Bidspirit auction | Masoret HaMasoret / Tuv Taam

Masoret HaMasoret / Tuv Taam – By Rabbi Eliyahu Bachur – Basel, 1539 - Two grammar books by R. Eliyahu Bachur, printed in Basel, 1539: • Masoret HaMasoret, on grammar and the Masorah, by R. Eliyahu Bachur-Ashkenazi. Basel: Heinrich Petri, [1539]. Signature on title page and ownership inscription on second leaf of ”R. Herz Medelsheim” – apparently Herz Cerfbeer of Medelsheim, brother-in-law of R. David Sinzheim, author of Yad David, French Jewish leader, lobbyist and official who provided food to the government, served as the head of Jewish affairs in Alsace, and was the only Jew granted the right to live in Strasbourg at the time. Other inscriptions to title page and several leaves. Printed and bound with: • Tuv Ta'am, on cantillation, by R. Eliyahu Bachur-Ashkenazi. Basel: Heinrich Petri, 1539. Second edition of both books, edited by Sebastian Münster. Hebrew colophon (from first Venice edition, 1538), and on verso, Latin colophon with up-to-date printing information. Both books were printed together with continuous collation, along with another book, a Latin epitome of both books, by Sebastian Münster, not in the present copy. Masoret HaMasoret: [128] leaves. Tuv Ta'am: [56] leaves. Both leaves of last gathering of Tuv Ta'am, before last leaf with printer's device, are blank. 13.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Light wear. Significant worming to margins of some leaves of Tuv Ta'am. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Stamps. New leather binding. Joseph Prijs, Basle, no. 58.