Auction 13 · Lot 165

Biur al Hatorah [Kabbalistic commentary to the Pentateuch]

Estimate: $1,000–$1,500
Hammer price: $900

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

author

BACHIAH BEN ASHER.

printer

Isaac Prostitz

Place

Cracow

Publication

1592-3

Description

Title within woodcut architectural arch. Opening letters within floral woodcut vignettes. WIth Final Leaf Illustrating the Sefiroth, lacking from most copies.

references

Vinograd, Cracow 147; Mehlman 641; not in Adams

summary

Great influential encyclopaedic work utilizing wide variety of sources. Especially noteworthy are his Kabbalistic references and interpretations derived from lost Midrashim. For an excellent work on the Kabbalistic sources of R. Bachiah, see E. Gottlieb, Mekorotav shel R. Bachiah…Be’kitvei R. Yoseph Gikatilla in: Bar Ilan University Annual Vol. I (1969) pp. 306-26; and R. Yitzchak Sag Nahor Ve’talmidav- Mekorot R. Bachiah Be’kitvei Ha’mekubalim, Bar Ilan University Annual, Samuel Bialoblocki Memorial Volume, (1964) pp.215-50. The rarity of this particular edition is evidenced by the fact that Chavel states in his annotated scholarly edition (Mossad Harav Kook,1966), he was unable to locate a copy.

ff. 235, 235-246, (1). Lightly browned and stained in places, title and penultimate leaf remargined, previous owners inscription on verso of title, chapter and verse references noted in manuscript Arabic numerals. Recent vellum-backed boards. Folio

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