Bi’ur al Sepher Tehilim [commentary to the Book of Psalms, with text]

AUCTION 31 | Tuesday, December 13th, 2005 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew and Other Printed Books

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Lot 271

SFORNO, OBADIAH

Bi’ur al Sepher Tehilim [commentary to the Book of Psalms, with text]

First edition of Sforno’s commentary. Title within wreathed arch. Printed in two columns: Text of Psalms with nikud (vowel points) and te’amim (cantillation), commentary in Rashi type ff. 92. Owner’s signature on title, shaved not affecting text though occasionally affecting head-notes, some staining. Vellum-backed marbled boards, rubbed. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Venice 687; Habermann, di Gara 77; Adams B-1362

Venice: Giovanni di Gara 1586

Est: $1,200 - $1,800

PRICE REALIZED $2,000

Despite the fact that the Italian physician Obadiah Sforno (c. 1470 - c. 1550) taught Judaic studies to the Christian Hebraist Johannes Reuchlin, Sforno’s commentary to the Bible has been embraced by even the most orthodox of rabbinic scholars, many of whom find the commentary, or at least certain passages, to be of extreme halachic interest. See EJ, Vol. XIV, cols. 1209-11