(RaDa”K). Sepher HaShorashim.

AUCTION 66 | Thursday, November 19th, 2015 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Ceremonial Objects and Graphic Art

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Lot 43

KIMCHI, DAVID

(RaDa”K). Sepher HaShorashim.

<<With extensive, scholarly marginalia>> in a petite Italian hand throughout occasionally <<citing R. MENACHEM AZARIAH OF FANO>> (see below). Printed in two columns. Title within woodcut architectural arch. Hebrew words occasionally provided with nikud (vowel points). Sidebars contain Latin equivalents. f. (1), 5-548 columns, f. (1). Previous owners’ stamp and signature on title (Elisha of Modena), censored in places, slight staining, some marginal worming, clean marginal tear to title. Later calf-backed heavy boards, covers detached. Folio.

Venice: Marco Antonio Giustiniani 1547

Est: $1,200 - $1,800

PRICE REALIZED $1,900

According to the scholar Dr. Yosef Avivi the marginal notes that appear in this volume in the name of R. Menachem Azariah of Fano are not found in any other printed or manuscript version of this work. Indeed these erudite notes display profound insight and in many cases disagree with other grammarians such as Elijah Bachur. For example, the marginal note to column 490 states “the language of the Bachur … are confused.” The note on column 139 takes issue with a comment of Ya’akov Lombrozo (a Venetian scholar and contemporary of Judah Aryeh Modena). Columns 180, 318 and 546 contain notes with the abbreviated heading “Aleph, Mem, Ayin” which is the abbreviation of “Amar Menachem Azariah.”