Post-Auction Report: Sale 94, June 17, 2021
Kestenbaum & Company was privileged to again offer an auction comprising of premier Hebrew printed books. As it comprised of an especially remarkable single-owner collection of Hebrew printed books, this sale garnered high levels of interest and activity from hundreds of participants and spectators.
Interest was spread across all categories of the literary categories on offer.
In Biblical works, the beloved First Edition commentary to the Pentateuch, Kli Yakar, brought in $6,000 (Lot 140), beating its initial estimate of $3,000-4,000. A Zhitomir edition of Psalms garnered $7,500 (Lot 460) and the Vilna Gaon’s commentary to Mishlei fetched $7,500 (Lot 119). Midrashic works fared just as well, with a First Edition Mechilta realizing $12,000 (Lot 349) and a Second Edition Sifra- Torath Kohanim accomplishing $5,500 against an estimate of $1,000-$1,500 (Lot 353).
Medieval Pietistic compositions proved exceedingly popular in this sale. The First Edition of Rabbeinu Yonah’s Sha’arei Teshuvah was hammered in at $40,000 (Lot 168) while the First Edition of Sepher HaChassidim achieved $16,000, against its estimate of $4,000-6,000 (Lot 226). The First Edition of Orchoth Tzaddikim sold for $6,500 (Lot 386) and two copies of Chovoth HaLevavoth both sold for more than twice their estimates (Lot 42 and Lot 43) testifying to the notable interest in this field.
Liturgical works also fared well. An immaculate Basle prayerbook dating to 1579 brought in $50,000 (Lot 261) and a miniature set of Festival Prayers printed in Jerusalem fetched $11,000 (Lot 306). Perhaps the most impressive lot in the sale, the First Edition incunable of Abudarham, printed in Lisbon, 1489, was hammered in at $90,000 (Lot 7). Finally, a Selichoth printed at Slavita garnered $9,500- nine times more than its original estimate of $1,000-1,500 (Lot 301).
Competitive bidding was also seen for classic Halakhic texts. The Bomberg Edition of Alfasi’s Rif- Sepher Halachoth sold for $34,000 (Lot 14) while Maimonides’ Mishnah Torah, printed with Joseph Karo’s Keseph Mishnah for the first time, achieved $15,000 (Lot 373). The First Editions of Israel Isserlein’s Terumath Hadeshen and Pesakim U’Kethavim brought in $5,500 (Lot 213). The First Edition of Solomon Luria’s Yam Shel Shlomo to Bava Kama garnered $3,400 (Lot 328) and Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller’s Ma’adnei Yom-Tov fetched $3,600 (Lot 194).
In Kabbalah, the First Edition of the Zohar accomplished $20,000- five times its initial estimate (Lot 414). Likewise, the First Edition of Moses Cordovero’s Tomer Devorah realized $12,000 (Lot 101) and the esoteric Megaleh Amukoth was hammered in at $9,500 (Lot 425).
More broadly focused works of Jewish Philosophy saw the First Edition of Shnei Luchot Haberith achieve $10,000 (Lot 195). The entirety of the Maharal of Prague’s First Edition works were snatched up (Lots 317-324), while RaMBaN’s Torat Ha’Adam brought in $13,000 (Lot 374). Both major historiographical texts in this sale were also accounted for- Moses Zacuto’s Sepher Yuchasin was sold for $32,000 (Lot 474) and Joseph Cohen’s Divrei Hayamim garnered $20,000 (Lot 475).
We look forward to our next sale of Fine Judaica, which will take place in late July 2021. For further information, or any other queries, please contact us at 212-366-1197 or Info@Kestenbaum.net.
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LOT 215:
ISSERLES, MOSHE
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Sold for: $16,000
Start price:
$
15,000
Estimated price :
$15,000 - $20,000
Buyer's Premium: 25%
sales tax: 8.875% On lot's price, no sales tax on commission
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ISSERLES, MOSHE
<<(ReM’A).>> Torath Ha’Olah [philosophical thought, with astronomy].
FIRST EDITION. On title, printer's mark of Mordechƒai Katz, consisting of lions and the hands conveying the “birkath kohen” or priestly benediction (symbolic of Katz's priestly lineage). See Ya'ari, Hebrew Printers' Marks, p. 24, pl. 3. At the bottom of the frame is a bearded face accompanied by two cherubs. Woodcut of Temple (reproduction of device of Venetian printer Marc Antonio Giustiniani) on ff. 33v. and 69r. On ff. 34v. and 70r. chapter headings historiated. Title with owner's signature “Avraham Kalonymos Kalman of Cracow.” Scholarly marginalia. With the rare final leaf of poetry in praise of the Author (not seen or noted by Vinograd) missing from most all copies.
ff. (6), 173. Title laid down, few paper repairs with no loss of text. Wormhole in text of f. 115. Modern tan calf with clasps and hinges. Folio. Vinograd, Prague 36; St. Cat. Bodl. col. 6483.22; M. Heller, The Sixteenth Century Hebrew Book, pp. 612-3.
Prague: Mordechai Katz 1569-70
FIRST EDITION OF OF R. MOSES ISSERLES' CLASSIC OF JEWISH THOUGHT. AN ATTRACTIVE COPY. In this work, R. Moses Isserles (1525 or 1530-1572) of Cracow, most famous for his lasting contributions to Jewish law: Darkei Moshe on R. Yoseph Karo's Beth Yoseph, and the Glosses to his Shulchan Aruch; here demonstrates his mastery of rationalist, particularly Maimonidean philosophy with a particular focus on the meaning and purpose of the Temple in Jerusalem. This rationalist bent aroused the ire of his contemporaries such as R. Shlomo Luria (Maharsha”l) and R. Yehudah Löw (Mahara”l). More recently, another aspect of Isserles' complex personality has surfaced with the publication from manuscript of his commentary to the Zohar. See EJ, Vol. IX, cols. 1081-85. After the death of R. Gershom Katz in 1544, direction of his press was assumed by his son Mordechai and brothers. In 1569, Mordechai began to print independently, assisted only by his sons. Torath Ha’Olah was the first product of their press. See Ya'ari, Hebrew Printers' Marks (1971)p. 137. * Bound with: Orchoth Tzadikim [“Ways of the Righteous” - ethics]. Anonymous. ff. 22. [Vinograd, Frankfurt a/Main 70]. (Frankfurt a/Main, 1687).
