SEDER OLAM RABA VESEDER OLAM ZUTA [Two Midrashic chronologies]. With Megilath Ta’anith and Sepher Hakaballah, etc. by Abraham b. David of Posquieres (RAVa”D)

AUCTION 3 | Tuesday, November 25th, 1997 at 1:00
Fine Hebrew Printed Books Duplicates from the Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary of America

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Lot 22
Anonymous.

SEDER OLAM RABA VESEDER OLAM ZUTA [Two Midrashic chronologies]. With Megilath Ta’anith and Sepher Hakaballah, etc. by Abraham b. David of Posquieres (RAVa”D)

Third edition. Title within architectural arch. The Dr. David Cassel copy ff. 132. Imprint and printer’s name erased from title (trace wormed), few stains. Loose in vellum-backed boards, worn. 8vo Vinograd, Basle 164; Prijs, Basle 128; not in Adams

Basle: Ambrosius Froben 1580

Est: $500 - $700
PRICE REALIZED $400
Froben simultaneously issued a Latin-Hebrew (Adams S-846) and Hebrew only version of this work. Attributed to Yose b. Chalaphta, the Seder Olam Raba is mentioned in the Talmud. It was the first text to establish the era “from the Creation of the World” or, Anno Mundi. Alexander Marx attempted a critical edition (unfinished) of the book, with a German translation, in 1903. The Megilath Ta’anith is of Tannaitic origin and is particularly useful as an historical parallel to the facts presented by Josephus. The Seder Olam Zuta probably dates to the early medieval period. Abraham Zacuto included large portions of it in his Sepher Yuchasin. A scholarly edition of the Seder Olam Zuta has yet to appear. (See also Lot 66)