Sepher Ha’Aruch [Talmudic dictionary]

AUCTION 65 | Thursday, June 25th, 2015 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Ceremonial Objects and Graphic Art

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Lot 103
NATHAN BEN YECHIEL OF ROME.

Sepher Ha’Aruch [Talmudic dictionary]

Second Edition. Title within decorative Soncino border. Previous owner’s inscriptions: Presented to Rabbi Yechezkel Banet upon a rabbinic appointment. Also owned by R. Alexander Zushye Klein of Toltshava who received it in trade for other books from Yisrael Meir Gross of Kemetsch, in 1876. ff. 196. Complete, but mispaginated (as all copies). Light wear, small tear to lower corner of title and first leaf affecting decoration and one word. Some worming in places. Later boards, upper cover defective. Folio. Vinograd, Pesaro 44; St. Cat. Bodl. 2041 (editio rarissima); Adams N-59.

(Pesaro): Gershom Soncino 1517

Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Nathan’s Aruch is “a manifestation not only of its author’s brilliance and deep acquaintance with sources, but also of his encyclopaedic knowledge. Indeed, in some instances it is the sole source for ancient traditions of Talmudic interpretation.” S. B. Linderman, Sefer Sarid B’Arachin (1972) Introduction. The work is important for its many citations of Gaonic sources, descriptions of Jewish customs, and citations of long-lost Midrashim. See Heller, The Sixteenth Century Hebrew Book (2004) pp. 104-5. The previous owner Rabbi Yechezkel Banet was the son-in-law of R. Abraham Yitzchak Glick of Toltshava and grandson R. Shlomo Ganzfried, the author of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. See P. Z. Schwartz, Shem HaGedolim Me’Eretz Hagar (1913) Vol. I, p. 86 no. 112.