Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts
Roman-rite machzor, with the Kimcha DeAvishuna commentary. Prayers and piyyutim for weekdays, Shabbat and festivals. Including: Passover Haggadah, and Tractate Avot with the commentaries of the Rambam and R. Ovadiah Sforno. Bologna: [Menachem son of Avraham of Modena, Yechiel son of Shlomo of Ravenna and Dan Aryeh son of Shlomo Chaim of Monselice, 1540]. Two parts in two volumes.
One of the most prominent machzorim printed in Italy. First edition of Kimcha DeAvishuna, comprehensive commentary on prayers and piyyutim, by R. Yochanan son of R. Yosef Treves (the commentary was published anonymously), as well as first edition of the commentary of R. Ovadiah Sforno to Tractate Avot, printed in his lifetime.
Both volumes contain many handwritten glosses in cursive script (several trimmed). In first volume, glosses by several writers, most additions from halachic and ethical works. After introduction, lengthy gloss on morning conduct (including the halachic measure of reviit in the local Venetian ounce, as well as an idea cited from R. Shmuel Aboab of Venice, d. 1694). On first leaf of the volume, lengthy inscription on birth of twins to a couple who had been infertile for twenty years.
In second volume, glosses in neat cursive Italian script by a writer from Mantua, who frequently mentions the customs of the great synagogue in his city (e.g. pp. 17a, 145a).
Censorship expurgations in a few places. Signatures of two censors on last leaf of volume II.
Two parts in two volumes. Vol. I: [197] leaves. Missing title page and leaves [9], [16] (with handwritten text replacements for both middle leaves). Vol. II: [188] leaves. Missing title page. 29.5-31 cm. Overall fair condition. Stains, including dampstains, and wax stains in several places. Heavy wear. Many tears, including open tears affecting text, partially repaired with paper. New bindings (uniform).
Fewer than twenty Hebrew books were ever printed in Bologna. This machzor was one of the last books printed there.
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Eliyahu Shmuel Hartom.
Service for four fast days – 10th of Tevet, Taanit Ester, 17th of Tamuz and Tishah BeAv. Venice: Giovanni Vendramini by Giovanni Martinelli, 1638.
Haftarah for Tishah BeAv appears with commentary in Ladino, verse by verse. The end of the Tishah BeAv service contains the Book of Job.
120 leaves. 16 cm. Good-fair condition. Several leaves in fair condition. Stains. Many dark wax stains to some leaves (Eichah and Kinot for Tishah BeAv). Light wear. Open tears to several leaves, affecting text. Early leather binding. Wear and damage to binding, and open tears to spine.
Rare edition.
Year-round Siddur according to the Sephardic rite. Venice: Alvise Bragadin, 1703-1704.
Divisional title page on leaf 129: "Order of prayers for festivals and holidays". Does not contain leaves 241-400 with order of prayers for high holidays and fast days (which is also a section with a divisional title page).
At the beginning of the book is an introduction in which the publisher R. Yisrael Isserl, son of R. Elyakim Getz, thanks the donors who contributed to the publication of the Siddur. In this interesting introduction, the publisher likewise recounts his many wanderings, beginning in Strasbourg where he served as Rabbi, from which he fled to Venice, immigrated to Jerusalem, relocated to Syria and returned to Venice.
25, 33-240 leaves. Missing 7 leaves (26-32), one supplied in handwriting. 12 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Signs of use and light wear. Small marginal tears. Early binding with leather spine and gilt decorations. Damage to binding.
Rare edition.
Machzor Shaar Bat Rabim, Part I – prayers for weekdays, Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and festivals, and Part II – prayers for the high holidays and festivals of Tishrei, "following the rite of the Ashkenazi community", with the Hadrat Kodesh commentary by R. Yitzchak son of R. Yaakov Yosef HaLevi. Venice: Bragadin, [1711-1715]. Complete set. Two parts in two volumes.
Finely engraved title pages at the beginning of parts I and II.
This elegant machzor was published at the initiative of the Italian communities, who undertook to buy the printed copies. The machzor was printed and sold in individual gatherings.
Yiddish inscriptions in both volumes.
Two volumes. Volume I: 360 leaves. Volume II: 372, 377-384 leaves. Approx. 40-41 cm. Volume I and beginning of volume II in fair condition, most leaves of volume II in good-fair condition. Stains. Many dampstains and traces of former dampness in both volumes, with heavy mold stains (to many leaves in first volume). Many wax stains in the Book of Eichah. Wear and creases to some leaves. Tears, including open tears affecting text. Title page of volume II detached, with tears. Some worming. Early bindings (uniform), leather-coated wood. Much damage and wear to bindings, and tears to spines (front binding and spine of second volume detached).
Siftei Renanot, year-round prayers according to the Ashkenazic rite, with Tehillim, Maamadot and Techinot (with divisional title pages). Sulzbach: Meshulam Zalman son of Aharon Frankel, [1739].
Siddur according to the western Ashkenazic rite, with Selichot, Bakashot, laws and customs in Yiddish, Passover Haggadah and yotzrot. On p. 58a, printed illustration of Lamnatzeach menorah.
Two title pages at beginning of book, first title page illustrated. Divisional title pages for Tehillim, Maamadot and Techinot.
[2], 241, 243-294; 82, [1], 90-115; 12 leaves. 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains, heavy wear and signs of use. Tears, including open tears affecting text (large tears to several leaves), repaired with paper (some over text). Final leaf detached and margins torn. Close trimming, affecting headers of leaves. Early leather binding, worn and damaged, with many open tears to spine.
The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book and the NLI catalog record incomplete copies. The present copy is complete.
Year-round siddur according to the Bohemian, Polish and Moravian rite, edited by R. Shlomo Zalman London, with Tehillim and Maamadot. Vienna: Anton Schmid, 1793.
Fine original leather binding, with many gilt decorations. Inscription on front binding: "S. V. M".
Inscriptions on front endpaper on passing of the writer's mother and father, dated 1843 and 1862.
[8], 131, 133-184; 8, 10-59, 70-138, 157-193, [1] leaves. Missing leaf 132 of first sequence (blank leaf bound in its place). Tehillim: 88 leaves. Maamadot: 60 leaves. 16.5 cm. Some leaves dark. Good-fair condition. Stains. Several leaves loose and partially detached. Marginal tears to title page and several other leaves, repaired with paper. Original leather binding, with gilt decorations. Damage to binding.
Rare siddur. Undocumented in Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, and does not appear in NLI catalog.