Arbah Ve’esrim - Minchath Shai

Estimate: $1,200–$1,500
Hammer price: $1,900

Historical auction record. Hammer prices exclude buyer’s premium and taxes.

author

(BIBLE, Hebrew)

printer

Raphael (Isaac) Chaim d’Italia the Physician

Place

Mantua

Publication

1742-44

Description

Four parts bound in two volumes. Commentary by Jedidiah Solomon Norzi. Each part preceded by magnificent engraved frontispiece displaying eight Biblical vignettes with printer’s device (Yaari no.121) at top, main and divisional titles in red and black

references

Vinograd, Mantua 397 (incorrect foliation); Darlow & Moule 5150

summary

FIRST EDITION of this most important and comprehensive commentary to the Masorah, with significance for almost every word throughout the Bible in which the possibility for error or variant reading exists. Extraordinary frontispiece depicts the Deity as represented in the Prophet Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones (Chap.37). The appearance of such an illustration is most anomalous in a Jewish book. See C. Roth, Jewish Art (1961) cols.25-6 (illustrated).

Vol I: ff.(4),142 (i.e. 138);(2),88. Vol II: ff.(2),98;(2),54,51,(2),5. Lightly browned, stained in places. Later mottled calf, rubbed. Large 4to

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