Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
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Displaying 61 - 72 of 314
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Torah Or, on the soul's final pleasure, the Garden of Eden and Gehinnom, the World to Come and other important concepts, by Don Yosef ibn Yachya. Venice: Giovanni di Gara, [1606].
Second (rare) edition of the book, which was first published in Bologna, 1538.
The title page states that 78 chapters are included; in fact, in this edition, the chapter divisions were corrected and there are 79 chapters.
The present copy includes two additional leaves at the end of the book (printed on one side), with letters of recommendation from several rabbis, including the Maharal of Prague, R. Yissachar Ber Eilenburg and other rabbis of Prague and Venice, calling to assist the publisher of the present book, the ascetic and former teacher of schoolchildren of Prague, R. Avraham son of Alexander Bretwald (Avraham Weingass), as his aim was to marry off his daughter and immigrate to Eretz Israel. These two leaves are rare and are included only in some copies.
28, [2] leaves. Approx. 18 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Wear. Small tears and open tears to margins of title page and other leaves, slightly affecting title frame. Bookplate. Early leather binding, worn.
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,375
Including buyer's premium
Kli Yakar, commentaries and homilies on the Torah, by R. Shlomo Efraim Luntschitz, Rabbi of Prague and disciple of the Maharal of Prague. Prague: Moshe son of Yosef Betzalel Katz, 1608. Second edition. On title page: "Printed for a second time, and proofread very carefully".
Fine woodcut title frame. At the beginning of each parashah, enlarged initial word within woodcut frame (some with illustrations of characters).
The author, R. Shlomo Efraim Luntschitz (d. 1619), Rabbi and yeshiva dean of Prague (together with the Shlah). A leading Torah scholar of his generation, he was a disciple of the Maharshal of Lublin and the Maharal of Prague. Apart from Kli Yakar, his books include Olelot Efraim, Ir Giborim, Amudei Shesh and others. His Olelot Efraim is cited extensively in homiletic and Chassidic books.
Signature on title page. Inscriptions inside the front board.
48, 51-141 leaves. Misfoliation. Approx. 31 cm. Partially dark paper. Varying condition, fair to fair-good. Stains, including dampstains. Wear and creases. Tears, including marginal tears to title page and open tear to top of title page, slightly affecting title frame (title page detached). Tear affecting text of one leaf, without loss. Early wood and leather binding, with wear and defects (without spine), front side detached.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue Value
![Responsa of R. Yaakov Segal (Maharil). Hanau: Hans Jacob Hena, [1610].
Illustrated title page (Binding of Isaac, figures](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/63.jpg "Responsa Maharil – Hanau, 1610 – Copy of Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ghiron")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $750
Including buyer's premium
Responsa of R. Yaakov Segal (Maharil). Hanau: Hans Jacob Hena, [1610].
Illustrated title page (Binding of Isaac, figures of Moses and Aaron).
Copy of R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi, Rabbi of Padua, author of Toldot Gedolei Yisrael UGeonei Italia and other works. At bottom margins of title page, handwritten ownership inscription of "Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi of Padua, at full price from R. Avraham Senigallia in Modena, for 6 lira austriaca". Other handwritten inscriptions on endpaper before title page, including a rhyme about the Maharil, the author of the book.
R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi (1800-1852) was the Rabbi of Padua, a kabbalist, bibliographer, teacher in the rabbinical seminary of Padua and researcher of the history of Italian rabbis. He served as Rabbi of Padua beginning in 1831, for 21 years. He composed several books on halachah and ethics, yet is renowned primarily for his book Toldot Gedolei Yisrael UGeonei Italia (Trieste, 1853). One of the leading Torah scholars of the generation writes about his greatness in Kabbalah: "I have never seen anyone proficient in kabbalistic teachings like the kabbalist R. Mordechai Shmuel… Ghirondi". His son, R. Efraim Refael Ghirondi writes of his father: "A father to the poor… humble like Hillel, brought back many from sin… very well-versed in responsa and halachah, and rabbis of his time also posed halachic questions to him, and his wide-ranged responsa are recorded in his responsa named Kevutzat Kesef which remains in manuscript…".
R. Avraham Chaim Senigallia, a 19th-century rabbi of Modena, disciple of R. Yishmael HaKohen of Modena author of Zera Emet. Authored Divrei HaYamim, still in manuscript.
Inscription on endpaper before title page.
72 leaves. 19.5 cm. Somewhat dark paper. Good-fair condition. Stains. Tears, including marginal open tears to several leaves, not affecting text. Bookplate. Early parchment binding, with defects.
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,375
Including buyer's premium
Two books printed in 17th-century Venice, bound together:
1. Etz Shatul, Sefer HaIkarim by R. Yosef Albo with commentary by R. Gedaliah son of Moshe [Lipschitz]. Venice: Giovanni Cajon, [1618]. First edition.
The author of Etz Shatul was a Polish Torah scholar. The book begins with approbations from the prominent leaders of the generation, including the Shlah, the Maharsha, the Maharam of Lublin, the Kli Yakar, the Tevuot Shor and others. The work is divided into "roots" and "branches". The text of Sefer HaIkarim appears in the center of each page, with the "roots" and "branches" printed around it.
Ownership inscription on title page, partially faded and overwritten.
Does not contain last two leaves, lacking from many copies (these leaves are also lacking in the digitized copies on Otzar HaChochma and HebrewBooks).
2. Shemen HaTov and Zekan Aharon, on the Torah, Aggadah, Passover Haggadah, and more, by R. Shlomo Ohev and his grandson R. Aharon HaKohen, with Maaseh Yeshurun, on the blood libel in Ragusa. Venice: Vendramin, [1657]. First edition.
Maaseh Yeshurun recounts the blood libel of which Yitzchak Yeshurun of Ragusa was accused, with a poem for that miracle by R. Aharon HaKohen (the story and poem were later reprinted in their own right as Maaseh Nisim or Maaseh Yeshurun).
Two books bound together. Etz Shatul: 144 leaves. Without last two leaves. Shemen HaTov and Zekan Aharon: [4], 29, 29-125, 122-148, 147-150, [6] leaves. 27.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Tears, including large open tear to last leaf of Shemen HaTov, affecting text, repaired with paper. Paper repairs to verso of title pages and margins of several other leaves. Early leather binding, with wear and defects.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $250
Sold for: $813
Including buyer's premium
Tumat Yesharim, anthology of works edited by R. Binyamin Mutal. Venice: Giovanni Cajon for Pietro and Lorenzo Bragadin, 1622. First edition.
The present book is an anthology comprising four central works and several additional smaller works, printed here for the first time: "Ohalei Tam" – responsa by R. Tam ibn Yachya; Derech Tamim, glosses on the Rif and his commentators by R. Tam ibn Yachya and his son R. Gedaliah ibn Yachya (including glosses by R. Betzalel Ashkenazi, R. Yitzchak Luria, and R. Avraham Treves Tzarfati); Temim De'im, rulings, commentaries and Hasagot on the Rif by R. Avraham son of David of Posquières (the Raavad); Klalei Shmuel by R. Shmuel Sirilio; and Hagahot Sifra copied by the editor R. Binyamin Mutal; and several additional minor works.
The editor of the book, R. Binyamin Mutal, was a Torah scholar of Constantinople. He edited and published several other works.
On title page, several handwritten ownership and other inscriptions: "The wise R. Immanuel"; "Meir Shlomo Farhi" [younger brother of Chaim Farhi, a governor of the Acre community; purchased a courtyard in Tiberias in 1831]; and handwritten and signed inscription of the famous bookseller R. Baruch Esman of Kiev (1836-1910; author of Chad VeChalak): "One of the books sent to me from Frankfurt in Adar 1867. Price… Baruch Esman"; and other inscription. On p. 119b of second sequence, learned gloss in Oriental script.
[1], 2-114; 120; 94 leaves; 66 leaves. 29 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Wear and tears. Open tears and paper repairs to first leaves. Worming. Bookplate. Old fabric binding.
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,375
Including buyer's premium
Two books by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena – first editions:
• Beit Lechem Yehudah, index to Ein Yaakov, by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena. Venice, 1625. First edition.
26 leaves. 29 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including large dampstains. Wear. Tears and open tears to margins to title page and other leaves, affecting text in several places, repaired with paper strips. Slight worming, affecting text. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions on title page. Bookplate. Old binding, with defects.
• Beit Yehudah, Parts I-II, additional aggadot to Ein Yaakov, with brief commentary by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena. Venice, 1635. First edition.
Both parts in one volume.
Edited by Yitzchak Min HaLeviyim, grandson and adopted son of R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena, who gives his age as 14 (p. 48b). He was famed for his skill in preaching, and his sermons were even attended by Christian scholars and nobles.
Signature on title page.
Glosses (trimmed) in several places (adding Talmudic passages).
37, [1]; 48, [4] leaves. 29 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains, including dampstains. Light wear. Close trimming, slightly affecting title frame. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Bookplate. Old binding, with slight defects.
R. Yehudah Aryeh Modena (1571-1648) was a rabbi in Venice, teacher, cantor, grammarian and poet, a gifted orator and preacher, a learned scholar and a fascinating and original polemicist. His other works include Tzemach Tzaddik (Venice, 1600), an autobiography Chayei Yehudah, Midbar Yehudah (Venice, 1602) with selected sermons, and many other books, including some polemical works.
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.
Category
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $250
Sold for: $1,250
Including buyer's premium
Gidulei Terumah, Sefer HaTerumot on monetary law by R. Shmuel HaSardi, disciple of the Ramban, with Gidulei Terumah commentary by R. Azariah Figo (Piccio), Rabbi of Pisa. Venice: Francesco Vieceri for Commissaria of Giovanni Vendramin, [1643]. First edition, printed in author's lifetime.
Gidulei Terumah is cited extensively by the Shach on Choshen Mishpat and is a basic text of Jewish monetary laws. The author, R. Azariah Figo (Piccio; 1579-1647) was a leading Venice Torah scholar. He recounts the reason for composing the book in his introduction: During the time he occupied the position as Rabbi of the city of Pisa, far from the Italian Torah centers, "neither books nor Torah scholars could be found there", therefore he took upon himself to compose a work on the teachings of Sefer HaTerumot, authored by Rabbi Shmuel HaSardi, disciple of the Ramban, a primary source for the Tur's Choshen Mishpat.
Ownership inscriptions (partially deleted) on title page and last leaf.
[6], 382 leaves. Leaves 321-322 misordered. 30 cm. Good-fair condition. Many stains (some dark). Small tears and open tears, including tear affecting text to one leaf, without loss. Slight worming. Censorship stamps to title page (one on a small piece of paper mounted on title page). Bookplate. Early leather binding, with defects, detached on both sides (without binding).
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.
Category
Early Printed Books – 17th-18th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $600
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Maasei Chachamim, selected stories and aggadot from Ein Yaakov and Beit Yehudah by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena (the author's grandfather), with Rashi's commentary, by R. Yitzchak Min HaLeviyim. Venice: Bragadin and Antonio Calleoni, 1647. Only edition, rare.
Includes seventy-two aggadot, with commentary of Rashi and a brief moral of each story. On last leaf, index of morals of the stories.
On leaves 2-3, introductions and poem by author.
[2] last leaves with announcement by author and index of morals.
21, [2] leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear, defects and small marginal tears to title page and first leaves. Close trimming, slightly affecting text of several leaves. Old binding, with defects (back side detached).
Stamps of Jews' College library on title page.
The author, R. Yitzchak Min HaLeviyim (b. 1681), was born in Venice to R. Yaakov HaLevi and Diana, daughter of R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena. Orphaned of his father, he was raised by his grandfather, who taught him the art of printing. Served as assistant to his grandfather and as a preacher. His works include the present book as well as his autobiographical Medaber Tahpuchot, including a description of the author's life in the 16th-century Venetian ghetto.
Category
Early Printed Books – 17th-18th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $800
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Selichot Shirot VeTushbachot, booklet of Selichot and other prayers by R. Avraham Auerbach of Coesfeld. Amsterdam: Yosef Athias, [1677].
Order of Selichot authored by R. Avraham Auerbach of Coesfeld, Rabbi of Münster, commemorating his miraculous salvation from slander to the authorities.
At beginning of book, approbations of rabbis of Amsterdam and Poznań.
On margins, kabbalistic commentary by author.
The author, R. Avraham son of Yitzchak Auerbach, was a seventeenth-century liturgical poet, rabbi in Coesfeld, Münster. Slandered to Prince-bishop Christoph Bernhard by a friend, R. Avraham's property was to be confiscated and he was to be banished from the realm.
After fleeing to Amsterdam, R. Avraham returned to prove his innocence. After five weeks of imprisonment, the plot was bared for all to see, and R. Avraham was set free, receiving his property and his rabbinic position again. As a result, R. Avraham enacted a yearly day of fasting and prayer for his community on 23rd Shevat, to which end the present booklet was printed.
Ownership inscription on title page.
20 leaves. 22.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains. Wear. Small creases and tears to margins. Original parchment binding, with stains and defects (early inscription on binding in initials).
Ginzei Yisrael (Mehlman collection), no. 542.
Rare.
Category
Early Printed Books – 17th-18th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $250
Sold for: Unsold
Avodat Yisrael, commentary on the Yom Kippur Avodah, including text of piyyut Atah Konanta, by R. Yisrael Kimchi. Izmir: Yonah son of Yaakov Ashkenazi and David Chazan, [1737]. First edition.
Lengthy discussion on existing commentaries of the Yom Kippur Avodah, with the author's own original commentary. The piyyut Atah Konanta is included in full.
Foreword by R. Chaim Abulafia (the second), Rabbi of Izmir, and the author's brother and publisher R. Avraham Kimchi.
[2], 216, [3] leaves. Last leaf of index leaves lacking. 20.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Many stains, including dampstains. Wear. Marginal tears to title page and several other leaves. Bookplate. Old binding, detached, with defects (lacking spine).
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.
Category
Early Printed Books – 17th-18th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $800
Sold for: $1,875
Including buyer's premium
Responsa Tashbetz, three parts, by R. Shimon son of Tzemach Duran. With Responsa Chut HaMeshulash by grandsons of the author. Amsterdam: Naftali Hertz Levi, [1738-1739]. First edition. With seven title pages.
Original unique parchment binding, with artistic decorations on both sides, and the name of the book on the parchment spine.
Notably, all copies of this book with the original bindings were artistically prepared by hand with fine ornamentation and decoration, with no copy identical to another. Most original bindings were made of fine parchment or a combination of leather and parchment, reminiscent of fish skin.
Reputedly, the author, R. Shimon son of Tzemach Duran, merited to have his books beautifully printed and elegantly bound by virtue of his practice to cover his open books with a lavish kerchief (R. Yitzchak Palachi, Yafeh LaLev, III, Yoreh Deah 277: 3). Furthermore, it is told that he deeply respected his holy books and would clean them daily with a silk cloth (Sh.Y. Agnon, Sefer Sofer VeSipur, p. 152, related by R. Eliezerov in the name of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch; N. Ben Menachem, Gevilei Sefarim, pp. 11-12, related by R. Zevin in the name of the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch).
Signature on title page of "Refael son of Avraham of Niederhagenthal" (present-day Hangenthal-le-Bas, northeastern France).
Ownership inscriptions on endpaper.
[12], 91; [1], 69; [1], 68, [1]; [1], 101, [1] leaves. Does not contain [1] leaf at end of Part II with list of books by the author (this leaf seems to appear in most copies twice, at the end of Parts II and III, while in the present copy it appears only at the end of Part III). 31.5 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains, including light dampstains and inkstains to several leaves. Light wear. Some tears, including small marginal tears to first title page, repaired with tape. Original elaborate parchment binding, finely decorated. Defects to binding (tears to top of spine).
The present copy contains seven title pages: two for Part I, one for Part II, one for Part III, and one for each of the three sections of Part IV.
This edition has several known variants, which can be differentiated by the number of title pages. Some copies, such as the present one, have as many as seven title pages (or even eight, see Kedem, Auction 59, Lot 88), while other copies have only four original title pages (see Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, and see: Dan and Gita Yardeni, The "Tashbez" by R. Shimon b. Zemah Duran; Amsterdam, 1739-1742, Alei Sefer, X, 1982, pp. 119-132 [Hebrew]).
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 17th-18th Centuries
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $400
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Six ethical, homiletical and philosophical books printed in Amsterdam in the 1600s and 1700s, mainly in original bindings:
• Mashmia Yeshuah, commentary on Talmudic and Midrashic passages about the redemption, by Don Yitzchak Abarbanel. Amsterdam: Immanuel Benveniste, [1644]. Includes location of printing and printer's name (lacking from most copies).
• Yesh Nochalim, by R. Avraham Horowitz, father of the Shlah, with ethical will of R. Shabtai Sheftel HaLevi Horowitz, son of the Shlah. Amsterdam, [1701]. Without last [1] page with errata (also lacking in other copies).
Signature on title page.
• Letters and Responsa of the Rambam. Amsterdam, [1712]. Unique printed dedication on verso of title page. Original leather binding.
Inscription inside front board.
• Shulchan Arba, laws of the table and eating, by R. Bachya son of Asher ibn Chalawa. Amsterdam, [1718]. Original parchment binding. Bookplate of "Justus Tal" [R. Tuviah Tal, Rabbi of Arnhem and the Hague, d. 1898].
• Kav HaYashar, by R. Tzvi Hirsch of Koidanov. Amsterdam, [1722].
• Chen Tov, by R. Gedaliah Teikus, with Brit Melach by R. Yom Tov Lipman Heller, and Taharat Aharon by R. Aharon Perls. Amsterdam, [1756].
6 books. Varying size and condition. Old original bindings. The books have not been thoroughly examined, and are being sold as is.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Category
Early Printed Books – 17th-18th Centuries
Catalogue Value