Auction 34 · Lot 42

Chizkuni [commentary to the Pentateuch]

Estimate: $2,000–$2,000
Hammer price: $2,000

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

author

Chezekiah ben Manoach

printer

Vicenzo Conti

Place

Cremona

Publication

1559

Description

FIRST SEPARATE EDITION. Title letters as well as initial Chapter words historiated, f. 79r diagram of the twelve stones in the High Priest’s breast-plate

references

Vinograd, Cremona 26; Benayahu, Cremona, no. 24 (illustrated p.76)

summary

Chezekiah ben Manoach (mid-13th century), apparently of France, was a Biblical commentator of the School of Rash”i. Although this work was included in the Venice 1524 edition of the Pentateuch, this particular Cremona edition is the first separate edition. See EJ, Vol. VIII, cols. 459-60 (illustrated). Chizkuni contains many original commentaries and interpretations. Meir Benayahu writes that most copies of Chizkuni are lacking ff. 155-156, which were removed by Church censorship (see his Hebrew Printing at Cremona (1971), p. 211, fortunately, our copy is entirely complete.

ff. 157, (1). Mispaginated, though complete. Upper corners of title and first leaves repaired affecting a few letters, dampstained and slightly foxed. Owners’ signatures in various Italian hands on title and first leaf, including scions of the famous scholarly Momigliano family: Jacob and his son Abraham. Modern calf. 4to

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