Psalms (Tehillim). With 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 31

(BIBLE)

Psalms (Tehillim). With commentary of David Kimchi (Rada”k)

Second edition. Biblical text in square type with nikud. Horizontal line above “raphah” (soft) consonants veith, khaph and thav; Kimchi’s commentary in Rashi script. Typical of Rada”k’s commentary to Psalms, several passages censored. Marginalium on f.71r. Edited by Jacob Baruch ben Judah Landa Aschkenazi (see colophon) ff. 104 (of 118) lacking ff.1-5, 13-16, 23, 57, 62 and 104. Three facsimile leaves. Several leaves remargined, few stains. Modern calf. Folio Vinograd, Naples 4; Goff 29; Goldstein 49; Offenberg 35; Steinschneider, p. 2, no. 6; Thes. A57; Wineman Cat. 31

Naples: Joseph ben Jacob Aschkenazi Gunzenhauser 1487

Est: $15,000 - $20,000

PRICE REALIZED $12,000

The First Hebrew Book Printed in Naples. A Wide-Margined Copy. This edition of Psalms, complete with Kimchi’s commentary, was issued by Gunzenhauser the same year as Proverbs (see Lot 32) and Job (see Lot 33). In rabbinic tradition, the three books of Iyov (Job), Mishlei (Proverbs) and Tehillim (Psalms) form one unit, whose initials spell the word “Emeth” (Truth). The Gunzenhausers, pioneers in Hebrew printing, went to Naples from Gunzehausen in Southern Germany. In Naples they established a press, assembled a talented team of typsetters and proof-readers and between the years 1487-1492 produced in sum twelve books