With commentary by Moses Maimonides and Obadiah Bertinoro

(MISHNAH)

and Mantua, Jacob Cohen of Gazolo:

Sabbioneta, Tobias Foa, 1559

1561-2

Six parts bound in six volumes. Each part with own title-page within woodcut architectural border. Numerous woodcut text diagrams in Part V, including double-page plan of the Temple (tipped in at end from another copy), a detailed illustration of the Menorah [Candelabrum](Tractate Menachoth, f.27r.), and Table and Showbread (ibid., f.38r.). Vol. I scattered Hebrew marginalia in old hand. Title Vol. II has signature of former owner: "Moses Polisi ben Kalonymos." On final page of Vol. III, inscription of Church censor: "Visto per me Gio[vanni] Dominico Carretto, 1617." (See Wm. Popper, Pl. III, no. 7.) Vol VI (Toharoth) has several marginalia of a kabbalistic nature in a Yemenite hand

Vinograd, Sabbioneta 50 and Mantua 80; Mehlman 106; not in Adams

The first two Orders of this edition were printed by Tobias Foa in Sabbioneta; the last four Orders in Mantua by Jacob Cohen. The Hebrew press at Sabbioneta escaped lightly from the storm of Papal condemnation of Hebrew books which was raging at the time in Venice and Rome. Indeed, the Sabbioneta Hebrew press flourished between the years 1551 and 1559, and Hebrew books never previously published - even those treating aspects of Christianity - were issued with considerable freedom. The decree of Pope Paul III in 1553 passed over the city without apparent effect - a tribute to the liberality and culture of the ruling prince of the province. The Mantua volumes were the last books to be typeset by Jacob Cohen of Gazolo before he retired. He had served at the press of Foa in Sabbioneta and came to Mantua in 1556 where he established a reputation for splendid typographical work. See Amram, The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy, pp. 288-293, 325