(NACHMANIDES. RaMBa”N). Peirush Ha-Torah [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 242

MOSES BEN NACHMAN.

(NACHMANIDES. RaMBa”N). Peirush Ha-Torah [Commentary to the Pentateuch]

Title within decorative border with ornate floral design (design repeated on f.3); with poem containing the acrostic “Gershom.” Initial words within white-on-black decorative surround. ff. 177 (lacking final blank). Corners rounded. Opening 17 and closing 12 leaves laid down with minimal border loss, some staining, previous owners' signatures in early hand. Modern calf, with slip-case. Sm. folio. Vinograd Pesaro 34; Mehlman 673

Pesaro: Sons of Soncino 1513-14

Est: $6,000 - $9,000

PRICE REALIZED $5,800

The bookseller and scholar, David Frankel was wont to advise his clients that early Pesaro books are more scarce and prized than many incunabula. After Rashi, the most popular commentary to the Pentateuch is undoubtedly that of Nachmanides (b. Gerona, 1194 - d. Eretz Israel, 1270). The fact that there were as many as three incunabule editions (two within a year of one another) of Nachmanides’ Commentary to the Pentateuch, attests to the immense popularity of the work. According to R. Menachem Eisenstadt in the introduction to his super-commentary, the Pesaro edition is textually the most accurate.