Minchah Bilulah [homilies to the Pentateuch]

AUCTION 8 | Tuesday, November 16th, 1999 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art

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Lot 502

RAPA, ABRAHAM MENACHEM BEN JACOB HAKOHEN OF PORTO.

Minchah Bilulah [homilies to the Pentateuch]

FIRST EDITION. Title with woodcut device within typographical border, initial word of each of the Five Books within elaborate historiated frame, five sectional tail-pieces. Rapaport Family escutcheon on f.207r. ff.(3),13,15-208,(1). Contemporary vellum, rubbed. Sm.4to Vinograd, Verona 3; Adams A-27

Verona: Francesco delle Donne 1594

Est: $1,500 - $2,000

PRICE REALIZED $1,500

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