Twelve volumes complete
AUCTION 37 |
Tuesday, June 26th,
2007 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art
Lot 160
(TALMUD, BABYLONIAN)
Twelve volumes complete
Sulzbach: Meshulam Zalman and Sons 1766 - 70
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
PRICE REALIZED $3,200
The publication of the Sulzbach Talmud engendered severe contention between the Proops printing family of Amsterdam and the Sulzbach printers. This pertained to the rights of publication of the Talmud, with each side claiming that competition by the other transgressed copyright decisions issued by various community Rabbis. These infringements would thus impact upon their commercial investment. Consequently, once the Sulzbach edition began to appear, the Polish Council of Four Lands placed it under a cherem at the urging of the Proops family. However, Meshulam Zalman of Sulzbach appeared before the court of R. David Strauss of Fuerth and requested an adjudication. Proops failed to honor a summons and so the Beth Din permitted Meshulam Zalman to continue the publication of his edition which provide less-moneyed Jews an opportunity to purchase Talmud volumes, whereas the more costly Amsterdam Talmud could be afforded only by the more wealthy. See Rabbinowicz, Ma’amar al Hadpasath ha-Talmud (1952) pp. 119-121