Osiyos D’Rabbi Akiva, Amsterdam 1708.

Osiyos D’Rabbi Akiva, Amsterdam 1708.

Osiyos D’Rabbi Akiva is a Midrash attributed to Rabbi Akiva and is arranged according to the Hebrew alphabet. It was first printed in Constantinople in 1516, in Venice in 1546, and again in Cracow in 1576. The first two editions were printed based on one particular manuscript, whereas the Cracow edition used another manuscript discovered only after the Venice edition was released. This Amsterdam edition has long been regarded as the most accurate edition, since it is compiled from all previous editions, thereby including both the first and second versions of the manuscripts. 

Interestingly, the existence of the first edition was unknown to the publishers of this edition, as per the title page: “The reader surely knows that this small book has already been published in Venice… and then in Cracow, so now we are printing this book for the third time (!) with three partners”. 

A rare and uncommon edition. To the best of our knowledge, it has not been seen at auction in many decades. 

In overall very good condition. Bound in original vellum binding; worn with tears on back. A small open tear is seen on title page. Paper slightly browned. Bookplate of R. Mazin & Co., London East. 

[1], 28 pp. 

Vinograd, Amsterdam 847.