Bidspirit auction | Reb Shlomo Eiger’s Personal Tanach!

Reb Shlomo Eiger’s Personal Tanach! The First Tanach Translated into Yiddish – Copy of R. Shlomo Eiger, Amsterdam 1679 - Tanach with Yiddish translation, Amsterdam 1676-1679. Includes the Chumash, Nevi’im Rishonim, Nevi’im Acharonim, Kesuvim and Chomesh Megillos, with separate title pages for each part. Translated by R. Yekusiel Blitz, presumably of Amsterdam. The Tanach was intended to benefit those who weren’t fluent in the original Hebrew, such as women and young children during that era.  Personal copy of R. Shlomo Eiger with his autograph and personal stamps. This copy also bears the inscription of his Rebbitzen, the daughter-in-law of R. Akiva Eiger. (His Rebbitzen – Rivka Golda, was the daughter of R. Yisroel Hirschsohn of Warsaw). The very first Tanach to be printed in Yiddish, followed by another edition which was printed in Amsterdam several years later, in 1687. At the time of the printing, a great controversy arose – as detailed below, regarding the printing rights to a somewhat new phenomenon – a Tanach fully translated into Yiddish. (Bibles translated into Yiddish had already existed for some time, such as the Konstanz edition of 1544, or the Cremona edition of 1560. However this edition was the first to include the entire Tanach, unlike the two previous editions which included the Chumash and Five Megillos only).  Rivalry of Amsterdam’s Two Printers Upon the publication of another Yiddish-translated Tanach in 1687 by Joseph Attias, he was accused by Uri Feivush of infringing on his printing rights. Attias, on the other hand, claimed that in reality he was preparing his edition for print as early as 1678 but got delayed during printing. He used the approbations to support his claim, as they are dated 1678, one year prior to the release of Feivush’s edition. Both printers then accused each other of forging and falsifying their respective Rabbinical approbations, which eventually resulted in the financial ruin of both printing houses. For further reading, see: A.M. Habermann, Chapters in the History of the Hebrew Printers, pp. 300-310. This copy is complete with two title pages, the first being a copper-engraved title page. With the introductory pages in Latin (which pertain to the printing rights as a result of the abovementioned controversy), as well as the final leaf, which is rare and lacking in most copies.  Engraved title page is partly damaged and attached to cardstock paper for support. This was likely done by R. Shlomo Eiger himself, as his signature – הק’ שלמה איגר – is written directly on the cardstock, not on the title page itself. This is evidence that the paper was added either by him directly, or someone else at even an earlier time. Nonetheless, it is clear that the Chumash appeared this way even in the days of R. Shlomo Eiger. An additional autograph of R. Shlomo Eiger appears on the second title page as well.   His personal stamp “SE” (=Solomon Eiger”), appears multiple times, on both title pages. The autograph of his Rebbitzen Rivka Golda, appears on verso of the first title page.  Interestingly, it would seem that this edition of the Yiddish Tanach was favored by many distinct Torah leaders, and not merely used by women and children with no knowledge of Hebrew. Aside from this copy used by R. Shlomo Eiger, we know of another copy used by R. Yaakov Emden – The Yaavetz, with his signature on the title page. (Currently in a private collection, formerly in the Delmonico Collection).  In overall good-moderate condition, at times with heavy signs of wear and stains, as would be expected. Various paper repairs, sometimes with minor loss of text, especially to initial pages. Bound in a new ornate leather binding with gilt decoration.  [7], 63, [1], 64-75, 77-138, 140-256, [1]; 18, [1] pp.     Page size: Approx. 31cm