Torath Kohanim (Siphra). With commentary of Ra'ava”d (R. Abraham ben David of Posquières)

AUCTION 48 | Thursday, May 27th, 2010 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art Featuring an Exceptional Collection of American Judaica

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Lot 180

(MIDRASH).

Torath Kohanim (Siphra). With commentary of Ra'ava”d (R. Abraham ben David of Posquières)

FIRST EDITION. The Israel Mehlman copy. ff. 8 (of 46?). Wanting title page. Several leaves remargined, wormholes silked. Modern boards. Sm. folio Vinograd, Const. 29; Ya'ari, Const. 98 (includes facsimile of title on p. 85); Mehlman 137

Constantinople: n.p. circa 1510?

Est: $5,000 - $7,000

HIGHLY UNCOMMON EDITIO PRINCEPS OF THE TORATH KOHANIM. Very few copies of this book exist: The City Library, Frankfurt a/Main (46ff.) (copy lost?); Rabbinical Seminary, Budapest (40ff.); JTSA, New York; JNUL, Jerusalem (ff.42) -- both incomplete. The work extends only as far as Parashath Tzav and Israel Mehlman believed the printer never in fact completed production of the book. Various dates have been suggested for the year of printing, ranging from 1494 to 1523. In 1862, Isaac Hirsch Weiss (author of the history, Dor Dor VeDorshav), published a complete version of Torath Kohanim accompanied by the Ra'avad's commentary utilizing an early manuscript. See I. Twersky, Rabad of Posquières (1962). Another copy of this work (ff.42) was sold by Kestenbaum & Company, 25th October, 2004, Lot 34.