Auction 74 · November 9, 2017

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

Read the sale report

The Valmadonna Trust Library has been broadly characterized as the finest private collection of Hebrew Printed Books ever assembled. Comprising some 13,000 volumes, it was built over more than half a century of prodigious pursuit by its custodian and visionary, the late Jack V. Lunzer. The library encompasses works from throughout the world, from the earliest Hebrew texts to later extraordinary rarities and unique copies.

In New York City, February 2009, the entire Library was publicly displayed for the first time, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. Twelve of the Library's treasures were sold at auction in December 2015 - the celebrated Bomberg Talmud fetching $9.3 million. In January 2017 the Valmadonna Trust Library was acquired by the National Library of Israel where it will be housed in a new, landmark building in Jerusalem.

Two hundred rarities extracted from the Collection are to be offered for auction sale by Kestenbaum & Company on November 9th, 2017. Thus allowing collectors and institutional libraries from across the globe a unique opportunity to acquire extraordinary bibliophilic treasures from this celebrated Collection.

Aside from their great rarity, each and every one of these volumes have been beautifully rebound by artisans from England's top binderies and so, are in sumptuous condition. In addition to a wealth of 15th-18th century volumes - including 16 incunabula - the entire reference library of the Valmadonna Trust will be offered for sale as a single lot.

This historic auction is accompanied by a detailed, illustrated catalogue with a learned introduction by the bibliographic scholar Brad Sabin Hill of Washington DC.

Lots in this auction

Browse all 209 lots →

Auction 74 · Lot 1

Tephilah LeMoshe [sermons and homilies on the merits of the Torah, with treatise on the reading of the Shema upon retirement].

Hammer price $900

Auction 74 · Lot 11

Abraham Farissol. Igereth Orchoth Olam [“Epistle on the Paths of the World”].

Auction 74 · Lot 12

Joseph ben Joshua HaKohen. Divrei HaYamim LeMalchei Tzarfath U’Malchei Beith Othoman HaTogar [“History of the Kings of France and the Ottoman Turks.”]

Hammer price $27,000

Diskuhrs [weekly polemical pamphlets between two warring Dutch communities]

Auction 74 · Lot 13

Editor). Margalioth Tovah [super-commentaries to Abraham ibn Ezra on the Pentateuch: Ohel Yoseph, Mekor Chaim and Megilath Setarim]

Hammer price $1,600

Auction 74 · Lot 19

(Editor). Margalioth Tovah [super-commentaries to Abraham ibn Ezra on the Pentateuch: Ohel Yoseph, Mekor Chaim and Megilath Setarim]

Hammer price $1,400

Auction 74 · Lot 20

Bi’ur al HaTorah [commentary to the Pentateuch].

Hammer price $5,000

Auction 74 · Lot 21

Shulchan (shel) Arba [on proper conduct at the table, benedictions, the Banquet in the World to Come and resurrection of the dead]

Image unavailable

Auction 74 · Lot 22

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

Lots in this auction

Menorath HaMa’or [ethics]

Menorath HaMa’or [ethics]. With Nephesh Yehudah commentary.

Nachlath Avoth [commentary to the Ethics of the Fathers, with text]. With introduction by Maimonides.

Ma’ayenei HaYeshu’ah [commentary on the eschatological chapters in the Book of Daniel].

Divrei Rivoth [responsa].

Sepher Ikarim [philosophy].

Ho’il Moshe [collected sermons].

Vayakhel Moshe [25 sermons preached in Venice, Salonika, and Tetuan]

Shoresh Yishai [Kabbalistic commentary to the Book of Ruth, with text].

Tephilah LeMoshe [sermons and homilies on the merits of the Torah, with treatise on the reading of the Shema upon retirement].

Abraham Farissol. Igereth Orchoth Olam [“Epistle on the Paths of the World”].

Joseph ben Joshua HaKohen. Divrei HaYamim LeMalchei Tzarfath U’Malchei Beith Othoman HaTogar [“History of the Kings of France and the Ottoman Turks.”]

Diskuhrs [weekly polemical pamphlets between two warring Dutch communities]

Sepher Tanya [compilation of Jewish law and custom as applied by the Jews of Italy (Minhag Bnei Roma)]

Shibolei HaLeket [“The Gathered Sheaves”: Rabbinic Code].

Akeidath Yitzchak [philosophical and allegorical homilies to the Pentateuch and Five Megiloth].

Meir Iyov [commentary to Book of Job, with text].

Editor). Margalioth Tovah [super-commentaries to Abraham ibn Ezra on the Pentateuch: Ohel Yoseph, Mekor Chaim and Megilath Setarim]

(Editor). Margalioth Tovah [super-commentaries to Abraham ibn Ezra on the Pentateuch: Ohel Yoseph, Mekor Chaim and Megilath Setarim]

Bi’ur al HaTorah [commentary to the Pentateuch].

Shulchan (shel) Arba [on proper conduct at the table, benedictions, the Banquet in the World to Come and resurrection of the dead]

Biur al HaTorah [Kabbalistic commentary to the Pentateuch]

Mikneh Avram (Sepher Dikduk).

Sepher HaTerumah.

Lots in this auction

Menorath HaMa’or [ethics]

Menorath HaMa’or [ethics]. With Nephesh Yehudah commentary.

Nachlath Avoth [commentary to the Ethics of the Fathers, with text]. With introduction by Maimonides.

Ma’ayenei HaYeshu’ah [commentary on the eschatological chapters in the Book of Daniel].

Divrei Rivoth [responsa].

Sepher Ikarim [philosophy].

Ho’il Moshe [collected sermons].

Vayakhel Moshe [25 sermons preached in Venice, Salonika, and Tetuan]

Shoresh Yishai [Kabbalistic commentary to the Book of Ruth, with text].

Tephilah LeMoshe [sermons and homilies on the merits of the Torah, with treatise on the reading of the Shema upon retirement].

Abraham Farissol. Igereth Orchoth Olam [“Epistle on the Paths of the World”].

Joseph ben Joshua HaKohen. Divrei HaYamim LeMalchei Tzarfath U’Malchei Beith Othoman HaTogar [“History of the Kings of France and the Ottoman Turks.”]

Diskuhrs [weekly polemical pamphlets between two warring Dutch communities]

Sepher Tanya [compilation of Jewish law and custom as applied by the Jews of Italy (Minhag Bnei Roma)]

Shibolei HaLeket [“The Gathered Sheaves”: Rabbinic Code].

Akeidath Yitzchak [philosophical and allegorical homilies to the Pentateuch and Five Megiloth].

Meir Iyov [commentary to Book of Job, with text].

Editor). Margalioth Tovah [super-commentaries to Abraham ibn Ezra on the Pentateuch: Ohel Yoseph, Mekor Chaim and Megilath Setarim]

(Editor). Margalioth Tovah [super-commentaries to Abraham ibn Ezra on the Pentateuch: Ohel Yoseph, Mekor Chaim and Megilath Setarim]

Bi’ur al HaTorah [commentary to the Pentateuch].

Shulchan (shel) Arba [on proper conduct at the table, benedictions, the Banquet in the World to Come and resurrection of the dead]

Biur al HaTorah [Kabbalistic commentary to the Pentateuch]

Mikneh Avram (Sepher Dikduk).

Sepher HaTerumah.

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