(MAIMONIDES / RaMBa”M). Mishneh Torah [Rabbinic Code]

MOSES BEN MAIMON.

Meir Parenzo for Alvise Bragadin

Venice

1574-75

FIRST EDITION with commentary by Joseph Karo. With glosses, including Abraham ben David of Posquieres (RAVa”D) and Levi ibn Chabib. Fourteen parts in four volumes. Four title pages, each with Bragadin’s device of Three Crowns, Meir Parenzo’s device of Venice and the Dragon on verso, and following the Table of Contents (the late) Asher Parenzo’s device of a Mountain rising from the Sea. Text illustrations. Final volume with first edition of the alphabetical index compiled by the School of Baruch Uziel. Final leaf with a poem in honor of one of Karo’s disciples, Abraham Hayug. Marginal notations in an Italian hand. Signatures of previous owners on title: Abraham Aaron Aschkenazi and Joseph Chaim (Giuseppe) Jare.

Vinograd, Venice 600; I.J. Dienstag, Mishneh Torah Leharamba”m in: Studies...in Honor of I. Edward Kiev (1971), no. 10; Adams M-169

The second Bragadin Maimonides edition. First appearance of the Hasagoth HaRava”d as an entity unto itself (previously it was incorporated as part of the Maggid Mishneh). This important first edition with the Keseph Mishneh, contains a fore- and after-word relating that Moses Provencal of Mantua “whose net is spread until Safed” was the catalyst of the edition, encouraging and hastening Karo to complete the work for publication. Karo’s previous experience in publishing his Beth Yoseph had been disagreeable, for the printer went to press without waiting for the author’s corrections, which later had to be published separately. Rabbi Provencal’s prodding was not in vain for the afterword notes that Karo died before the publication was completed. Karo also used the agency of the great scholar and Kabbalist R. Menachem Azaria of Fano to ensure the perfection of the work. It is suggested that the R’ma of Fano examined each volume upon publication. This edition also presents the first publication of a comprehensive alphabetical subject index based upon writings from the school of R. Baruch Uziel.