Bidspirit auction | Mikraot Gedolot Tanach – Venice

Mikraot Gedolot Tanach – Venice 5368 (1608) – Printed by Zuan Di Gara – Large Format - A complete set: Torah, Prophets, and Writings – Mikraot Gedolot – with the Targumim, the commentaries of Rashi, Ralbag, Ibn Ezra, Baal HaTurim, Radak, R. Saadia Gaon, and the Masorah. Printed by Zuan Di Gara, Venice, 5368 (1608) Large format – four volumes, each with its own title page. The printer Zuan Di Gara learned the craft of printing under the famed Daniel Bomberg, and later inherited Bomberg’s printing house. On the title page, Di Gara is described as “raised from youth in the house of the Bomberg.” Indeed, the layout of his title page follows closely the style of the Bomberg edition of 5277 (1517). Throughout the volumes appear numerous censorial erasures. A particularly impressive Tanach. New and elegant half-leather bindings, uniform (except for Volume I, which is slightly smaller than the rest). Provenance – Volume I: Torah On the title page appears the inscription: “Acquired with my money, the youth Menachem son of the honorable Rabbi Elhanan Kazis, of blessed memory.” Rabbi Menachem Kazis – one of the great rabbis of Italy in the seventeenth century. Born in 5402 (1642) in Mantua, a disciple of Rabbi Moshe Kazis and the Rama of Fano. He served as rabbi in Corfu, Modena, and Ferrara. He authored the work Shalom HaBayit on Torat HaBayit of the Rashba. The Chida cites his responsa in several works. See Chitzey Giborim X (pp. 455–456). Just beyond the title page appears a moving personal record, likely written by Rabbi Menachem’s father, Rabbi Elhanan Kazis: “לי״א היום יום ד׳ שבט השמ״ט פרש׳ אלקי אבי וארוממנהו חנן אלק׳ לי בן זכר תמים יהי רצון מלפניו יתברך ויתעלה שמו לגדלו ליראתו ולתלמוד תורתו ולזכות… לחופה ולמעשים טובים אכי״ר.” Then follows a second entry: “היום יום ד׳ ט״ו שבט השמ״ט פרשת ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש זכני ה׳ להכניס בני בכורי בבריתו של אברהם אבינו וקראתי שמו יוסף אלישע ה׳ ברחמיו יגדלהו לעבודה ולמעשים טובים ויאריך ימים בטוב ובנעימים ויזיי״א אכי״ר.” Other manuscript features in this volume include: • On folio 81b – a marginal note on the inner margin • On folio 184a – a correction in Rashi • In Parashat Shemini (folios 125–126) – interlinear translations of animal names into the local vernacular • Similarly, glosses on difficult words in Parashat Ha’azinu (folios 224–227) On the final leaf: A handwritten declaration that derogatory words about “idol-worshippers” do not refer to Christians. Also present are the signatures of well-known censors, including the convert Domenico Gerosolimitano, among others. Volume II On the title page appears the stamp: “This book belongs to Ezra Gimili.” After the title page, beneath the introductions of Radak and Ralbag, appears the name: “Moshe Sforno.” Volume III • On folio 445b – a note on the verse “ויגבה ה׳ צדקות” • On folio 464b – a correction written in Italian script • On folio 654b – a slip of paper containing preparation notes for a sermon in Hebrew and Italian for Parashat Noah – remarkably found on the very page containing the Haftarah of Parashat Noah. Volume IV On the title page – a stamp noting that the volume was donated to the Warsaw Rabbinic Council by …  in 1916. On the first page appears an ownership inscription: “Avram, that is Avraham, son of the honorable Rabbi Shabtai, of blessed memory, of the holy congregation…” At the end of the Book of Job (folio 818b) – a signature: “(נ״אום?) Yaakov son of the honorable Rabbi Yitzchak Segal, of the holy community of Lublin.” On the facing blank page: “I purchased this from my own funds for the honor of my Creator, Yonatan son of the late Rabbi Yaakov Koppel … presently residing in …” Bibliographic Details Volume I – Torah [6], 228, 8 leaves. At the end appear 8 leaves of Jerusalem Targum. New half-leather binding. Page trimming affecting some text, wormholes. Condition: fair–good. Volume II – Early Prophets [1], 234–441 leaves. New half-leather binding. Several repaired tears, wormholes. Condition: medium–good. Volume III – Later Prophets [1], 234–441 leaves. New half-leather binding. Numerous repaired tears, many wormholes. Condition: medium. Volume IV – Writings [1], 888–956; 7, [1]; 66 leaves. At the end again appear the 8 leaves of Jerusalem Targum. New half-leather binding. Repaired tears, wormholes. Condition: medium–good.