Bidspirit auction | Tiberias – On the Masorah

Tiberias – On the Masorah – Basel, 1620 – Signature and Glosses of Rabbi Shimshon Modon of Mantua, After 1702 - Tiberias, sive, Commentarius Masorethicus triplex, Historicus, didacticus, criticus [Tiberias, historical overview of the Masorah], by Johannes Buxtorf (the elder). Basel: Ludwig König, 1620. Latin. An important work on the history of the Tiberian Masorah, written by Johannes Buxtorf, a Christian scholar and Hebraist who made important contributions to study of the Masorah and Hebrew grammar. The Mikraot Gedolot edition he proofread in Basel was a prototype of all later editions of the Bible with Masorah. Copy of R. Shimshon HaKohen Modon, a Torah scholar of Mantua, with his ignature and handwritten glosses. At top of title page, his ownership inscription, signed and dated: ”Shimshon Kohen Modon in Mantua, Rosh Chodesh Tevet 1702”. Tens of handwritten marginal glosses and corrections, apparently by R. Shimshon HaKohen Modon, including approx. 15 lengthy glosses in Hebrew and Italian (incorporating Latin). On back endpaper, handwritten index. In addition, handwritten inscriptions emphasizing important parts and manicules. R. Shimshon Modon (the second) son of R. Yaakov Shimshon HaKohen Modon (1679-1727), a Torah scholar of Mantua at the turn of the 18th century. Disciple of R. Yehudah Briel. Authored Kol Musar (Mantua 1725) and other works, some of which remain in manuscript. [3] leaves, 114 pages. Does not include [1] blank leaf after introduction and [1] blank leaf at end. 41 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains (several leaves especially dark). Worming to margins. Tears in several places. Margins of some leaves repaired with paper strips. Early binding (ca. 18th century). Joseph Prijs, Basle, no. 222A.