Peirushim L'Rashi. Constantinople, c. 1525-1530. Especially Rare

Peirushim L'Rashi. Constantinople, c. 1525-1530. Especially Rare

Peirushim L'Rashi Z"l: La'Almoshineinu: U'L'Kanzil U'L'Rabi Aharon U'L'Albilda Ztz"l. [Constantinople, lacking printer's name] [c. 1525-1530].

Specifications: [A] Bereishit Shemot: [95] leaves, without title page and lacking two leaves. [B] Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim: [75] leaves. Faulty pagination. 27 cm. Yaari, Kushta 101. Mehlman collection - Ginzei Yisrael 633.

Background: First edition of a number of supercommentaries from our early rabbis on Rashi's commentary on the Torah. The book was printed in two columns, each section includes a number of verses, the commentaries were printed sequentially with an indication of the author of each commentary. In the course of the printing, more commentaries were added, and the content was altered. This occurs at the end of the portion of Bereishit. Printed across the width of the page: "The words of the printer ..." in which he writes that from here on he will add another commentary, and in the middle of the portion of Lech Lecha, "The printer says ..." is written, at which he writes that he found another commentary and its words are correct in his eyes, and from here on he will attach it to the book.

The book has two variants with differences in the title page and in the body of the book, and it's possible that one of the title pages was added only in the 19th (!) century. Apparently the one before us is the second variant, which is described by Rivkind. Many bibliographers write about this book; it is apparently one of the most researched books of Hebrew bibliography. The bibliographers also indicate that they have not seen complete copies of it. Regarding the date of printing, the various title pages, the typographical changes and changes in text, refer to: Y. Yudlov, Ginzei Yisrael, Jerusalem 1985, no. 633. Y. Yudlov, Kama Shearim L'Sefer Peirushim L'Rashi Defus Kushta, Alei Sefer, 17, 1992-1993, pages 137-138. Y. Rivkind, Dikdukei Sefarim, jubilee book in honor of A. Marcus, 1950, page 409-410; Y. Mehlman, Genuzot Sefarim, HaDefus HaIvri B'Kushta, Y. Hacker, Dfusei Kushta B'Meah HaShesh Esreh, Areshet, 5, 1972, page 480 no. 101.

Especially rare book. There is no complete copy in the National Library.

Aside from the title page, there are two leaves lacking, a leaf at the beginning of the portion of Noach [7] in an old photocopy, and in the portion of Bo marked "72?" [עב?]. Bibliographic material about this book and a precise description of the copy before us will be sent upon request.

Condition: Moderate. Aging stains. Minimal tears, worming holes and reinforcements which blemish text on a number of individual leaves.