Large volume, Mishneh Torah LeHaRambam, Section II: Hafla and Shoftim. Edition with many additions, at the press of Marco Justinian – Venice, 1551. Originally, [1], 394-767, [5] leaves. In this copy: 396-532 leaves containing Hafla
ah, Zeraim, Avodah, Korbanot, Tahara. In the Rare Book Collection of the National Library. 40 cm. Moth perforations and damage. Stains. Fair overall condition. No binding.
The polemic of the printeries
In those days, two large printeries that printed Hebrew books operated in Venice, Bragadin and Justinian. Naturally, their relationship was tense and both began printing the Mishneh Torah LeHaRambam at the same time. Consequently, a dispute broke out between them, which eventually reached the Beit Din of the Rema in Krakow. Some assume
that this was what led to Pope Julius III being informed that the Talmud contains hate speech against Christianity and subsequently, his order to burn its copies…
On verso of the the title page (not appearing in this copy), the words of the "servant … of Marco Justinian" praising this edition, which is better than the Bragadin edition that was published at the same time. Among others, he writes that he found so many errors in the Bragadin edition that had he wanted to print them, he would have to add more than twenty leaves to the edition…
