Yalkut Shimoni - First Edition - Salonika, 1521-1527

Yalkut Shimoni, anthology of teachings of the sages, by R. Shimon of Frankfurt, Part I on the Torah. [Salonika: Moses Soncino, 1527]. Part II, on Neviim and Ketuvim. [Salonika, Don Judah Gedalia, 1521]. First edition of each part. Two volumes. Part II, on Neviim and Ketuvim, was published before Part I, on the Torah. Part II was issued without a title page. This is the first edition of Yalkut Shimoni. The text is interspersed with Hebrew numbers (known as Remazim - hints). These letters were not understood by the publishers of subsequent editions of the book, and errors occurred in the order, location and numbering of these letters, until their meaning was discovered by R. Ch. Z. Finkel (see below), who asserted that "the division does not follow verses nor teachings or topics" as was assumed in the past, rather that the purpose of these numbers was "to indicate that the subject… is treated in a different place or places as well, in accordance with the references… in other places in the Yalkut… in order to make it easier for the one studying to find the required teaching or verse… and it is so clear when studying the first edition of the Yalkut… in which most numbers are placed specifically in the middle of the teachings or at the end… in accordance with our explanation". See: R. Ch. Z. Finkel, Yalkut Shimoni and the Meaning of its Remazim, Moriah, year 7, 1978, pp. 86-87. Incomplete copies. Two volumes. Vol. I - Torah: 7-65; 228, 230-271, 273-274, 276-370. Lacking 17 leaves: 1-6, 229, 272, 275, 371-378. 30 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Damage. Marginal tears to several leaves, affecting text. Detached leaves and gatherings. Old binding, damaged and detached. Vol. II - Neviim and Ketuvim: 3-138 [i.e. 140]; 63, [2], 64-66; 139 [i.e. 141]-222, 229-235 leaves. Lacking 9 leaves: 1-2, 223-228, 236. Leaves 63, [2], 64-66 of the commentary to Tehillim bound between leaves 140-141 of Trei Asar. 31 cm. Fair-poor condition. Many stains and extensive wear. Dark stains to several leaves. Worming. Many tears and damage affecting text. Detached leaves and gatherings. Old binding, damaged and detached. This copy of Part I, with several variations, as listed in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. For more information regarding the differences between the copies, see: Refael N. N. Rabinowitz, Maamar al Hadpasat HaTalmud, Jerusalem 1952, pp. 29-30.