Auction 13 · Lot 355

RaMBa”M). Mishneh Torah [Rabbinic code]. Fourteen parts in two volumes.

Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Hammer price: Not recorded

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

author

MOSES BEN MAIMON (MAIMONIDES/

printer

Cornelio Adelkind for Marco Antonio Giustiniani

Place

Venice

Publication

1551

Description

Title within elborately garlanded and floriated woodcut architectural arch. Opening words with decorative woodcut border. Printer's device on ff. 24v (Yaari no. 17) Vol II: Opening letters within woodcut floral vignettes.

references

Vinograd, Venice 409; Habermann, Adelkind 60; Adams M-168

summary

One of two rival editions published in the same year which caused an uproar among Italian Jewry. Jealousy between the Houses of Bragadini and Giustiniani ultimately resulted in the future of Hebrew printing in Italy laid before apostate Jews in Rome keen to use their newly born Christian zeal in the work of denunciation. Before long, Hebrew books were consumed in flames at burnings held in market places through out Italy. For details of this tragedy see D.W. Amram, The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy (1963) pp. 255- 264.

I: ff. 426 (of 430, lacking 4 leaves of indices). Title page, ff. 344, 345, 378-383, 386-389 and final unnumbered leaf provided in facsimile, f.100 misbound, f. 337 lacking lower portion, browned and dampstained in places, scattered marginalia, censored. II: ff. 375 some marginal repair, browned and dampstained in places, opening few leaves lacking portions of text provided in facsimile, scattered worming, ff. 763-766 from another edition. Previous owner’s signature on title. Recent boards. Folio

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