Auction 65 Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Mar 12, 2019 (Your local time)
Israel
 8 Ramban St, Jerusalem.
The auction has ended

LOT 58:

Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim, in Yiddish - Amsterdam, 1686

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Sold for: $550
Start price:
$ 400
Auction house commission: 23%
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Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim, "translated from the Holy Tongue, and written in Yiddish", Yiddish translation of the Bible, based on the following commentaries: Rashi, ibn Ezra, Radak, R. Saadya Gaon, Ralbag and others. Amsterdam: Joseph Athias, [1686]. Translated by R. Yosef son of Alexander Witzenhausen. The title page is preceded by an elaborate, engraved frontispiece, depicting Moshe and David and biblical scenes. The approbations of the rabbis of the Vaad Arba HaAratzot (Council of Four Lands) is featured on leaf [3]. One was signed at the Yaroslav (Jarosław) fair in 1677, and the other at the Lublin fair in 1678. The approbations acclaim the printer "Joseph Athias son of the holy Abraham Athias who was burnt at stake in Spain", for the excellent printing press he established "and he improved upon what was already before him, to accord grandeur and glory to the Torah, with beautiful paper and ink, and by attaching crowns to the letters…". Ownership inscription on the verso of the title page: "Moshe son of R. Yehuda Leib, known as Moshe Lissa (Lisser?)…". [5], 79, 128, 133-150 leaves. Lacking 5 leaves (leaves 129-132, and a leaf following the title pages). 30.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Dampstains. Light wear. Tears to upper margin of illustrated title page (not affecting illustration) and to several other leaves, affecting text, repaired. Minor worming in a few places. New, elegant leather binding. Joseph Athias presumably began printing the book around the year 1677 (the approbations from the Vaad Arba HaAratzot and the ban against printing this translation for sixteen years following the printing of the book are dated 1677 and 1678). However, another translation of the Bible was printed concurrently in Amsterdam by Uri Phoebus HaLevi, in 1676-1679, leading to a dispute between the printers, each one accusing the other of stealing. This dispute between the two printers is mentioned in rhyming verses in the center of the second title page, as well as in the "printer's apology" at the beginning of the book. Regarding the controversy between the printers surrounding this edition, see: A. M. Haberman, Perakim BeToldot HaMadpisim HaIvriim, pp. 300-310. These two translations are considered the first Yiddish translations of the Bible.

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