RaMBa”M). Mishneh Torah [Rabbinic Code]. Fourteen parts in four volumes

MOSES BEN MAIMON (MAIMONIDES /.

Daniel Bomberg

Venice

1524-25

With glosses of Migdal Oz by Shem Tov Gaon, Maggid Mishneh by Don Vidal de Tolosa and Hagahoth Maimoniyoth by R. Meir Hakohen, disciple of R. Meir of Rothenburg. (Glosses of R. Abraham ben David of Posqui`eres [RAVa”D] embedded in Migdal Oz.) Title within woodcut architectural arches. As most copies, missing second title before f. 394, however with the rare, unnumbered, scholarly, introductory leaf by the editor, R. David b. Eliezer HaLevi (see Dienstag). Opening words within woodcut floral vignette. On title, stamp and signature of former owner: "Solomon Bloch, Hannover." Scattered Hebrew marginalia in old hand

Vinograd, Venice 96; Habermann, Bomberg 91; I.J. Dienstag, "Mishneh Torah le-ha-Ramba”m" in: Studies...in Honor of I. Edward Kiev (1971), no. 7; not in Adams

A handsome copy of an early uncensored edition of the mishneh torah. The first edition of the Mishneh Torah with Migdal Oz - together with the text for the entire work. The Migdal Oz by Shem Tov Gaon was previously published in the Constantinple edition, however only on the section of Sepher Ahavah. In his introduction, the editor elaborates his method of correcting the text. In certain cases he made no alterations, (even though he felt it was necessary), since he had in front of him five “sifrei Ramba"m” (i.e. manuscripts), all of which contained the same reading. The editor does however, present four examples of corrections made on his own initiative and the lengthy scholarly basis of his reasoning for doing so. This introduction has never been republished. This copy contains the passage concerning the Messianic pretensions of Jesus in Hil. Melachim, end Chap. XI (f.763r.), subsequently censored, and restored only in recent editions of the Mishneh Torah.