Masechta Zevachim [sacrifices] ff. 122. *Bound with: Mishnayoth Seder Kodashim. With commentary of Maimonides. ff. 47
AUCTION 34 |
Tuesday, September 12th,
2006 at 1:00
Exemplary Hebrew Books: The Library of Joseph Gradenwitz, Esq.
Lot 143
(TALMUD, BABYLONIAN)
Masechta Zevachim [sacrifices] ff. 122. *Bound with: Mishnayoth Seder Kodashim. With commentary of Maimonides. ff. 47
Basle: Froben 1580 and 1578
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
PRICE REALIZED $900
Following the wanton destruction in Italy of vast numbers of Hebrew texts - especially Talmud volumes, the Basle humanist-printer Johannes Froben was moved to issue a new edition of the Talmud to compensate for the losses experienced by the learned Jews of Italy. And yet the censor Marco Marino Brixiense and his apostate assistants diligently sought to remove any passages deemed offensive to the Church. Consequently, the potentially scandalizing Tractate Avoda Zara was never issued from the press of Froben.
See R.N.N. Rabinowitz, Ma’amar al Hadpassat Ha-Talmud pp. 74-79 ; M. J. Heller, Printing the Talmud, (1992) pp. 241-65