Auction 131 Special Sale for Yamim Noraim. Belongings of Tzaddikim, Amulets, Segula Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical letters, Chabad and Rare books
By Winner'S
Aug 25, 2021
3 Shatner Center 1st Floor Givat Shaul Jerusalem, Israel

The auction has ended

LOT 23:

Moreh Nevochim by the Ramba"m. Venice [1551]. Handwritten Glosses

Sold for: $8,000
Start price:
$ 5,000
Estimated price :
$10,000 - $20,000
Buyer's Premium: 24%
VAT: 17% On commission only
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Moreh Nevochim by the Ramba"m. Venice [1551]. Handwritten Glosses

Moreh Nevochim, the Ramba"m's famed composiiton dealing with the fundamentals of the Jewish religion and faith, with the Shem Tov commentary and the HaEfodi commentary. Venice, Bragadin press, [1551]. First edition of Moreh Nevochim with commentaries. 


The book Moreh Nevochim was printed once, as an incunable edition, in Rome, Italy before 1480, and it was printed without any commentary. This is the first edition with the important commentaries that were included in the following editions and with Klalei Pirkei HaMoreh and elucidation of difficult words. Actually, copies of the early edition are almost extinct and to the best of our knowledge a complete copy has never been auctioned; thus, this is the first edition from which leading rabbis had studied. 


This copy contains dozens of glosses in several ancient scripts. These glosses include a lengthy one that begins with: Said Meir ... in the gloss, the writer attacks the words of the Shem Tov commentary, in an especially sharp language. [Possibly, the writer is Rabbi Meir Katzenellenbogen - the Mahar"m of Pàdova who lived and operated in Italy in the period the book was printed ...].


Complete copy, with all the leaves of Klalei Pirkei HaMidot, elucidation of the foreign words and an index of the verses, and with the postface and poems at the end.

Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 494. 

[12], 185, [1] leaves, 28.5 cm. 

Fine condition: A few aging and dampness stains. A few worming holes in the white margin. Simple binding.