Sepher Tehilim with commentaries by R. David Kimchi (RaDa”K) and R. Joseph Chayun (ReYa”CH).

AUCTION 55 | Thursday, June 21st, 2012 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 59

(BIBLE, Hebrew. PSALMS).

Sepher Tehilim with commentaries by R. David Kimchi (RaDa”K) and R. Joseph Chayun (ReYa”CH).

<<FIRST EDITION>>of Chayun’s commentary. Letter “Aleph” on f. 180r. (beginning Psalm 119) historiated. Scattered marginalia. Text complete but lacking title: ff. 3-209, 230-231, 132-136, 135-136 (mispaginated as per all known copies). The order of ff. 153-154 has been reversed, f. 175 and final section loose. Opening few leaves frayed with some loss, dampstained. Later calf-backed boards, broken. Folio. Vinograd, Salonika 30; Mehlman 69 (according to Yudlov, the Mehlman copy also lacks ff. 1-2); not in Adams.

Salonika: Don Judah Gedaliah 1522

Est: $6,000 - $8,000

PRICE REALIZED $6,000

<<HIGHLY SCARCE. >> Joseph ben Abraham Chayun (d. 1497) was the last Chief Rabbi of Lisbon before the Expulsion from Portugal in 1497. From Lisbon, Chayun went to Contantinople, dying shortly thereafter. The commentary on Psalms is Chayun’s first published work and was followed by a commentary on Ethics of the Fathers: Milei De’Avoth (Constantinople, 1578). Abrabanel consulted with Chayon on halachic matters and his most famous disciple was R. Joseph Ya’abetz, known in rabbinic literature as “HeChasid Ya’abetz.” See Ya’ari, HaDefus Ha’Ivri BeKushta (1967) p. 128, no. 195; EJ, Vol. VII, col. 1514. The printer, Judah Gedaliah was foreman at Eliezer Toledano’s press in Lisbon. After the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal he settled in Salonika and became the town’s prototypographer in 1515.