Bidspirit auction | Mishnah – Sabbioneta-Mantua, 1559-1563 –

Mishnah – Sabbioneta-Mantua, 1559-1563 – Complete Six-Volume Set - Mishnah, orders Zeraim, Moed, Nashim, Nezikin, Kodashim and Taharot, with commentary of the Rambam and R. Ovadiah of Bartenura. Sabbioneta and Mantua: [Francesco Filipono for] Toviah Foa and Yaakov Kohen of Gazzuolo, 1559-1563. All six orders in six volumes. This is the second Mishnah edition with the commentary of R. Ovadiah of Bartenura. Printing of this edition was commenced by Toviah Foa in Sabbioneta, where Seder Zeraim and most of Seder Moed were printed, but the printing was not concluded since Foa's press was closed in 1559. It was taken up in Mantua, where the type was brought by Yaakov HaKohen of Gazzuolo, a partner in the Sabbioneta press, and there the rest of Seder Moed and the other four orders were printed, in 1561-1563. At end of Seder Taharot (p. 176a) appears colophon of publisher: ”…And we concluded that which we began in Sabbioneta… Yaakov son of R. Naftali HaKohen of Gazzuolo… here in Mantua… Rosh Chodesh Elul 1563”. Inscriptions deleted with ink on title page of Seder Zeraim, and other inscriptions and glosses to several leaves in this volume. Ownership inscription in Italian script on title page of Seder Moed: ”Purchased by me, Moshe Pugliesi son of R. Kalonymus” (possibly the Moshe Pugliesi mentioned in the letters of R. Moshe Zacuto [Livorno, 1780, p. 6b]). On the last page of the volume is a handwritten inscription by the same writer, with four verses, three of which form the acrostic of his name – Moshe. Several glosses and inscriptions in this volume. Few glosses to Nashim volume. On title page of Seder Nezikin, early glosses in Italian script from Lugo (some deleted or faded): ”Belongs to me, Yosef son of the Rabbi, Arzignano” (see: Buxenbaum, Igrot Melamdim, p. 28), ”Moshe Ber --- residing in Lugo, 1632” (see: Bracha Rivlin, Pinkas Chevrat Gemilut Chasadim Shel K.K. Lugo, Asufot X, pp. 181, 194). Ownership inscription on title page of Seder Taharot, in Yemenite script: ”By lot before a Beit Din… my portion, lot and part, the lowly servant Said son of Daud…”. Marginal glosses by this writer on leaves of this volume, some with kabbalistic content. Censorship expurgations to Tractate Avodah Zarah in Nezikin volume. Signature of censor ”Domenico Gerosolimitano”, dated 1601, on title page of Nashim volume, and signature of censor ”Giovanni Domenico Carretto”, dated 1617, on verso of last leaf of volume. Six volumes. Zeraim: 97, [4] leaves. [4] leaves, with sketches for Zeraim and Moed (some copies have these leaves at end of Nezikin volume). Moed: 104 leaves. Nashim: 82 leaves. Nezikin: 116 leaves. Kodashim: 122, [1] leaves (last leaf is a folding leaf with illustration of Temple, apparently supplied from another copy). Taharot: 176 leaves. 19.5-21.5 cm. Overall fair condition, Nashim and Nezikin in fair-good condition. Stains, including dark stains and dampstains. Wear to some leaves. Tears and open tears in several places, including large tears to title page of Seder Zeraim, affecting title frame in many places (repaired with paper filling, with photocopy replacements), and title page of Seder Moed, slightly affecting illustrated frame. Worming (especially to Nashim, Nezikin and Taharot volumes), affecting text in many places, mostly repaired with paper filling (heavy worming to some leaves). Close trimming, affecting text of four illustration leaves at end of Seder Zeraim. New leather bindings (uniform). Provenance: Kestenbaum, New York, 25 June 2009, Lot 201.