Discovery: Sefer Shema Shlomo by Rabbi Shlomo Algazi, Second Copy in the World [Izmir, C. 1663]

Discovery: Sefer Shema Shlomo by Rabbi Shlomo Algazi, Second Copy in the World [Izmir, C. 1663]

* Sefer Shema Shlomo - sermons on the Torah - section on Devarim, by Rabbi Shlomo Algazi, av beit din of Izmir. [Izmir, Avraham Gabbai Press, c. 1663]. Printed without a title page. First edition, hard-to-find.

Sefer Shema Shlomo was printed in 1659. It consists of derashot on four of the five chumashim in the Torah - Bereishit through Bamidbar. For hundreds of years, the existence of another section of this sefer was unknown, the one with the commentary on Devarim (aside from yechidei segulah such as the Chid"a). This section is not recorded in Bibliographiah HaIvrit - nor in Ben Ya'akov's Otzar HaSefarim, nor in Friedberg's Beit Akad Sefarim nor by Avraham Ya'ari in his list HaDefus HaIvri B'Izmir. Even the following edition of the sefer (Amsterdam, 1710) was not printed with the section on Devarim, apparently because the printers were unaware of its existence. There is presently one copy known to be extant, in the Mehlman Collection, preserved in the National Library. This is another copy, only the second known in the world!

This sefer attests to the existence of the press in Izmir as late as 1663. Over the years, many bibliographers contended that the press closed around 1660. In this section, at the end of the sefer, there is a "deep essay ... delivered on the day of the passing of the rabbi, the author of Rosh Yosef" - Rabbi Yosef Ishkappeh, who passed away in 1662. As such, the book was clearly printed after this, c. 1663.

Ginzei Yisrael no. 884.

42 leaf, 20 cm. Handwritten glosses. Three "crowns" on the last leaf, printing blocks characteristic of Gabbai's press.

Moderate condition. Blemish in the inner margins of the first leaf. With light damage to the text. Adhesion in leaf 4. Aging and usage marks.

* Bound with Sefer Shema Shlomo by the same Rabbi Shlomo Algazi, on four chumashim - Bereishit through Bamidbar. Amsterdam, Moshe Diash Press, 1710. Second edition. On the title page and leaves in the body of the work, there are several signatures by Rabbi Moshe Chai Pijuto. Ashkanazic signature on the title page (rubbed-out).

Refer to the Hebrew catalog text for a brief biography of the author, Rabbi Shlomo Algazi, and of Chacham Moshe de Pijuto.

[2] 68 leaf. 28.5 cm.

Moderate condition. Worming perforations. Aging and usage marks. The two books are bound together in an antique binding, blemished and worn.