Mishne Torah Le'HaRambam – Venice, 1665 – Sabbatian Edition, Illustration of Shabtai Zvi Riding a Lion

Mishne Torah Le'HaRambam – Venice, 1665 – Sabbatian Edition, Illustration of Shabtai Zvi Riding a Lion
Mada, Ahava, Zemanim of Yad HaChazaka Le'HaRambam – Students' edition with references and a short commentary. With an appendix of the laws of forbidden foods and the laws of shechita. Venice, [1665].
Sabbatian edition, printed at the climax of the era of the false Messiah Shabtai Zvi, when the rumors of his appearance had spread throughout European communities and were at the peak of their popularity.
At the top of the title page is a drawing of an imagined figure of Shabtai Zvi riding a lion [the vision of Shabtai Zvi's appearance riding a lion is mentioned in Sabbatian writings as well as in the "prophecy" of Natan Ha'Azati]. The book's colophon also has a typical Sabbatian sign: "Completed on Rosh Chodesh Tamuz, the year of Mashiach Nagid".
The title page and the last leaf with the colophon are extremely rare, since they were usually torn from the book due to their Sabbatian connotations, and are missing from most existing copies.
For further information on this edition see: Y. Avida, Sefer Mishne Torah Le'HaRambam as a Textbook, Areshet, Vol. 3, 1961, p. 44; Y. Zana, Inyanei Shabtai Zvi, Sefunot, Vol. 3-4, 1959-1960, pp. 67-69.
[6], 32, 37-104, 109-186 leaves. The title page and last leaf exist in this copy. Leaves 33-36, 105-108, are lacking and replaced with handsome scribal writing from the time of printing or shortly thereafter. 23 cm. High-quality paper. Good condition. Stains. Minor wear, tears [some restored] to several leaves, loose leaves, one detached leaf. Inscriptions. Ancient binding, damaged.