, no. 551b; Zedner, p. 128; Cowley, p. 90.
Five Books of the Torah, with Targum Onkelos, Baal HaTurim, Toldot Aharon by R. Aharon of Pesaro, commentary of Rashi, supercommentary of Siftei Chachamim, and Five Megillot and year-round Haftarot. Amsterdam: Uri Phoebus son of Aharon HaLevi, 1680.
First edition of the Siftei Chachamim supercommentary on Rashi, compiled by the author R. Shabtai Meshorer Bass (1641-1718) and proofread by R. Shlomo de Oliveira, with introduction of R. Shabtai Bass and approbations.
Two title pages at beginning of volume, the first illustrated with figures of Moses and Aaron on either side, the Ark of the Covenant in the center, and an illustration of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai on the upper part of the page.
Divisional title pages for Five Megillot and Haftarot.
[4], 362 leaves. 23 cm. Wide margins. Most leaves in good condition. Stains, including dampstains. First leaves detached. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Original parchment binding, mostly detached. Damage to binding.
Variant, with many changes to the second title page, the approbation leaves and the introduction of the author at the beginning of the book (a similar copy, but without the illustrated title page, is recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, listing 000182344, based on a private collection).
CB, no. 600; Zedner, p. 109.
Set of Chumashim – Tikun Sofrim, Five Books of the Torah with commentary of Rashi and Haftarot. Amsterdam: Yosef, Yaakov and Avraham sons of Shlomo Proops Katz, [1762]. Fine set in five volumes.
Fine original leather bindings, with gilt decorations.
Two title pages at the beginning of each volume. First title page illustrated. At the end of each volume is a divisional title page before the Haftarot.
Five volumes. Bereshit: [2], 75; [3], 2-15, [1], 18-19 leaves. Shemot: [2], 76-144; [3], 12-31 leaves. Vayikra: [2], 145-191; [3], 24-41 leaves. Bamidbar: [2], 192-207, 211-254; [2], 32-43 leaves. Devarim: [2], 255-308; [2], 41-68 leaves. 17.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Original leather bindings, with gilt decorations and original color endpapers. Damage to bindings.
Tikun Sofrim HaYesharim. Five Books of the Torah, with Haftarot and Five Megillot. Amsterdam: Leib son of Moshe Sussmans, [1767]. Fine five-volume set.
Original fine leather bindings, with gilt decorations.
Two title pages per volume, the first illustrated with a copper engraving (produced by the artist A. Santcroos).
Accurate Tikun Sofrim by R. Itzek Premsla, published for the second time by his son R. Hirsch (the first edition was printed in Amsterdam, 1751). Illustration on first title page, depicting a deer, presumably in reference to the name of the publisher (see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, illustration 140 and p. 168).
Each volume of the present edition commences with Divrei Emet by R. Itzek Premsla, explaining the reasoning behind his editorial work. At the beginning of the first volume are reprints of most of the approbations for the first edition, as well as new approbations from R. Shaul Rabbi of Amsterdam, his brother-in-law R. Shaul HaLevi Rabbi of the Hague, and R. Shlomo Shalem.
Ownership inscriptions on endpapers of all volumes: "Sarche [Saartje] wife of Hertz Bloemendaal née Monnickendam" (see enclosed material).
5 volumes. Bereshit: [5], 4, 88; 6; [2], 10 leaves. Shemot: [5], 89-161, [3]; 7-12; [2], 11-24 leaves. Vayikra: [4], 163-212; 13-15; [2], 25-31, [7], 33-35 leaves. Bamidbar: [4], 213-283; 16-18; [2], 33-40, [2] leaves. Devarim: [4], 284-347; 19-20, [1]; [2], 41-55 leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Gilt edges (partly faded). Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Original leather bindings, with gilt decorations and original color endpapers. Damage to bindings (with repairs to spines and edges).
Zedner, p. 111.
Netivot HaShalom, the Five Books of the Torah with Tikun Sofrim, German translation and commentary by Moses Mendelssohn, Solomon Dubno, Naphtali Hirz Wessely, Herz Homberg and Aaron Friedenthal. Berlin: George Friedrich Starcke, 1783. Hebrew and German (in Hebrew characters). Five volumes.
First edition of Mendelssohn's Beur – the Pentateuch, translated into German and presented with a new commentary, seen as the stellar achievement of the Haskalah movement.
Five-volume set, in original leather bindings, with gilt decorations on spine, and gilt initials of owner's name on front bindings: "W. S. S.".
The work was composed by a group of scholars, headed by Mendelssohn, over ten years, between 1773 and 1783, and was fiercely opposed by the rabbinic leadership, who went as far as attempting to prevent its printing. To finance the enterprise, estimated at 3,500 thalers, Mendelssohn and his partners assembled a group of subscribers from all over Europe who jointly funded the publishing of the 750 copies comprising the first edition. The printing itself took three years, from 1780 to 1783, during which time the work was published in installments until it was completed.
The present copy is from the first edition. Each of the books of the Torah is bound separately, with a title page at the beginning of Bereshit (title page at beginning of Shemot lacking; title pages for other books were not printed). At beginning of Bereshit are bound: Or LaNetivah, a general introduction to the Five Books of the Torah, by Moses Mendelssohn; rabbinic approbations; Mehalel Rea (introduction and poem by Naphtali Hirz Wessely), a two-leaf introduction by Solomon Dubno (not completed in printing), and two additional title pages for Bereshit.
Lacking rare engraved title page, which appears in only some copies.
Birth inscription on back endpaper of Shemot.
Five volumes. Bereshit: [24], 8, [2], 299 leaves. Without engraved title page, appearing in only some copies. Shemot: 204 leaves. Lacking title page. Vayikra: [2], 218 leaves. Bamidbar: 144 leaves. Devarim: 125, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Small tears in several places. Original leather bindings, with decorations on spines and original color endpapers. Wear and much damage to bindings (open tears to spines and bindings in several places, and many rubbing marks to some volumes).
CB, no. 934; Zedner, p. 111.