Bidspirit auction | Yalkut Shimoni – Both Parts

Yalkut Shimoni – Both Parts – Livorno, 1649-1656 – The First Hebrew Book Printed in Livorno - Yalkut Shimoni, with Brit Avraham commentary by R. Avraham Gedaliah of Jerusalem. First part on the Torah, and second part on Neviim and Ketuvim. Livorno: Yedidiah son of Yitzchak Gabbai, author of Kaf Nachat, 1649-1656. Two volumes. At the beginning of Part I appears a letter from the printer detailing the founding of the Livorno printing press. Afterwords by printer at conclusion of both volumes. Ownership inscription on title page of first part of ”Boaz and Natan[?] LeBeit Baruch” [the De Benedetti (LeBeit Baruch) family lived in several communities in the Piedmont region of Italy]. On title page of first volume, many stamps (blurred) of a Yemenite rabbi from Shaarayim, Rechovot: ”R. David son of Shalom Nadav, Moshav Shearim, Eretz Israel”. Two volumes. Part I (Torah): 550, [1] leaves. Part II (Neviim and Ketuvim): 289 leaves. Leaves 93-94, 134-137, 273-274 misordered. Approx. 33 cm. Overall good-fair condition, many leaves in first volume in good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, tears and open tears. Tears and open tears to title pages and other leaves, affecting text (title pages repaired with paper filling). Stamps. Parchment bindings, old and slightly defective, with new spines. This is the first Hebrew book printed in Livorno. This edition of Yalkut Shimoni differs from previous editions in that the printer proofread and edited the book ”according to accurate ancient manuscripts”, and added entire sections not previously found in the Yalkut Shimoni. The first Hebrew press in Livorno was founded in 1650 by Yedidiah Gabbai, son of R. Yitzchak Gabbai, author of the Kaf Nachat commentary on the Mishnah. It was active for only nine years, and Hebrew printing in Livorno was resumed only 82 years later. Yedidiah Gabbai's son Avraham immigrated to Izmir, where he established its first printing press; the Gabbai family press later moved to Salonika. Both volumes, like other books printed by the family, feature three crowns (resembling the printer's device of Bragadin in Venice), with a caption playing on the Gabbai family name: ”There are three crowns, and the crown of a good reputation is superior to them (Gabeihem)”.