Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Bava Batra Printed on Blue Paper, Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1521

Folio (12¾ x 9 in.; 324 x 228 mm).  collation: 1-26^{8, 279=217 leaves; fore-margins of first six and a few other leaves mended affecting text, dampstain in fore-margin. Owner's stamp and signature f. 2. Nineteenth-century half calf; upper cover gone, worn.}

Moses Gaster—his signature stamped on verso of title page

Vinograd, Venice 36; Habermann 40

Folio (12¾ x 9 in.; 324 x 228 mm). ; collation: 1-268, 279=217 leaves; fore-margins of first six and a few other leaves mended affecting text, dampstain in fore-margin. Owner's stamp and signature f.2. Nineteenth-century half calf; upper cover gone, worn.
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.

In terms of the number of printed pages, Bava Batra is the lengthiest of all the tractates in the Bomberg Talmud.  The size of the Bava Batra volume is due to the fact that the commentary of Rashi is printed only through page 29a where a printed notation indicates that the commentary that ensues from that point is the work of Samuel ben Meir (Rashi's grandson); known by the acronym Rashbam, his commentary is noticably less succinct than that of his grandfather.  The three tractates Bava Kamma, Bava Mezia, and Bava Batra  originally comprised a single much larger tractate, called Nezikin. The present division into three separate tractates apparently took place in the Babylonian era.