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Auction 63

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 5:20 PM UTC

Impressive and Pedigreed Copy with Ancient Glosses: Rav Alfas (Rif) with His Commentators - Krakow, 1597

Start price: $1,200

Buyer's premium: 25%

Large, impressive volumes, the great halachic book which is one of the foundations of Psikah of the Rishonim – Hilchot Rav Alfas by Rabbeinu Yitzchak Alfasi, known as the Rif, with his commentators. Section II: Seder Nashim and tractate Chulin. The press of Rabbi Yitzchak ben Rabbi Aharon of Prostitz – Krakow, 1597. 268 leaves. In the National Library, the book appears in the Rare Book Collection.

Ancient, original and impressive binding, leather-covered wood. Blemished spine. A fine, well-preserved copy with wide margins. Very good overall condition for such an ancient and rare book. 

Inside the book, on the margins of the leaves, many significant glosses in uloquent Ashkenaizc script and some references, indicating these are the conclusions and comments of a Talmid Chacham. In one place, a notation in square script completing the content of the text.

On the flyleaf, an ancient Ashkenazic notation: "שייך לאדונינו מורינו ורבינו הגאון הגדול המפורסם ס’ ע"ה… רבן של בני הגולה כש"ת כמוהר"ר הילמן ני"ו יאיר כאור שבעת הימים" – apparently referring to the Gaon Rabbi Shmuel Hillman Av Beit Din of Metz and Menheim (passed away in 1765), a disciple of the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Broida. The in-law of the Gaon author of the Nodah BiYehuda. Succeeded the Gaon Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz as Av Beit Din of Metz. Supported the Yavetz during his famed dispute with Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz. 

In addition, on the title page and flyleaf (detached), signatures and ownership notations: "ליזר (-?) בהמנוח הרב משה לאנסום מאלזעס". "משה בן יוסף שליט"א ביי…?". Have not been thoroughly examined. 

We do not know who the writer of the impressive glosses is.