Sefer HaShorashim by the Radak. Venice 1547-8, with artistically rendering parts filled in where missing.

Sefer HaShorashim by the Radak. Venice 1547-8, with artistically rendering parts filled in where missing.
Sefer HaShorashim by Rabbi David Kimchi (the Radak), one of the Rishonim. An important, foundational work in Hebrew grammar, organized alphabetically, first written as the second part of his work HaMichlol. Printed in Venice by Lord Marco Antonio Justinian. The title page lists the year of printing as 1547 but the last page, in a pretty poem “Ilzu b’chol Levav” hints that it finished printing in 1548.

The pagination is different from the standard—every page has two numbered pages. [2] pages, 5-548 pages, [1] page. Catalogued in the NLI’s Rare Books section. Title page has a pretty woodcut engraved illustration, and the body of the work has every beginning letter framed by a nice engraving. This copy has the title page and three other leaves filled in by hand in an artistic manner—beautiful calligraphy, very precise and true to the original, including the last leaf with the above poem.

New binding, stains, professional repairs on several pages, individual moth damage, overall good condition.