Auction 70 · Lot 222

Hebrew. Pentateuch and Haphtaroth). Sepher Ezrath HaSopher, Chamishah Chumashei Torah, Tikun Sophrim Vavei Ha’Amudim.

Estimate: $1,000–$1,500
Hammer price: $1,000

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

author

(BIBLE.

printer

I. Mondovy for G.J. Janson

Place

Amsterdam

Publication

1767-1769

Description

Five volumes, each with additional title page engraved by Aaron Santcroos. Haphtaroth at end of each volume with separate title page. Final Volume with an 112-year Calendar prepared by Judah Piza: Calendario facil & curioozo em Hebraico & Portuguez. Amsterdam, 1769. This copy painstakingly interleaved throughout, with unpointed text from another Pentateuch edition.

references

Vinograd, Amsterdam 1942; Kayserling, 91; not in Darlow & Moule.

summary

Prepared as a model for scribes writing a Torah Scroll. The text is arranged to conform with Halachic Law relating to the Scribal arts. Each pair of facing pages represents one column of the Torah - traditionally 42 lines, starting with the letter “Vav.” The “Shira” and “Ha’azinu” portions are printed here on wider leaves and folded, to follow the wider columns required in the written Torah. It is likely that the previous owner was a Ba’al Koreh and interleaved a full unpointed Chumash in order to assist in his preparation for the reading of the Torah.

Taped in places. Uniform contemporary brown mottled calf, paneled in gilt, floral corner-pieces and central embellishment, upper cover with central roundel including owners name: “Joshua Israel Brandon; A. M. 5563,” paper ownership labels on front paste-down from J. I. Brandon and Nethaneel Lindo, marbled end-papers, a.e.g. Spines in compartments with gilt Hebrew numbering, gently rubbed. 8vo.

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