Bidspirit auction | Unique, Singular Edition Printing: Maseches

Unique, Singular Edition Printing: Maseches Megillah, Amsterdam, 1709 * Maseches Megillah in large format, with Rashi and Tosfos, the Masores HaShas and Ein Mishpat. At the end are Piskei Tosfos, Rosh, and a summary of the Piskei HaRosh. This is a special edition in which only this maseches was printed, without additional masechtos! Printings of individual masechtos were usually made in order to allow the purchase of a single sefer of Gemara, not as part of the entire Shas (for those of limited means), or for yeshiva students who were all learning the same maseches at the same time and thus required multiple copies. The renowned Talmudic scholar Rabbi Nosson Nota Rabinowitz does not mention this edition in his foundational sefer Ma'amar al Hadpasat HaTalmud. Mention of this edition was added only in the edition with notes by A.M. Habermann, Jerusalem 1952, page 227. The Gemara is bound in an antique leather and wood binding with functioning metal clasps (partially restored). On the front cover is a gilt-stamped inscription: ”Avraham di [=ben] Yosef di Matos” — apparently one of the dignitaries of the Portuguese community in Amsterdam in the mid-18th century, who is mentioned as a supporter of the printing of the sefer Mishmeros Kehunah, Amsterdam 1753. Amsterdam, 1709. Printed by Moshe Mendes Coutinho. Page Count: 39 leaves. Size: large format: 31.5 cm. Condition: Good, signs of use, wear and tears at the edges of some leaves. Fine antique binding, professionally restored at the spine and part of the cover.