Chizkuni [commentary to the Pentateuch]

AUCTION 46 | Thursday, September 10th, 2009 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, & Graphic Art

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Lot 81

Chezekiah ben Manoach

Chizkuni [commentary to the Pentateuch]

FIRST SEPARATE EDITION. Title letters as well as initial Chapter words historiated. On f. 79r diagram of the twelve stones in the High Priest’s breast-plate. Latin marginal notes. Owners’ signatures and inscriptions in various hands on title and penultimate leaf, including: "Naphtali b. Shlomo migeza Heilprun nikra Hirschla Rophe"; and: "I, Shimon ben Yoseph purchased this book from Abraham Hamburg, 1617"; etc. ff. 157, (1). Mispaginated, though all complete. Opening and closing pages laid down, few paper repairs, stained, trace wormed. Modern boards. 4to Vinograd, Cremona 26; Benayahu, Cremona, no. 24 (illustrated p.76)

Cremona: Vicenzo Conti 1559

Est: $1,500 - $2,000

PRICE REALIZED $1,400

Chezekiah ben Manoach (mid-13th century), apparently of France, was a Biblical commentator of the School of Rashi. Although the Chizkuni was included in Bomberg's 1524 edition of the Pentateuch, this Cremona issue is the first separate edition. See EJ, Vol. VIII, cols. 459-60 (illustrated). Meir Benayahu writes that most copies of Chizkuni are lacking ff. 155-156, which were removed by Church censorship (see his Hebrew Printing at Cremona (1971), p. 211, fortunately, our copy is entirely complete.