Sepher Tuv Ta’am [on cantillation points and grammatical accents]

AUCTION 79 | Thursday, November 15th, 2018 at 1:00 PM

The Valmadonna Trust Library: Further Selections from the Historic Collection. * Hebrew Printing in America. * Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 84

LEVITA, ELIJAH BACHUR.

Sepher Tuv Ta’am [on cantillation points and grammatical accents]

<<FIRST EDITION.>> pp. 35. Trace stained. Bound in Valmadonna-custom blind-tooled chestnut calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. Housed in fitted slip-case. Sm. 4to. Vinograd, Venice 155.

Venice: Daniel Bomberg 1538

Est: $1,200 - $1,800

PRICE REALIZED $1,600

Levita here puts forth the theory that the Torah’s cantillation points (“trop”) were not Sinaitic but rather of post-Talmudic origin. This novel idea, which contradicted that stated in the Talmud (see TB Nedarim 37b and commentaries) became the subject of much controversy. See EJ, Vol. XI, col. 134. This work proved to be so popular that it was immediately republished in Basle, 1539.