Sabbioneta-Mantua Set of Mishnayot, 1559-1562. Very rare

Sabbioneta-Mantua Set of Mishnayot, 1559-1562. Very rare

Exceptionally rare set of this most important edition of the Mishnah which began to be printed in 1559 in Sabbioneta and, due to the burning of the Talmud, was completed in Mantua [see below]. Sabbioneta-Mantua, 1559-1562. The complete set of this ancient edition has probably never been offered at auction. Rabbinic signatures, many glosses, and ancient notations appear on the title pages and the margins of the leaves. Their content has not been examined by us.

Early, important edition: The text is printed in the center of the page, flanked by the commentaries of the Ramba"m and the Bartenura on either side. This edition is the second edition of the Bartenura's commentary, and the first time these two major commentaries on the Mishnah were printed together in one joint volume - Peirush HaMishnah L'HaRamba"m and Peirush Rabbeinu Ovadiah MiBartenura. The order of the tractates in this volume is different from the order in earlier editions.

Printing this edition began in 1559 at the press of Tuviah Puah in Sabbioneta, but due to the decree to burn the Talmud in Cremona that same year, Puah's press was closed, and this edition continued to be printed in Mantua in 1561-1563. The letters from the press had been sent there with Ya'akov HaKohen of Gazzola, one of the partners in the Sabbioneta press at its inception. As appears in the colophon at the end of Seder Taharot (176a): "... and we completed what was started in Sabbioneta ... stated by the man who arose to the task of printing, Ya'akov son of Rabbi Naftali HaKohen of Gazzola ... here in Mantua ... on Rosh Chodesh Elul, 1563."

Seder Zeraim was printed entirely in Sabbioneta. From Tractate Nashim onward, this edition was printed in Mantua. Researchers are divided with respect to Seder Moed. Y. Zenna maintains that Seder Moed began to be printed in Sabbioneta, as the title page states, but it was completed in Mantua. (Kiryat Sefer VII, 1930-1931, pp 275-276; "HaMadpisim Bnei Puah" in Mechkarei Sefer, Jerusalem, 1958, pp 323 onward).

Details of the volumes:

Seder Zera'im; Sabbioneta, 1559: 97 leaf. Signatures and many glosses in ancient Oriental script.

Seder Moed; Sabbioneta, 1559: 104 leaf. Notation in Oriental script on the back of the title page. Etching of the printer's device on the back of the title page and on the last page.

Seder Nashim; Mantua, 1561: 82 leaf.

Seder Nezikin; Mantua, 1562: 116 leaf. Ancient signatures and notations in Ashkenazic and Sephardic script, including "Yehoshua Falk" and others.

Seder Kadshim; Mantua 1562: 122 leaf. Large etchings of "Menorat HaMishkan" and "Shulchan Lechem HaPanim." Some copies have [4] leaves of pictures and sketches for Seder Zera'im and Moed. Like many copies, this copy does not contain these leaves.

Seder Taharot: Mantua 1562 [The title page states 1562, but the colophon declares the printing to have been completed in 1563.] 176 leaf. Poem by the publisher printed at the end of the volume. Decorative rabbinic signature at the top of the title page in Oriental script. Several glosses along the leaves of the sefer, also in Oriental script.

Ginzei Yisrael-Osef Mehlman 106. Vinograd: Sabbioneta 50, Mantua 80. And refer to Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 32.

Beautiful, extremely rare set of this early edition of the Mishnah. Printed on high-quality paper. Bound in identical magnificent leather bindings. 23 cm.

Overall fine condition. Minimal aging stains and worming perforations. Slight tears. Artistic restoration in the margins of several leaves.