(MAIMONIDES / RaMBa”M). Mishnah Torah [Rabbinic Code]. Part II only.

MOSES BEN MAIMON

Cornelio Adelkind for Marco Antonio Giustiniani

Venice

1550

With glosses including Abraham ben David of Posquieres (RAVa”D), Migdal Oz by Shem Tov Gaon, Hagahoth and Maggid Mishneh. Opening words within woodcut floral vignette.

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

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. Isaiah Sonne notes (Tiyulim… A. Marx Jubille Volume, p. 215) the typographical differences between the Bragadin and Giustinian editions. He lauded Giustinian’s penchant for his supplemental additions, cross-references and indices, including precise references to citations in both the Maggid Mishnah and the Migdol Oz. In his responsa Melamed LeHoil, Volume I, no 1, David Tzvi Hoffman states that this Giustinian edition represented a more reliable reading of certain texts of Maimonides and the accompanying comments of the Hagahoth Maimoni'oth. This became corrupted in later editions.