(Commonly misattributed to) Josephus [historical narrative of the Second Temple period]

AUCTION 53 | Thursday, December 08th, 2011 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters & Graphic Art

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Lot 165
JOSEPH BEN GORION

(Commonly misattributed to) Josephus [historical narrative of the Second Temple period]

Presentation copy inscribed by R. Binyamin Shlomo Zalman Spitzer (son-in-law of the Chassam Sofer) to his nephew, Samuel Geiger (son of the Chassam Sofer’s other son-in-law) ff. 133, (1). Previous owners' marks, trimmed and stained, opening leaf remargined, lower portion of final leaf removed. Later vellum with central clasp and hinge. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Cracow 121, Mehlman1322

Cracow: Isaac Prostitz 1589

Est: $3,000 - $4,000
A SCARCE EDITION. Once thought to be an actual eyewitness report of events during the Second Temple era, the extensive research of the late Prof. David Flusser has proved that Yosiphon, composed by “Joseph ben Gorion” (an apochryphal figure, not be confused with the authentic Josephus Flavius, a true denizen of the Second Temple era), was written in Southern Italy in the year 953. See EJ, Vol. X, cols. 296-98. R. Binyamin Shlomo Zalman "Segal" Spitzer (1826-94), was a disciple of the Kessav Sofer and the Maharam Shick. In 1852 he was appointed Dayan in Vienna, and later exclusively serving the rabbinic needs of Vienna’s Schiff-Shul. See M.A.Z. Kinstlicher, HeChassam Sofer VeTalmidav (2005) p. 485.