Bidspirit auction | Early Yemenite Manuscript – Copy

Early Yemenite Manuscript – Copy of Rabbeinu Bachya’s Commentary on Sefer Bereishis and Sefer Shemos – Yemen, 1624 * An impressive and large volume containing approximately 600 handwritten pages in a large format, comprising a copy of Rabbeinu Bachya’s commentary on Sefer Bereishis and Sefer Shemos. Rabbeinu Bachya’s commentary on the Torah is one of the most well-known Torah commentaries ever written. There is virtually no Torah commentator who came after him who didn’t draw upon, cite, or incorporate his explanations and insights. The manuscript was likely copied from a printed edition, as was common with many sefarim produced in Yemen. Numerous marginal annotations were added throughout in a different handwriting. The scribe notes in a colophon on the final leaf: “Thus is completed the commentary on two books from the work of the distinguished rav, Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher, whose words are all marked by righteousness and integrity… Completed on Sunday, the twenty-first day of Marcheshvan, in the year 1624 [10/3/1624].” Copying such a substantial work by hand would likely have required many months of painstaking labor. Yemen, 1624. Page Count: Approx. [300] leaves, written on both sides. Size: 29.3 cm. Condition: Fair-good to good, typical for Yemenite manuscripts. Wear and tears to some leaves; several leaves have tears affecting the text, which were professionally repaired in an early period, with the missing text added. Marginal wear and stains. Fine new binding, with vellum spine and corners.