Bidspirit auction | Minchat Shai. Mantua, 1742–1744. First

Minchat Shai. Mantua, 1742–1744. First Edition. Complete and Impressive Set in Original Leather Bindings. - First edition of the celebrated foundational work Minchat Shai, one of the most important and authoritative books devoted to establishing the accurate text of the Hebrew Bible—its words, letters, cantillation marks, vowels, defective and plene spellings, and rules of grammar—by the gaon Rabbi Yedidiah Shlomo Norzi, one of the rabbis of Mantua. Minchat Shai was accepted throughout the Jewish world as the supreme authority on the correct biblical text, vocalization, and cantillation, and became a cornerstone reference for printers, scribes, grammarians, and students of Scripture. The Chatam Sofer writes in a responsum (Yoreh De’ah, siman 274): “The book Minchat Shai is that upon which all my teachers relied, and it is accepted and renowned among the sages of Sepharad.” Especially Magnificent Edition Before us is a complete and handsome set, comprising four parts in three volumes, each part with two title pages, for a total of eight title pages. The first title page of each part is richly illustrated, constructed from nine miniature panels containing splendid engravings of biblical scenes, including: Moses holding the Tablets of the Covenant The Splitting of the Red Sea King David playing the harp The Battle of Joshua The Judgment of Solomon Daniel in the Lions’ Den The Vision of the Dry Bones Ahasuerus and Esther The second title page is printed partly in black and red ink, in the style of deluxe books of the period. Contents of the Set Part I – Five Books of Moses (with the Five Megillot): [4], 136, 141–142 leaves. Parts II–III – Prophets: Former Prophets – [2], 88 leaves. Latter Prophets – [2], 98, [1] leaves. Part IV – Writings: [2], 54; 51, [2], 5 leaves. 26 cm. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 523. Before us is a foundational set for the world of biblical scholarship, one of the essential books of every serious Torah library, preserved in especially attractive condition and retaining its original bindings. Condition: Very good. Age stains. Original leather bindings.