Bidspirit auction | Collection of 3 Foundational Midrash

Collection of 3 Foundational Midrash Sefarim Venice, 1544-1565 Extremely rare! * Three foundational works in four volumes: Yalkut Shimoni, two volumes; Ein Yaakov (Volume I); and Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer. The three sefarim are second editions, whose first printings appeared in Constantinople or Salonika during the 1510s–1520s and are virtually unobtainable, even for a great sum of money. The Ein Yaakov volume offered here is exceptionally rare, and to the best of Zaidy's knowledge, has not appeared in a public auction before! The overwhelming majority of copies of this edition of Ein Yaakov were likely destroyed during the notorious burnings of the Talmud. Signatures and glosses appear throughout all volumes, some of them early ones. On the title page of the second part of Yalkut Shimoni are signatures of Rabbanim from the Baruch family, apparently relatives of the author of Shiltei Giborim: Rabbi Shmaya Baruch, Rabbi Yehuda Baruch, and Rabbi Gavriel Baruch. Details of Volumes: A. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer – an early midrash attributed to the holy Tanna Rabbi Eliezer ben Horkanus. Venice 1544. Second edition. Printed by: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara and brothers. Page Count: 50 leaves. Size: 20.3 cm (some leaves are smaller: 19 cm). Bibliography: Stefansky Sifrei Yesod, no. 131, in notes. B. Ein Yaakov, Part I (of two) – Aggados of Chazal from the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud by Rabbi Levi ben Chaviv. This volume is extremely rare!! Venice 1546. Second edition. Printed by: Justinian. Page Count: 221 leaves. Bibliography: Stefansky Sifrei Yesod, no. 136, in notes. C. Yalkut HaTorah – Yalkut Shimoni, a midrash on the Torah and Nevi’im and Kesuvim, attributed to Rabbeinu Shimon, leading darshan of Frankfurt. Venice, 1565. Second edition. Two volumes. Printed by: Bragadin. Page Count: Vol. I: 313, [1] leaf. Vol. II: 190 leaves. Vol. I contains important Ashkenazic glosses from around the 1540s; Vol. II has approximately ten glosses in Italian script, one signed with initials. Bibliography: Stefansky Sifrei Yesod, no. 134, in notes. A total of three sefarim in four volumes. Various sizes; in some volumes, several leaves are smaller than the rest. Overall condition: fair — detached leaves and various defects (with text lacking only on a few individual leaves). Sold as is; the grouping of the sefarim into a single lot reflects their physical condition. Please see photos before placing a bid. Additional photos are available upon request.