Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 56
![Rokeach, by R. Elazar [of Worms] son of R. Yehudah. [Fano: Gershom Soncino, Erev Pesach 1505]. First edition.
A foremo](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/298.jpg "Rokeach – Fano, 1505 – First Hebrew Book Printed with a Title Page")
![Rokeach, by R. Elazar [of Worms] son of R. Yehudah. [Fano: Gershom Soncino, Erev Pesach 1505]. First edition.
A foremo](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/298_1.jpg "Rokeach – Fano, 1505 – First Hebrew Book Printed with a Title Page")
![Rokeach, by R. Elazar [of Worms] son of R. Yehudah. [Fano: Gershom Soncino, Erev Pesach 1505]. First edition.
A foremo](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/298_2.jpg "Rokeach – Fano, 1505 – First Hebrew Book Printed with a Title Page")
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $2,500
Sold for: $9,375
Including buyer's premium
Rokeach, by R. Elazar [of Worms] son of R. Yehudah. [Fano: Gershom Soncino, Erev Pesach 1505]. First edition.
A foremost work of halachah and ethics. Many bibliographers hold this to be the first Hebrew book printed with a title page.
The author,
R. Elazar of Worms (ca. 1160-1234), was a kabbalist and halachic authority, a leading member of the Chassidei Ashkenaz and the Tosafists. He was a disciple of his father's cousin R. Yehudah HaChassid, and of his father R. Yehudah son of R. Kalonymus of Mainz. He composed many works, in halachah, Biblical commentary, ethics and kabbalah, but is best known for his illustrious work, the Rokeach, which he composed after his wife and children were murdered in his presence (the numerical value of Rokeach is equal to that of his name, Elazar, as he writes in his preface). The Rokeach contains halachic rulings and customs, and serves as an important source for many rulings of the early Tosafists and Ashkenazi Torah scholars in the 12th century. It encompasses a variety of fields and Talmudic topics – halachic pilpul, customs, reasons for halachot, ethics, and more.
R. Elazar of Worms (ca. 1160-1234), was a kabbalist and halachic authority, a leading member of the Chassidei Ashkenaz and the Tosafists. He was a disciple of his father's cousin R. Yehudah HaChassid, and of his father R. Yehudah son of R. Kalonymus of Mainz. He composed many works, in halachah, Biblical commentary, ethics and kabbalah, but is best known for his illustrious work, the Rokeach, which he composed after his wife and children were murdered in his presence (the numerical value of Rokeach is equal to that of his name, Elazar, as he writes in his preface). The Rokeach contains halachic rulings and customs, and serves as an important source for many rulings of the early Tosafists and Ashkenazi Torah scholars in the 12th century. It encompasses a variety of fields and Talmudic topics – halachic pilpul, customs, reasons for halachot, ethics, and more.
This book was recognized as a primary source on halachah and custom, and had a far-ranging impact on halachic literature.
Many censorship expurgations (deleted words supplied by hand on several leaves).
Ownership inscriptions on title page, in Italian script, of "Yoav son of Baruch degli Piattelli" – R. Yoav son of R. Baruch degli Piattelli was a rabbi of Rome in 1668, publisher of Margaliot Tovot by R. Yaakov Tzahalon, Venice 1665. "…I, Yochanan Ghiron, purchased it through R. Binyamin" – R. Yochanan Ghiron, Torah scholar and kabbalist, Rabbi of Florence, corresponded at length with R. Shmuel Aboab; his responsa appear in Responsa Rabach, Pachad Yitzchak and other works of Italian rabbis. Additional inscriptions on paper mounted at top of title page.
On second leaf, signature: "'Acquisition of the servant' Chaim Mordechai Lebeton" – R. Chaim Mordechai Lebeton (1780-1869), a leading Torah scholar and Rabbi of Aleppo. Author of Nochach HaShulchan.
Short marginal glosses by various writers.
Latin inscriptions in text and margins, on some leaves.
[108] leaves. Lacking last leaf (with colophon). 28.5 cm. Fair condition, approx. ten of first leaves in fair-poor condition. Stains, including large dampstains to most leaves. Tears, including large open tears to title page and first twelve leaves, affecting text in many places, repaired with paper (with handwritten replacements of most of missing text, in Italian script). Worming, affecting text. Early parchment binding, with new spine. Defects to binding.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
![Responsa of the Rosh. [Constantinople: Shmuel Nachmias and his son Moshe, 1517]. First edition.
Responsa of the Rosh i](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/299_1.jpg "Responsa of the Rosh – Constantinople, 1517 – First Edition – Handwrit")
![Responsa of the Rosh. [Constantinople: Shmuel Nachmias and his son Moshe, 1517]. First edition.
Responsa of the Rosh i](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/299_2.jpg "Responsa of the Rosh – Constantinople, 1517 – First Edition – Handwrit")
![Responsa of the Rosh. [Constantinople: Shmuel Nachmias and his son Moshe, 1517]. First edition.
Responsa of the Rosh i](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/299_3.jpg "Responsa of the Rosh – Constantinople, 1517 – First Edition – Handwrit")
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $1,625
Including buyer's premium
Responsa of the Rosh. [Constantinople: Shmuel Nachmias and his son Moshe, 1517]. First edition.
Responsa of the Rosh is one of the first responsa works printed in the early days of printing, and it is one of the primary sources used by halachic authorities. The present edition was used by R. Yosef Karo when composing Beit Yosef and Shulchan Aruch, and by the Rama for his glosses.
In contrast to ordinary responsa works, this work was arranged and edited in order to turn it into a book of classified rulings. The responsa of the Rosh were gathered into one hundred and eight chapters (kelalim), arranged topically.
The text, which was corrupted in later editions by Christian censorship, is preserved in this edition in its original state.
The printing was completed on the 33rd day of the Omer 1517, as stated in the colophon of the final page.
Signature on second leaf of index at beginning of book: "Aharon Cordovera".
Several glosses in Sephardic script, most trimmed.
[189] leaves. Lacking title page, with introduction and beginning of contents on verso (title page and beginning of list supplied by hand at a later time covering two leaves). Approx. 25 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including many large dampstains and traces of former dampness. Wear. Tears and open tears (mainly to first leaves), affecting text, partially repaired with paper (with text supplied by hand in several places). Approx. ten of the first leaves and several others detached. Light worming. Close trimming, bordering text on several leaves, slightly affecting headers of leaves. Old binding, with front side detached. Wear and defects to binding (tear across spine).
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
![The Book of Tehillim – Psalterium ex hebreo dilige[n]tissime ad verbu[m] fere tralatu[m] – translated into Latin by Felix](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/300_1.jpg "Tehillim in Latin Translation – First Book Printed by Daniel Bomberg –")
![The Book of Tehillim – Psalterium ex hebreo dilige[n]tissime ad verbu[m] fere tralatu[m] – translated into Latin by Felix](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/300_2.jpg "Tehillim in Latin Translation – First Book Printed by Daniel Bomberg –")
![The Book of Tehillim – Psalterium ex hebreo dilige[n]tissime ad verbu[m] fere tralatu[m] – translated into Latin by Felix](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/300_3.jpg "Tehillim in Latin Translation – First Book Printed by Daniel Bomberg –")
![The Book of Tehillim – Psalterium ex hebreo dilige[n]tissime ad verbu[m] fere tralatu[m] – translated into Latin by Felix](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale103/300_4.jpg "Tehillim in Latin Translation – First Book Printed by Daniel Bomberg –")
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,500
Including buyer's premium
The Book of Tehillim – Psalterium ex hebreo dilige[n]tissime ad verbu[m] fere tralatu[m] – translated into Latin by Felix Pratensis. [Venice]: Petrus Liechtenstein and Daniel Bomberg, 1515. Latin, with some words in Hebrew on margins.
The first book printed by Daniel Bomberg, prominent 16th-century Venetian printer, who also printed the first complete editions of the Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi and the Rabbinic Bible (Mikraot Gedolot). Printed at Bomberg's initiative and expense at the press of Petrus Liechtenstein, as Bomberg had not yet attained a license to print books.
The translator, Felix Pratensis (d. 1559) was an apostate Jew of Italian origin, who also later cooperated with Bomberg in publishing his first Rabbinic Bible edition in 1517.
Printed in black and red.
Colophon on penultimate leaf.
[1], 64 leaves. Lacking one leaf after title page (with rest of introduction of translator, official prohibition of printing by others, and short poem by Bomberg). Approx. 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including large dampstains. Tears. Large open tear to title page, covering approx. half of leaf, heavily affecting text on both sides, repaired with paper filling. Worming in many places (some significant), affecting text, partially repaired with paper filling. New binding.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $2,500
Sold for: $6,250
Including buyer's premium
Hilchot Rav Alfas (Rif), Part III, Seder Nezikin, with commentators, and with Tosefta. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1522.
Part III – Tractates Bava Kama, Bava Metzia, Bava Batra, Sanhedrin, Makot, Shevuot and Avodah Zarah.
First edition of Tosefta, printed after the Rif of each tractate respectively. This order has been retained in printed editions to the present.
Second complete edition of the Rif.
Ownership inscriptions and signatures on title page: "Asher Viterbo, Shimshon Viterbo", "Asher Viterbo" (apparently R. Asher son of Shimshon Viterbo, a Torah scholar of Pesaro); "Leon Viterbo di Pesaro" (in Latin characters); "Yosef son of R. Meir Chananel Nachman".
Signature on p. 71a (in Ashkenazic script): "Tzadok son of R. D. Brans[?] of Greater Dubno" (possibly R. Tzadok Marshelkovitz son of R. David Parnas, a leading member of Dubno who established a Beit Midrash called the Kloiz Beratz, d. 1838). Signature on p. 265a (in early Ashkenazic script): "Or Shraga Feivel Kahana".
Many glosses in Italian script on first leaves.
Censors' inscriptions on last and second-to-last leaf. Many censorship expurgations in Mordechai and Tosefta of Tractate Avodah Zarah.
392; 9, [1] leaves. 34.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including many dampstains and traces of former dampness with mold stains. Worming to title page and other leaves, affecting title page and text (partially repaired with paper filling). Marginal tears to several leaves. New leather binding, with defects.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $300
Sold for: $7,500
Including buyer's premium
Talmud Yerushalmi, all four parts – Seder Zera'im, Moed, Nashim and Nezikin. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1523-1524. First edition. All four parts of Talmud Yerushalmi in one volume.
Large-format volume, comprising all four parts of the Talmud Yerushalmi (the vast majority of Tractate Niddah is lacking). All later printings of the Talmud Yerushalmi are based on the present edition.
Decorative woodcut initial panels at beginnings of tractates. Mishnah text printed in full before the Gemara for each chapter.
Incomplete copy with defects. Main title page at beginning of volume lacking, as well as the title page of Seder Nezikin and several leaves in other places (including the majority of Tractate Niddah). Divisional title pages for Seder Moed and Seder Nashim.
On title page of Seder Moed, signature: "Yosef Khodjainov Bukhara" [R. Yosef Khodjainov, 1840-1924, a Bukharan Torah scholar and Rabbi of Samarkand; a founder of the Bukharan neighborhood of Jerusalem].
Incomplete copy with defects. All four parts in one volume. Seder Zera'im: 3-6, 9-65 leaves. Lacking first two leaves and leaves 7-8. Seder Moed: 83 leaves. Seder Nashim: 66 leaves. Seder Nezikin and Tractate Niddah: 2-46 leaves. Lacking title page and leaves 47-51 (the vast majority of Tractate Niddah). Leaves 3-6 misordered. Photocopy replacements of most lacking leaves (apart from lacking title page at beginning of volume). 32 cm. Fair condition, some leaves in fair-poor condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of former dampness, with mold stains to many leaves. Wear to some leaves. Tears and open tears (large open tears in several places), affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Worming, affecting text, partially repaired with tape. New leather binding.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $10,000
Including buyer's premium
Two books printed in the 1500s – in one volume.
1. Sefer Ikarim, principles of Jewish faith, by R. Yosef Albo. Venice, 1544.
2. Ohel Yaakov, commentary on the philosophical and mathematical parts of Sefer HaIkarim by R. Yosef Albo, by R. Yaakov Koppelman. Freiburg, 1584. First edition.
Geometrical illustrations and various diagrams. On p. 32b, illustration of two people on a ship.
Ownership inscriptions in both books: On title page of Sefer HaIkarim, signature of "Meshulam Zalman Fischhof Auerbach", and other inscriptions; on title page of Ohel Yaakov: "Meshulam Zalman son of… R. Binyamin Ze'ev Wolf Fischhof Auerbach" [R. Binyamin Wolf son of R. Meshulam Zalman Fischhof Auerbach, head of the Nikolsburg (Mikulov) Beit Din, author of a 1695 approbation for Vayakhel Moshe, printed in Dessau, 1699, may be the son or father of the present signatory].
Handwritten glosses (by several writers, in Ashkenazic script nearly contemporaneous with printing).
Few Hebrew books were printed in Freiburg.
Sefer HaIkarim: [1], 2-171 leaves. Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov: 34 leaves. 19 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Marginal tears and open tears to several leaves. Early binding, with leather spine and corners. Defects to binding (both sides of binding loose).
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,000
Including buyer's premium
Three books in two volumes, on Hebrew grammar, printed in Venice in 1546 by Daniel Bomberg:
1. Sefer HaHarkavah by R. Eliyahu Bachur. Venice, 1546. Without Pirkei Eliyahu (with divisional title page).
[1], 2-32 (misfoliated 33), 41-44 leaves. Lacking 8 leaves 33-40. 14.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Old leather binding, with gilt decorations.
2-3. Tzachut BeDikduk and Moznei Leshon HaKodesh, by R. Avraham ibn Ezra. Venice, 1546. Divisional title page for Moznei Leshon HaKodesh. As part of a set of grammatical books printed together, foliation begins in the middle.
133-194; [1], 196-236 leaves. Approx. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including some dampstains. Light wear. Tears, including marginal open tears to title page of first book and several other leaves, repaired with paper filling. New binding, with parts of an early leather binding.
The three present books are part of a set of six grammatical works printed that year, often printed together.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $1,000
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Two books in one volume, first editions of important works printed by Daniel Bomberg in Venice:
1. She'iltot of R. Achai Gaon. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, [1546]. First edition.
Early halachic work from the beginning of the Geonic era, containing homilies according to the order of the Torah portions, combining a halachic discussion with aggadic matter.
Colophon on last page. Signature on title page: "Yaakov de Pinto" [Torah scholar and distinguished member of the 19th century community of the Hague]; another ownership inscription at center of title page: "Yosef Toledano" and a deleted inscription of "R. Baruch ibn Chaim".
2. Shibolei HaLeket, laws, rulings and customs, by R. Tzidkiyah son of Avraham Anav the physician. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, [1546]. First edition.
Colophon on last page: "The holy work was completed with the utmost possible care with G-d's assistance, by Cornelio Adelkind, [1546]".
This edition is an abridgment of the first part of the original work, by an unknown author. Another abridgment of Shibolei HaLeket is Tanya (Tanya Rabati), printed in Mantua, 1514. On the various editions of the work, see: Y. Ta-Shma, Shibolei HaLeket and its Doublets, Italia, XI, 1995, pp. 47-51.
She'iltot: 61, [1] leaves. Shibolei HaLeket: 32, 34-39, 41-55 leaves. Lacking leaves 33 and 40 (leaves 35 and 38 respectively are erroneously printed again in their place). Leaves 17-18, 23-24 misordered. Approx. 30 cm. Varying condition, fair-good to fair. Stains, including dampstains. Worming (significant worming in some places), repaired with paper filling. Open tears to two leaves in Shibolei HaLeket, affecting text (the lacking portion of one leaf stuck to other leaf). Early leather binding, with gilt inscriptions. Defects to binding.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $400
Sold for: $813
Including buyer's premium
Sermons on the Torah, by R. Shem Tov ibn Shem Tov. Venice: Marco Antonio Giustiniani, 1547. Second edition.
At center of title page, ownership inscription: "Yaakov ibn Villecid" [the philanthropist R. Yaakov Villecid of Constantinople ca. 1600s, apparently a family member of R. Shmuel ibn Villecid (d. 1632), a leading rabbi of Constantinople at the time of the Maharit, a son of R. Avraham Villecid, a rabbi of Nikopol]. Another signature on title page: "Yaakov de Pinto" [a Torah scholar and prominent community member of the Hague in the 19th century].
At top of title page, ownership inscription, partially deleted. On left margins of title page, lengthy inscription of verses from Parashat Balak (slightly trimmed).
74, 76-81 leaves. Lacking leaf 75. 29 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including light dampstains. Worming, including significant worming in one place throughout all leaves of the book, affecting text. Old binding, with leather spine and gilt decorations. Wear and light defects to binding.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Commentary of the Ralbag on the Torah, with explanation of meanings and words, with morals deriving from them, by R. Levi son of Gershom, the Ralbag. Venice: Daniel Bomberg by Cornelio Adelkind, 1547.
Early leather binding.
Colophon on p. 248a, with poem in honor of the author and the printer Cornelio Adelkind.
[1], 2-6, 9-248 leaves. 31 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Many stains to title page and several other leaves. Wear and tears to margins of title page, not affecting text. Tears to last leaf, affecting text, without loss. Early leather binding, repaired. Wear and defects to binding.
Bookplate on back endpaper: "Joseph John Gurney" (English banker and religious figure, 1788-1847).
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $700
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Chovat HaLevavot, by R. Bachya ibn Pakuda, translated by R. Yehudah ibn Tibbon. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1548. Second edition of a foundational book of ethics, service of G-d and religious thought, which has been printed in over a hundred[!] editions with commentaries and new translations from the original Arabic.
Short marginal glosses and annotations, by various writers.
[1], 2-84, 86-87 leaves. Lacking leaf 85 and last leaf. 19.5 cm. Overall good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text. Open tear to leaf 87, affecting text. Early binding, with minor defects.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value
Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sep 2, 2025
Opening: $400
Sold for: $525
Including buyer's premium
Halachot Gedolot. Venice: Marco Antonio Giustiniani, 1548. First edition.
One of the first halachic works authored after the completion of the Talmud, during the Geonic period. The identity of the author, who is quoted extensively by the Rishonim, is subject to dispute, with attributions to either R. Yehudai Gaon or R. Shimon Kayyara.
On p. 61a, gloss (trimmed) in Oriental script.
[4], 8, 10-144 leaves. Lacking leaf 9. 28.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Marginal tears and open tears to title page and several other leaves, repaired with paper strips (slightly affecting title frame). Worming. Handwritten inscriptions. Old binding with leather spine and corners.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th Century
Catalogue Value