Auction 44
Lot 037:
“This high-value printing has the additions and glosses included from all prior printings, and it is a foundation for all future printings that followed until today” (Refael Rabinowitz, an article on the printing of the Talmud, p. 98). Volume of Talmud Bavli with Masechtot Rosh Hashanah, Yoma, Sukkah, Beitzah, Shkalim, Megilah. Printed by the partners Shmuel Markis and Refael di Polosius, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. This printing is among the three most important printings of the Talmud ever, alongside Bombergi and the Vilna edition produced by the Ram widow and brothers. For this edition the author of the Dikdukei sofrim writes: “This high-value printing has the additions and glosses included from all prior printings, and it is a foundation for all future printings that followed until today, such as the Tosafot Yeshanim in Masechet Yoma which was included for the first time. The printer thanks (on the title page of the book) Issachar Berman from Halberstadt, who printed a Babylonian Talmud in Frankfurt der Oder in 1697, for giving him permission to print this Shas, although the period of prohibition imposed by the rabbis not to surpass him had not yet ended. The printer began printing the Shas in 1717 in Amsterdam until Tractate Ketubot, and then continued printing in Frankfurt am Main. After the Shas printing was completed, the printer returned and printed in Frankfurt the first tracts he had printed in Amsterdam. Before us is the Amsterdam masechet Rosh Hashanah of 1717, Frankfurt-am-Mein Yoma of 1721, Sukkah Frankfurt am Mein 1721, Taanis Amsterdam 1716, Shkalim Amsterdam 1716, Megillah Amsterdam 1716. On both sides of the masechtot are printed the printer’s seal with Latin inscription and a short description of the masechet and thanks to the Basel censor. This addition is not present in most copies, and the Bibliographers note that they saw it previously only on masechtot Yevamot and Ketubot. Stefanski Sifrei Yesod 42. 41, 95, 68, 37, 13, 38 leaves. The title page of Rosh Hashanah is bound in reverse with a tear and some missing text. The last leaf of Megillah has holes with damage to text and a hole that continues through 10 leaves (the last of Masechet Megillah). Small tears in a number of other places without missing text, otherwise good condition.
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