- 136
Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) [Soncino: Joshua Solomon ben Israel Nathan Soncino, 1484-1485]
Estimate
20,000 - 40,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- ink and paper
16 [of 48] leaves (7 x 5 in.; 178 x 128 mm). collation: 2-38= 16 leaves; lacking quires 1,4-6. Leaves inlaid, affecting some text in quire 2; residual stain at upper corners. One-quarter calf over marbled boards, black morocco lettering-piece.
Catalogue Note
first edition of Avot; first edition of a Mishnaic tractate
Pirkei Avot (literally, "Chapters of the Fathers," but generally translated as "Ethics of the Fathers") is one of the best-known and most-cited of all Jewish texts; even those who know little about Jewish literature are familiar with its maxims. Because its reasoning is direct, and largely based on human experience, Pirkei Avot is the most accessible of the books making up the Oral Law. The custom of studying Avot on the Sabbath, spread from geonic Babylonia to Jewish communities all over the globe and led to this broad familiarity with the text. The frequent rereading and studying of the text may help to explain the scarcity of surviving copies of the first edition.
The commentary on the Mishnah was the earliest of Maimonides' major writings. In addition to his commentary on the text of Pirkei Avot, Maimonides composed an introduction to the popular tractate, called Shemoneh Perakim (Eight Chapters), which drew heavily on Aristotelian philosophy. Both the introduction and the commentary were translated into Hebrew from the original Arabic by Samuel ben Judah ibn Tibbon.
LITERATURE:
Vinograd, Soncino 2; Goff 83; Goldstein 35; Offenberg 93; Steinschneider, p. 228, no. 1433, 1; Thes. A41.
Pirkei Avot (literally, "Chapters of the Fathers," but generally translated as "Ethics of the Fathers") is one of the best-known and most-cited of all Jewish texts; even those who know little about Jewish literature are familiar with its maxims. Because its reasoning is direct, and largely based on human experience, Pirkei Avot is the most accessible of the books making up the Oral Law. The custom of studying Avot on the Sabbath, spread from geonic Babylonia to Jewish communities all over the globe and led to this broad familiarity with the text. The frequent rereading and studying of the text may help to explain the scarcity of surviving copies of the first edition.
The commentary on the Mishnah was the earliest of Maimonides' major writings. In addition to his commentary on the text of Pirkei Avot, Maimonides composed an introduction to the popular tractate, called Shemoneh Perakim (Eight Chapters), which drew heavily on Aristotelian philosophy. Both the introduction and the commentary were translated into Hebrew from the original Arabic by Samuel ben Judah ibn Tibbon.
LITERATURE:
Vinograd, Soncino 2; Goff 83; Goldstein 35; Offenberg 93; Steinschneider, p. 228, no. 1433, 1; Thes. A41.