(Ra”N). Derashoth MehaRav Rabbeinu Nissim [sermons]

AUCTION 41 | Thursday, September 18th, 2008 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, & Graphic Art

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Lot 125

GERONDI, NISSIM

(Ra”N). Derashoth MehaRav Rabbeinu Nissim [sermons]

FIRST EDITION. Printed without a title page. Scattered Hebrew marginalia. Final line of f.113r supplied in old hand. Adolph Lewisohn morocco book-label pp. 61, (1), 61-113, (9), 114 (i.e. 115)-122, (8), 130-133, (20). Occasional light stains. Recent blind-tooled crushed morocco, extremeties rubbed, rear cover loose. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Const. 143; Yaari, Const. 110; Mehlman 903; not in Adams

(Constantinople: Gershom Soncino & Son 1533?)

Est: $4,000 - $6,000

PRICE REALIZED $17,000

Complete Copy of Rare Editio Princeps of Derashoth ha-Ra"N R. Nissim ben Reuben Gerondi (1310?-1375?) acted in an unofficial capacity as rabbi and Dayan in Barcelona. His scholarly fame rests upon his commentary to Alfasi on several tractates of the Talmud. Concerning Derashot ha-Ra"n, a book of twelve sermons, Prof. Leon Feldman writes that they are "of a decidedly anti-philosophic character though written in the style of philosophical literature" ( EJ, Vol. XII, col.1186). Rabbeinu Nissim was the teacher of Hasdai Crescas - the anti-Aristotelianism for which Crescas is renowned, perhaps absorbed from his teacher.