Abravanel's Commentary on the Torah – with Signatures. Venice, [1579]. First Edition

Abravanel's Commentary on the Torah – with Signatures. Venice, [1579]. First Edition

First Edition of Sefer Yesod.

Commentary on the Torah by the sage and leader Don Yitzchak Abravanel (also spelled Abarbanel). Edited by Rabbi Shmuel Archevolti.

Commentary on the Torah in a single volume from Bereshit to Vezot Haberacha, a scholarly commentary, in the format of many questions on some of the Parasha and a lengthy essay answering them.

The history of the Abravanel commentary: Abravanel started writing his commentary on the Torah, beginning with Sefer Devarim, when he lived in Lisbon, Portugal, in ca. 1476. The manuscript, however, was lost when he was forced to escape the country. Approx. 20 years later, when he was living in Napoli, Italy, the draft was found in circumstances that, to this day, remain unexplained. This edition is based on this draft. In his introduction to his commentary, he introduces the question of whether Sefer Devarim was written by Moshe Rabbeinu or given from Heaven by G-d. This question, for which he could not find an answer in ancient writings, led him to write his commentary.

On the title page of the book, an erased, handwritten owner's signature and on verso of the title page, a lengthy, handwritten notation in Italian. On leaf 2, an ownership notation handwritten by "Moshe Yehuda of Sinigalia" and another erased notation.

Venice, [1579]. First edition. Zuan Bragadin Press by his confidante Asher Frenzy (at the house of Juan Di Gara).

424, [1] leaves. 29.5 cm. Very good condition. Old half-leather binding detached in its front. Bright, quality paper.