Auction 65
Lot 19:
Torah Nevi’im and Ketuvim in Yiddish – Amsterdam, 1676-1679. The first Bible in the world that was printed entirely in Yiddish. In addition, the first Yiddish translation of To’aliyot HaRalbag. The press of Rabbu Uri Feibush Halevi, Amsterdam, 1676-1679. [2], 4, 63, [1], 249 [i.e. 257], [1], 18 pp. In the National Library, the book appears in the Rare Book Collection.
The translator, Rabbi Yekutoel Blitz, wrote two lengthy forewords in Yiddish and Hebrew stating what led him to translate the Bible into Yiddish. Among others, he notes the importance of the people knowing the Bible and their ability to respond to Christian claims… Approbations by The Council of Four Lands and the Sephardic and Ashkenazic rabbis of Amsterdam. License by the King of Poland in Latin and Yiddish.
Tension between the printeries:
At the same time, the Bible was being translated into Yiddish also by the printery of Atias in Amsterdam. This sparked a fierce dispute between the two printing houses, which reached the authorities of the Netherlands and Poland as well as the rabbis of The Council of Four Lands.
Fine copper-engraved half-title with an illustration of Moshe and Aharon, the Ark of the Covenant and receiving the Torah. Five additional, wood-engraved title pages. Small tears, mainly to the edges. The first two title pages and some of the first leaves as well as leaf 24 and the last leaf have been professionally restored with paper. Some additional restorations, affecting a lot of the text. Stains. Loose binding. Some moth perforations. Fair-good overall condition.
Stamps: "הרב צבי הירש הכהן עה"ק ירושלים ת"ו".
On verso of the first title page, signatures in Hebrew in a foreign language: "זעליגמן בא"א יעקב אברהם…".
On the back (detached) flyleaf, a Hebrew notation: "…כמר עזריאל זעליג מפה קהילה קדושה…" and a foreign signature with this name.
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