Rare and unique items
Oct 30, 2017 (Your local time)
Israel

The auction has ended

LOT 5:

Mishne Torah Le'Ha'Rambam – Venice 1574 – Signatures and Glosses by the Geniuses of the Azulai Family

catalog
  Previous item
Next item 
Sold for: $11,000
Start price:
$ 2,000
Estimated price:
$10,000 - $20,000
Auction house commission: 20%
VAT: On commission only
tags: Books

The copy before us had belonged to Rabbi Avraham Yitzchaki, author of the book 'Zera Avraham' who was the grandson of Rabbi Avraham Azulai, author of 'Chessed Le'Avraham'.
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchaki sold the book to his cousin and disciple Rabbi Yesha'aya Azulai (the grandfather of the Chida and grandson of the 'Chessed Le'Avraham').
At the beginning of the book, after the indices, there is a special etched leaf. On this leaf there are many ancient signatures: on the left, an inscription and curly signature by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchaki. On the lower part of the page, an inscription: "I have sold it to my second Rabbi Yesha'aya Azulai … Avraham Yitzchaki" (in second he means 'cousin').
On the right side of the leaf there are four signatures of rabbi "Yesha'aya Azulai", some of them curly and some in simple script. Above the fourth signature, an inscription: "We have started learning at the Yeshiva for the burial of Mrs. Reine di Amato Parashat Vayechi 5435 to the creation (1675)".
On leaf 80, a scholarly gloss handwritten by Rabbi Yesha'aya Azulai. An additional short gloss (in another script?) on leaf 138. A scholarly gloss most likely in Rabbi Yesha'aya's handwriting on leaf 236.
Throughout the book there are hundreds of notations, references and sources in ancient script, most likely of one of the above rabbis!
The title page has been completed by hand, including the decorations and illustrations. The seven first pages are also completed by hand as well as leaves 251-155 and leaves 310-616.
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchaki (1661-1729), the son of Rabbi David Yitzchak the rabbi of Jerusalem. He was a leading disciple of Rabbi Moshe Galanti and Rabbi Yisrael Ya'akov Hagiz. And a friend of the 'Pri Chadash'. His leading disciples were Rabbi Moshe Hagiz and Rabbi Yesha'aya Azulai. In 1716, he became the Rishon Le'Zion until his willing retirement in 1722.
Attached material on his figure and activities.
Rabbi Yesha'aya Azuli, the grandfather of the Chida, was a disciple of the 'Pri Chadash'. He died in 1732.
Condition: Fair-Good. The margins of the title page are damaged. Several leaves are torn with omission. Several leaves, as said, have been completed by ancient script. Impressive (original?) binding. Some of the leaves are worn yet in reasonable condition.

catalog
  Previous item
Next item