Set Mishna Torah LeRambam. Printed by Yisrael Beck of Berdichev. Pedigree Copies. Prominent Stamps. Berdichev ...

Set Mishna Torah LeRambam. Printed by Yisrael Beck of Berdichev. Pedigree Copies. Prominent Stamps. Berdichev, (1809, 1818-1819).

Set Mishna Torah LeRambam, 4 volumes. One volume is an 1809 edition; 3 volumes are 1812-1821 editions. With approbations of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev.

This set contains a number of stamps and listings:

Volume 1: The title page features stamps of the Gaon Rabbi David Zvi Schneebalg, and ownership listings of his son, Rabbi Chaim, who writes that he received the book from his father.

Rabbi David Zvi Schneeblag (1893-1968) was Rosh Yeshivat Vizhnitz and Dayan in the town of Vizhnitz between the two World Wars. Following the Holocaust, he became the Rabbi of the Machzikei HaDas Community of Manchester.

There are additional handwritten notations on the title page, endpaper and flyleaf at the end. On page 97b appears a handwritten notation.

Volume 2: The title page features ownership listings in the holy handwriting of Rabbi Yona Moshe Tagier.

Rabbi Yona Moshe Tagier (deceased 1910) was a Shadar and Ra’avad of the Sephardim in Jerusalem. He was the father of Rabbi Dr Shlomo Tagier, (1866-1936) who was the Chief Rabbi of Bukhara, Turkestan and Chief Rabbi in Beirut and Damascus.

The title page also has the stamp of “Menachem Yichye Achmar”.

Volume 4: The title page has a stamp indicating that the book belongs to the Jewish community of Cherbin: “From the holy books belonging to the Jewish community of Harbin, and were donated by the Association of Expatriates of China in Israel”.

On the title page and endpaper appear additional stamps and handwritten notations.

The Mishna Torah LeRambam was published in Berdichev in two editions:

The first edition was printed in 1808-1809 in the Shmuel son of Yissachar Ber Segal Press. This edition was burned and most editions were lost [!] In the approbations of Berdichev’’s Dayanim it is related that a fire broke out in Berdichev destroying many copies of the Rambam tha Shmuel son of R’ Yissachar Ber had printed.

The second edition was printed by Rabbi Yisrael Beck in 1818-1821 . Although his name is not clearly mentioned in the edition, on the title page of Volume 1 his famous mark of a Torah Shield is printed. This is the same printer’s mark he used in his printing in Tzfat and Jerusalem.

Volume 1: Mada, Ahavah, Zemanim. 1818.

[7], 278 leaves. Blue paper. With approbations including one from The holy Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev. The endpapers are cut and lacking. Stains. Worm holes.

Volume 2: Nashim, Kedushah. 1819.

[4], 260 leaves. Blue paper. With approbations including one from the holy Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev. Many stains. A few tears and adhesions.

Volume 3: Hafla’ah-Taharah. Shmuel son of Yissachar Segal Madpis Press. 1809.

[2], 389, [1] leaves. Slight worm holes. Endpapers are cut.

Volume 4. Nezikin-Shoftim. 1819.

[2], 310 leaves. Blue paper. Disarray in pagination. Some worm holes. Some leaves’ margins are worn.

Good condition. 40 cm. Magnificent and impressive set. Quality, leather binding with gold embossed words “Mishna Torah LeRambam” “Berdichev”. The set is mostly printed on blue paper.

This is a Nice set of pedigreed copies with prominent stamps. This copy was saved from a fire and is one of the first products of Rabbi Yisrael Beck’s Press, printed during his lifetime.