Lot 122
  • 122

Seder Tefillot mi-Kol ha-Shana ke-Minhag ha-Ashkenazi (Order of Prayers for the Entire Year according to the Ashkenazic Rite), Printed on Vellum, Mantua: Jacob ben Naphtali ha-Kohen and Meir ben Ephraim Sofer, 1558

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
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Description

352 leaves (5 5/8 x 3¾ in.; 142 x 95 mm). Printed on vellum. Woodcut architectural title border, head- and tail-pieces; fore-edge of title mended, some spotting, a few original vellum flaws, top margin short occasionally touching headline, tear at foot, ff.76-9 and at f.149 at outer margin; owner's inscription on f. 253v. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled border with floral stamps at center and four corners, spine richly gilt, gilt and gauffered edges, green silk place markers; light worming at head and foot of spine, edges rubbed, endpapers renewed.

Provenance

Sarah daughter of Samuel [of] Pfersee, wife of Joseph Hai son of Solomon—her inscription on f. 253v.; Baron Horace de Landau—typewritten note taped to front free endpaper

Literature

Freimann, Die hebraischen Pergamentdrucke, 84; Vinograd, Mantua, 55; Mehlman 203; Brad Sabin Hill, "Catalogue of Hebrew Books Printed on Vellum." Books printed on Vellum in the Collections of the British Library. (with R.C. Alston). London: The British Library, 1995. p.205-6: C.49.b.9.; Zedner, p.458; Steinschneider 2084

Condition

352 leaves (5 5/8 x 3¾ in.; 142 x 95 mm). Printed on vellum. Woodcut architectural title border, head- and tail-pieces; fore-edge of title mended, some spotting, a few original vellum flaws, top margin short occasionally touching headline, slit in ff.76-9 at foot, f.149 at outer margin; owner's inscription on f. 253v. Contemporary calf, gold-tooled border with floral stamps at center and four corners, spine richly gilt, gilt and gauffered edges, green silk place markers; light worming at head and foot of spine, edges rubbed, endpapers renewed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

Jacob ben Naphtali ha-Kohen of Gazolo, was the manager of Tobias Foa's press in Sabbionetta until 1556.  In that year Jacob came to Mantua to supervise the production of Hebrew books at the printing house of Venturino Ruffinello whose press was the most prolific in the production of vellum copies.  This siddur is the work of Jacob ben Naphtali as well as his colleague who edited and arranged the text, Meir ben Ephraim (Sofer) of Padua.  It was one of several editions of liturgical works printed in Mantua within a few short years. Some of the quires in this edition are marked "Ashkenazi" indicating that the other quires (i-xi) may have shared the same typography as the other liturgical editions printed by the two partners within this period.