Auction 64 · Lot 180

Masechta Avodah Zarah [Idolatry]. With commentaries by Rashi, Tosafoth, etc.

Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Hammer price: $4,000

Historical auction record. Hammer prices exclude buyer’s premium and taxes.

author

(TALMUD, BABYLONIAN).

printer

Joseph Ya’avetz

Place

Salonika

Publication

1567

Description

Scholarly marginalia in an early hand on f. 62b.

references

Vinograd, Salonika 70 (JNUL copy incomplete); Rabinowitz, Talmud pp. 67-70; I. Mehlman, Gnuzoth Sepharim p.7.

summary

A scarce copy. Following the shocking Papal order of the Burning of the Talmud in Italy, the Salonika-based printer Joseph Ya’avetz was motivated to print eight of the more frequently studied Tractates to compensate for the tremendous loss. The first three of the eight were all printed in a smaller size and not corresponding to the standardized Bomberg format of the page. Upon printing the fourth Tractate, Ya’avetz came to appreciate the value of a standard pagination for students of the Talmud and therefore arranged the format according to the order of the Venetian editions. See M. J. Heller, Printing the Talmud (1992) Vol. I, pp. 277-83.

ff. 95 (of 96), lacking f. 67. Variously worn and stained, occasional worming, previous owners’ marks. Title laid down with loss not affecting text, f.2 with small marginal loss affecting a few letters, f. 20 with more significant loss. Old calf, worn. Sm. Folio.

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