Auction 11 · Lot 9

(Attributed to). Mirkeveth Hamishnah

Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Hammer price: $6,500

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

author

ASHER ANSHEL OF CRACOW

printer

Sons of Chaim Halicz

Place

[Cracow]

Publication

[1534]

Description

FIRST EDITION. Engraved frontispiece incorporating the symbols of Poland and crest of the City of Cracow (see Habermann, Sha’arei Sepharim Ivri’im no.20)

references

Vinograd, Cracow 7 (noting JNUL copy incomplete); Mehlman 1366; not in Adams

summary

The First Book to be Printed in Yiddish. An alphabetical concordance and glossary of the Bible, with references and Yiddish translations of words, arranged according to the system of David Kimchi in his Sherashim (see lot 75). Waxman posits a polemical background to the publication of the Mirkeveth Hamishnah, pointing out that Luther’s German translation of the Bible was also published in 1534 and that the Jews were interested in publishing this concordance to counter-balance Luther’s translation. A possible pedagogic factor was the desire to facilitate the study of the Bible for uneducated Jews, particularly women and children. An important work for the early history of Yiddish. See M. Waxman, Vol. II, pp.637-8; A.M. Habermann, Studies in the History of Hebrew Printers (1978) pp.137-8

ff.86 (of 87) opening leaf supplied in facsimile; few stains, closely shaved affecting a few letters, opening two leaves crudely taped, lower corners of final two leaves with loss. Unbound. Sm. 4to

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