Modon, Simcha Cohen. Kol Musar
AUCTION 21 |
Thursday, December 04th,
2003 at 1:00
Kestenbaum & Company Holds Inaugural Auction of Hebrew Printed Books & Manuscripts at Their New Galleries
Lot 203
(POETRY).
Modon, Simcha Cohen. Kol Musar
Mantua: Raphael Haim D’Italia 1725
Est: $300 - $500
PRICE REALIZED $400
Poetry. Appreciations by David Finzi, father-in-law of Moses Hayim Luzzatto (RaMHaL), and Dr. Kalonymos D’Italia. Cecil Roth gives high marks to the poetic achievement of Modon, “renewer of the Hebrew sonnet, who won golden opinions when he was sent on a congratulatory mission to the Emperor Charles VI.” C. Roth,The History of the Jews of Italy (Philadelphia, 1946), p. 400. Our volume contains fifty sonnets (poems of fourteen lines). Many of the poems are based on motifs found in Talmud and rabbinic literature throughout the ages. Those interested in the history of printing will appreciate sonnet 46, “On the Three Types of Writing.” The poet sings the virtues of paper, vellum, and rag.