Seder Olam Raba / Seder Olam Zuta / Megillat Taanit / Sefer HaKabbalah – Mantua, 1513

Seder Olam Raba, Seder Olam Zuta, Megillat Taanit and Sefer HaKabbalah of the Raavad. Mantua: Samuel ben Meir Latif, [1513].
Complete copy. Printed without title page. The last leaf contains a colophon: "Sefer HaKabbalah of the Raavad was completed here in Mantua… [1513]".
This is the first printed edition of four important historiographical works: Seder Olam Raba – attributed to the Tana R. Yossi ben Chalafta, a chronological-Midrashic composition on the order of the generations and the events from Adam until the times of Alexander the Great; Seder Olam Zuta – summary and appendage of Seder Olam Raba enumerating 89 generations from Adam until Mar Zutra who was executed close to the end of the fifth century; Megillat Taanit – early composition containing a list of 36 festive days in the year when it is prohibited to fast, due to joyful events that occurred on those days. The book is composed of two parts, "Mishna" and "Gemara". The "Mishna" is written in Aramaic with a short note of the event and the "Gemara" is written in Hebrew with a longer account of the event. The Aramaic part is from the time of the Second Temple and the Hebrew part is from the time of the Talmud and later; Seder HaKabbalah, by Rabbi Avraham ibn Daud (known as "Raavad I"), a Spanish scholar of the 12th century – historical chronology from the time of the Bible until his time, "a history of Rome from the day it was built until the beginning of the rule of Yishmael" and the "history of Jewish kings during the Second Temple era". This work is the source for the famous story Arbaat HaShevuyim (The Four Captives), which was the foundation for the establishment of the Torah center in Spain.
A handwritten inscription appears on p. 50b. Several censor deletions on two leaves. Censors' signatures.
[51] leaves. Printed without title page. 20 cm. Fair-poor condition. The entire book was professionally restored - margins, worming and tears repaired with paper. Some leaves replaced from another copy. Stains. Severe worming to many leaves, affecting text. Repaired tears. New leather binding, with damage.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman.