Masecheth Bava Bathra [Laws of Ownership, Inheritance, etc.] With commentaries by Rashi, Tosaphoth, Maimonides and Rabbeinu Asher.

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

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Lot 226
(TALMUD, BABYLONIAN).

Masecheth Bava Bathra [Laws of Ownership, Inheritance, etc.] With commentaries by Rashi, Tosaphoth, Maimonides and Rabbeinu Asher.

FIRST BOMBERG EDITION. Marginal notes in different hands, on f. 13a diagram drawn by hand. ff. (217). Expert marginal repairs to opening two and final leaves, trace stained in places, tiny burn hole on f. 206 and very slight marginal tear on f.128 both unaffecting text. Later elaborate gilt-tooled calf. Folio Vinograd, Venice 36

Venice: Daniel Bomberg 1521

Est: $100,000 - $120,000
PRICE REALIZED $80,000
AN EXCELLENT COPY OF ONE OF THE MOST SCARCE AND MOST IMPORTANT TRACTATES OF BOMBERG’S CELEBRATED TALMUD EDITION. Daniel Bomberg’s edition of 1520-23 formed the edito princeps of the Babylonian Talmud setting the standard pagination and layout to which almost all subsequent editions adhered: A section of the Mishnah text followed by its’ Gemara, the commentary of Rashi on the inner margin and that of the Tosaphists on the outer. The uniformity of pages in all published editions was of great practical use to Talmudic scholars, creating a standard for reference citation and serving as a symbol of the unity of the Jewish people which Talmud study across the ages has enhanced. R. N.N. Rabbinovicz commented on the aesthetic quality of the famed Bomberg Talmud: “The paper is exquisite, the letters black and vibrant, and the margins between [the commentaries of] Rashi and Tosaphoth and the Talmud broad; subsequent editions never matched up to its beauty.” See Ma’amar al Hadpasath HaTalmud, p.41.