Minchah Belulah [homilies to the Pentateuch]

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 198

RAPA, ABRAHAM MENACHEM BEN JACOB HAKOHEN OF PORTO.

Minchah Belulah [homilies to the Pentateuch]

FIRST EDITION. The Mayer Sulzberger copy. Title with woodcut device within typographic border, initial word of each of the Five Books within elaborate historiated frame, five sectional tail-pieces. Rapoport Family escutcheon on f.207r. ff. (3), 13, 15-207. Signed (twice) by censor Clemente Renatto, head-note soiled through first half of volume, trace wormed, generally not affecting text. 19th-century boards, upper cover detached, lower cover lacking. 4to Vinograd, Verona 3; Adams A-27

Verona: Francesco delle Donne 1594

Est: $600 - $900

PRICE REALIZED $750

Whilst a young man, the author was apprenticed as a proof-reader at the House of Bragadin in Venice. There he witnessed the violent Burning of the Talmud pursuant to the Papal Bull of 1553. On f.203r of the present work, Rapaport records the tragic event and notes his decision to commemorate the anniversary of the Auto-da-Fe as a personal fast-day for the rest of his life. See A. Yaari, Sereiphath Hatalmud B’Italia in: Mechkarei Sepher (1958) pp. 198-233