Later Prophets (Nevi'im Acharonim). With the commentary of David Kimchi (Rada”k)

AUCTION 26 | Monday, November 22nd, 2004 at 1:00

Exceptional Printed Books, Sixty-Five Hebrew Incunabula: The Elkan Nathan Adler-Wineman Family Collection

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Lot 19

(BIBLE)

Later Prophets (Nevi'im Acharonim). With the commentary of David Kimchi (Rada”k)

FIRST EDITION with Kimchi’s commentary. On final page, censor's signature, “Laurentius Franguellus.” (See Wm. Popper, The Censorship of Hebrew Books, Pl. IV, No. 5.) The Biblical text of ff.2 -20 has been vocalized in manuscript. Numerous corrigenda supply the first word of each Prophet and verses ff. 293. Light stains. Several ff. laid to size with occasional loss of text. Light staining. Modern calf. Folio Vinograd, Soncino13; Goff 24; Goldstein 34; Offenberg 29; Steinschneider, p. 1, no. 4; Thes. A39; Wineman Cat. 19A

Soncino: Joshua Solomon ben Israel Nathan Soncino (1485)

Est: $70,000 - $80,000

PRICE REALIZED $95,000

COMPLETE COPY OF DAVID KIMCHI’S COMMENTARY As is well known, Kimchi's commentary to the Bible is replete with anti-Christological remarks, which predictably came under scrutiny by Church censors. As a result, copies of his commentary invariably have several offending words struck. In at least one instance (f.11v), our copy has fared considerably better than the copy of JTSA. The passage was subjected to mild censorship with a minimal loss of four words (“u-lehashiv la-minim” and “sotheir divreihem”) as opposed to the thorough-going expunging that ravaged the Seminary copy. In other instances, the JTSA copy fared better. There are two interesting variants. On f.44v. we have the correct spelling of the divine name in the verse “ne'um hashem asher or lo be-zion,” whereas in the JTSA copy the name of God is spelled “Havayah.” Contrariwise, on f. 122v. our copy incorrectly has “ohaleihem.” The JTSA copy has the correct speling “Eloheihem.”