(RaDa”K). Sepher HaShorashim [“Book of Roots”: Biblical Lexicon]

AUCTION 44 | Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 170

KIMCHI, DAVID

(RaDa”K). Sepher HaShorashim [“Book of Roots”: Biblical Lexicon]

On title, printer's mark of Gershom Soncino, a castle surrounded by the verse from Proverbs 18:10 (See Yaari, Hebrew Printers' Marks, no. 6). Square Hebrew characters printed in double columns, citations from Bible provided with nikud. First word historiated. On bottom f. 2r., inscription of Church censor: "Subsignavi ego Guidus Menotius Regien[sis] Not[ariu]s d[e] man[da]to Bd. Doctoris Jac. Geraldini comiss[ari]i Ap[ostol]ici et Ducalis, die 18 Martij 1556." (See Poppers, Pl. IV, nos. 6-7.) On top f.3r.: "Kodesh le-hesger hekdesh R. Joseph Eskapa." On final page, inscription of another censor: Gio[vanni] Dominico Carretto 1607." (See Poppers, Pl. III, no. 7). A few Hebrew marginalia in an old Italki hand ff. 149. Opening and closing leaves tipped in from another copy. First four leaves (including title) laid to size. Waterstained and wormed (mostly marginal), stamps removed, trimmed. Calf-backed, later boards, rubbed. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Salonika 45; Mehlman 1254; Haberman, HaMadpisim B'nei Soncino, p. 77, no. 83; not in Adams

Salonika: Gershom ben Moses Soncino (1534)

Est: $3,000 - $5,000

PRICE REALIZED $3,250

One of Only Two Books Printed by Gershom Soncino in Salonika. The rhymed colophon, composed by Eliezer Todros, sings the praises of the printer Gershom ben Moshe of the House of Soncino. According to the colophon, Gershom Soncino, already much advanced in age, saw the necessity to provide readers with accurate editions of Kimchi's works: first, the grammar, Michlol (published by Soncino the previous year in Constantinople), and second, the lexicon, the present Shorashim