Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Books by Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh of Modena – Beit Lechem Yehudah – Venice, 1625 / Beit Yehudah – Venice, 1635 – First Editions
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.
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries