Bidspirit auction | Complete Set: Midrash Raba with

Complete Set: Midrash Raba with the Matnot Kehuna Commentary - Salonika, 1595-1594 - Background of the printing:  The first section of the Midrash, on Sefer Bereshit, was printed with the glosses by the Chacham Rabbi Yehuda Gedalya only, since only towards the end of the printing of this section did the printers receive the Matnot Kehuna commentary by Rabbi Yissachar Ber of Szczebrzeszyn (which was published for the first time in Krakow 1587-1588).  From then on, the printers added this commentary and from Sefer Shemot, it appears on the margins of the leaves (Rabbi Yehuda gedalya's glosses appear in Sefer Shemot too, up to Parashat Beshalach and in some additional places later on).  When the printing ended, in 1595, they reprinted the Matnot Kehuna commentary on Sefer Bereshit, without the text of Bereshit, as a completion of their edition.  Printed at the end of the Midrash on Sefer Bereshit: ”יען השתדלותנו הוא שיגדיל תורה ויאדיר ולפאר הספר... ולהיות שהתחלנו להדפיסו עם הגהות החכם השלם הנ”ל, ועת'[ה] אנה ה' לידינו הגהות מהר”ר ישכר בער בן נפתלי משעברשין הכהן הנקרא מתנות כהונה הסכמנו להדפיס גם כן להיות הבנין נשענת על שני עמודים...”. This is the complete Midrash! Two sections of the Midrash on the Torah and on Chamesh Megillot, in two volumes with separate title pages, as printed at first.  In addition, an elegant volume with the completion of Matnot Kehuna on Sefer Bereshit, with a separate title page, which as stated, was printed after the Midrash was printed in 1595.  The Chumashim section : 272 leaves. Leaves 2-16, 65-92 and 249 with slightly trimmed edges, were completed from another copy. The title page is with professional paper completions and completion of text.  The Midrashim section : 136 leaves. From leaf 101 to the end of the copy, minimal paper completions to the edges only, often minor, except for several leaves at the end of the copy where the completion is more prominent.  Additional sewing holes in the inner margin/ The Completions section , Matnot Kehuna on Bereshit, with paper completions to the title page and completion of text and a minor restoration to the corner of the last leaf.  Stains. Some moth damage. Water stains. Traces of mold in some leaves.  The Midrashim sections in late bindings with fine leather spines (matching, not identical bindings). Matnor Kehuna in a fine, late leather binding.  Mostly good overall condition.