Bidspirit auction | Five Books of the Torah,

Five Books of the Torah, Five Megillot, and Haftarot for the Entire Year – Amsterdam, 1755–1756 Rare Edition in an Early Vellum Binding - Five Books of the Torah and the Five Megillot, followed by the Haftarot for the entire year according to both Ashkenazic and Sephardic custom. Amsterdam, 1755–1756. A handsome and uncommon small-format edition of the Pentateuch intended for daily use, comprising the Five Books of Moses, the Five Megillot, and the annual cycle of Haftarot. The edition includes an important feature prominently highlighted on the title page: the identification and enumeration of the 613 Commandments according to the sequence of the Torah portions. The title page of the Pentateuch bears the chronogram from the verse: “Lo Yamush Sefer HaTorah Hazeh MiPicha” (“This Book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth”) yielding the date 1756, while the separate title page of the Haftarot section bears the verse: “VeChatav Yashar Divrei Emet” (“And he wrote upright words of truth”) yielding the date 1755. Beyond the title page appears a particularly interesting liturgical poem by Rabbi Solomon de Oliveira, Av Beth Din of Amsterdam. Entitled “Rashum BeKetav Rosh Sidrei Torah, ” the poem is constructed so that each of its words alludes to one of the weekly Torah portions in sequence. First printed in Amsterdam in 1666, it reflects the literary creativity and pedagogical achievements of the Sephardic scholars of Amsterdam. At the conclusion of the Torah section are several practical appendices of considerable interest: A table of the Torah readings for the festivals. A guide to the joining and separation of weekly portions according to the annual calendar cycle. Psalms traditionally recited on each Sabbath corresponding to the weekly Torah portion. These additions were intended as useful tools for students, cantors, and members of the community, giving the edition a particularly practical and functional character. Affixed to the inside front cover is an ex-libris label of “Shatz K.K. Talmud Torah.” The editions of the Pentateuch printed in eighteenth-century Amsterdam are renowned for the quality of their printing, accurate vocalization, and elegant typography, and are considered among the finest achievements of Hebrew printing in the city. 154, [2]; 48 leaves. 13 cm. Very good condition. Gilt page edges. Age staining. Early vellum binding.