Rosh Amunah [on the principles of faith] * Zevach Pesach [commentary on the Hagadah, with text] * Nachlath Avoth [commentary to Ethics of the Fathers, with text]

JIM PRIOR TO THIS VERY FIRST LOT PLEASE PLACE INSIDE A BOX IN ROMAN SMALL CAPS: KESTENBAUM AND COMPANY IS MOST GRATEFUL TO DR. Benjamin Richler, Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts OF Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem for his expert advice in preparing this catalogue. RARE COMPILATION OF THE FIRST EDITIONS OF THREE IMPORTANT WORKS. ALL BOUND TOGETHER AS ISSUED. Highly uncommon to find ALL THREE extant AS SUCH. Rosh Amunah [“The Pinnacle of Faith”] is Abrabanel’s most important work on philosophical-thoeological questions. The work is devoted to the championship of the Maimonidean thirteen Articles of Belief against the attacks of Chasdai Crescas and Joseph Albo. The main value of the book lies in Abrabanel’s lucid exposition of the whole subject of Dogmatics, developed from Maimonides to his own day. His analysis of the arguments leveled against Maimonides and his skillful defence of the master’s scheme form a genuine contribution to the study of Jewish dogmatics. Abrabanel concludes that Maimonides compiled his articles in accordance with the fashion of other nations, but fundamentally there are no dogmas in Judaism; the teachings of the Torah are revelations from God and therefore one must accept the Torah entire, with all its inherent precepts and duties. Zevach Pesach [“Passover Sacrifice”] is the first edition of the Passover Hagadah to be Published with a Commentary of Any Kind. See, Yerushalmi 5. Contending with his ongoing struggle to make sense of the devastation brought by the Expulsion from Spain, Abrabanel devoted much of his writings to the problem of Redemption. His commentary on the first redemption of the Jews from enslavement in Egypt, is his first elaborate exposition of this issue, a topic he would address in numerous later philosophical works. Nachlath Avoth [“The Inheritance of the Fathers”] is Abrabanel’s testimony to the worthiness of the suffering endured by the Jewish Expulsion from Spain. The only real value which gives meaning to Jewish suffering, Abrabanel urges, is the moral heritage which the Jews have guarded throughout the ages and which Abrabanel warns was now placed in jeopardy by the rising materialistic tendencies among the survivors of the exile. The Nahmias Brothers, who printed this compendium were themselves exiles from Spain who established their press in 1505. It was the first printing-press beyond Europe’s borders. These three works were the first of Abrabanel’s works to be given to their press. Although individual parts have been previously offered at auction, (See Kestenbaum & Company, Fine Hebrew Printed Books: Duplicates from the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary, 25th November 1997, Lot 255; and Kestenbaum & Company, Fine Judaica 17th November 1998, Lot 3); it is clear from the colophon that the three works were published together as one - with one colophon for all. The elaborate metal-cut border around the opening pages of these works was the first border to be used in a Hebrew book. For a detailed biography of Abrabarnel’s experiences and philosophical conclusions regarding the Spanish Expulsion see B. Netanyahu, Don Isaac Abravanel, Statesman & Philosopher (1968)