Bidspirit auction | KIMCHI, DAVID (RaDa’K).  Sepher Michlol

KIMCHI, DAVID (RaDa’K).  Sepher Michlol [grammar]. Title within attractive four-part ornamental border. Printed in double columns. A wide-margined copy. ff. (64). Ex-library, few stains. Later blind-tooled calf with gilt embellishments, rubbed and rebacked. Sm. folio. Vinograd, Constantinople 149. Constantinople, Gershom Soncino, 1533. The Michlol was R. David Kimchi’s chief grammatical work. It is divided into two parts, a grammar and a dictionary of the roots of Biblical words. The Michlol treats verbs comprehensively, covering the rules governing conjugation, changes of pronunciation and accents. It also contains complete tables of conjugations and is distinguished by the clarity of its style and its conciseness. Indeed, these qualities resulted in the Michlol’s supremacy over previous works and has been considered the leading grammatical work for centuries. On the title-page Soncino recounts his publishing exploits and related travels, as well as his contention with the firm of Bomberg. See A.M. Haberman, Perakim BeToldoth HaMadpissim Ha'Ivri'im (1978) pp. 15-20.