Lot 79
  • 79

Divrei ha-Yamim le-Moshe Rabbenu, Constantinople: Samuel ibn Nahmias, 1516

Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 USD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

40 leaves (7 5/8 x 5 3/8 in.; 193 x 136 mm). collation: 1-104=40 leaves; washed, top and fore-margin of first leaf mended with small hole affecting a few words, mend in top margin of second leaf, marginal soiling and light dampstains, a few other marginal mends including worm track in last five leaves. Cream cloth, gold-stamped title label on spine.

Provenance

Fraenkelsche Stiftung, Breslau—their library stamp on first leaf mend

Literature

Vinograd Constantinople 87; Yaari, Constantinople 51; Hacker 51; Mehlman 1264; Steinschneider 3442

Condition

40 leaves (7 5/8 x 5 3/8 in.; 193 x 136 mm). collation: 1-104=40 leaves; washed, top and fore-margin of first leaf mended with small hole affecting a few words, mend in top margin of second leaf, marginal soiling and light dampstains, a few other marginal mends including worm track in last five leaves. Cream cloth, gold-stamped title label on spine.
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

Collection of small Midrashim and a travelers tale. The contents include:

1.      Divrei ha-Yamim le-Moshe Rabbenu (1a-5a): An embellished biography of Moses' early life prior to the Exodus of Egypt. It expands upon the information in Exodus, based on older Midrashim. It includes the tale of his miraculous birth and mentions wars in Ethiopia. The midrash is considered to be a medieval work.

2.      Petirat Aharon (5a-7a): Midrash describing in detail the death of Aaron.

3.      Petirat Moshe Rabbenu (7b-13b): Midrash on the death of Moses. It has been suggested that the author's name is Sa'adiah, and elsewhere that it is actually part of Divrei ha-Yamim le-Moshe Rabbenu. This midrash exists in several different recensions.

4.      Tuvi ben Tuvial (14a-18a):

5.      Eldad ha-Dani (18b-20a): by Eldad ha-Dani (late 9th century) who claimed to be from the tribe of Dan. It recounts his journeys through Africa and Asia in the ninth century.

6.      Mishlei Sandabar (Tales of Sinbad) (20b-27a): Set within the framework of a tale about the kings of India.

7.      Ma'aseh shel Yerushalim (28a-33a). Popular tale attributed to Abraham ben ha-Rambam (son of Moses Maimonides.)

8.      Sefer Hanokh (33a-34a): Midrash based on the biblical verse "And Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, for God had taken him" (Genesis 5:24).

9.      Hidot Isopeto (34b-38a). Fables derived from Aesop's fables.

10.    Meshalim shel Shelomo (38a-40a): Aggadic tales about King Solomon.

The colophon on the final leaf is preceded by a list of the work's contents. This list includes the name of an eleventh work, Melizat Efer ve-Dinah. While bibliographers have noted that work in their records of this book, both Mehlman and Vinograd call for 40 leaves as found in the present copy. Mehlman continues to point out that neither the JNUL copy nor the Winer copy contain the additional eleventh work. Accordingly we may speculate that while Melizat Efer ve-Dinah was originally intended to accompany the present book, it was only printed later after copies of the original work had been distributed. In fact Moritz Steinschneider, who lists the work together with Divrei ha-Yamim le-Moshe Rabbenu, considers it a separate book (quibus postea adjectus libellus.) That few, if any, copies ever contained the added work is supported by the fact that the reprinted edition (Venice, 1544) lacked the work as well.