Complete set, pretty: Tanach Kehilot Moshe (Mikra’ot Gedolot) – Amsterdam, 1724-28.

Complete set, pretty: Tanach Kehilot Moshe (Mikra’ot Gedolot) – Amsterdam, 1724-28.
Complete set of the Sefer Kehilot Moshe, known better by its later name “Mikraot Gedolot”, an expanded edition including various commentaries some of which were added for the first time around the Chumash. Published and printed by Rabbi Moshe Frankfurt, dayan of Amsterdam. Catalogued as rare by the NLI.

This work is a significant expansion of the Mikraot Gedolot versions previously printed. The dayan worked for five years to publish a corrected, precise edition with additions, and he sold in the meantime pamphlets from the work (as was traditionally done then) to fund the printing, which he testifies to in the introduction: “I had a few signatures from yechidei segulah of Ashkenaz and Sfard, who took leaves from me every week.” Each section adds introductions and sometimes conclusions (Sections 2-4). He also added introductions and indices of the books from which the commentaries were taken.

Four sections in four volumes:

1. Torah: 1724. [10], 293, [2]. In this copy, the [2] were bound at the front.

2. First Prophets. 1726. [2], 46, [4], 47-378 leaves.

3. Last Prophets. 1727. [2], 322 leaves.

4. Ketuvim: 1728. [5], 413 (supposed to be 415), 65 leaves (these include Mesorah Gedolah) in the original—this copy is missing leaves 412 and 413, which includes the Shimoni commentary (in their place are two duplicate leaves. The last leaf 65 appears twice as well.

The work won approbations from rabbis of the period: Rabbi Avraham bar Yehuda (Berlin), Rabbi Shlomo bar Yaakov Aleon, and Rabbi Yaakov HaKohen Poppers of Prague. The volumes also have various poems from the editor or the author’s son, etc., which appear in the Otzer HaShira v’HaPiyyut.

As befits the edition, it was printed on thick, high-quality paper, 44cm in length, with especially wide margins, with a pretty design. New stable bindings, various defects, a few bits of tape, overall good condition.

The fourth volume has 2 leaves filling in missing bits written by hand, artistically done in a perfect imitation of the original.