Auction 14 · Lot 296

RaMBa”M). Mishnah Torah [Rabbinic code]. Second Volume Only

Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Hammer price: $3,000

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

1550

Description

Title within elborately garlanded and floriated woodcut architectural arch.Title letters within decorative woodcut vignettes. Printer's device on verso of final leaf (c.f.Yaari no. 17)

references

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

summary

A Quite Breath-taking,Wide-Margined Copy, In Magnificent Condition One of two rival editions published the same year. Jealousy between the Houses of Bragadin and Giustinian 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 to flames at burnings held in market-places throughout Italy. For details of this tragedy see Amram, The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy, pp.255- 64

ff. 376. Censored with censors' signatures on final leaf. Contemporary vellum boards recently rebacked. Folio

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