Bidspirit auction | “Like Him There Was None

“Like Him There Was None Before” – The Five Books of the Torah, with the Precise Emendations of the Minchat Shai. First Printing – Mantua, 1742 [תק”ב]. - Chamisha Chumshei Torah, with the Five Megillot and Haftarot according to the customs of Ashkenazim, Sephardim, and Italians. Includes the Haftarah for Tisha B’Av with Targum and an extended commentary in Ladino. Mantua, 1742. The text was carefully emended by the Gaon Rabbi Yedidya Shlomo Norzi, author of Minchat Shai, regarded as one of the supreme authorities on the precise Masoretic text, vocalization, cantillation, and variant traditions of Tanach. The Chatam Sofer wrote (Shu”t Yoreh De’ah §75): “The book Minchat Shai is that upon which all my teachers relied, and it is established and renowned among the sages of Sepharad.” This is the first edition of the Chumash with Haftarot revised by the Minchat Shai! (In the same year, a complete 24-book Tanach was also published with the notes and additions of the Minchat Shai.) Bound at the beginning: a rare and beautiful engraved plate depicting Jacob’s dream of the ladder, with angels ascending and descending upon it. Collation: [2], 96; 38 ff. Size: 25.4 cm. Condition: Fair–Good. Signs of use, stains, edge wear. A few leaves partially detached. Handsome new leather binding. A landmark edition, the very first Chumash with Haftarot meticulously emended according to the authoritative glosses of the Minchat Shai.