Auction 1 - Rare Hebrew Books, Manuscripts & Rabbinic Letters
Lot 21:
Description
Second edition of Midrash Tanchuma, called Yelamdenu, one of the foundational collections of homiletic midrash on the Torah. The 1545 Venice printing belongs to Bomberg’s great project of making core rabbinic literature widely available in reliable printed form. This specific recension of Midrash Tanchuma is heavily intertwined with the lost, ancient Midrash Yelammedenu, named for the distinctive opening legal formula “Yelammedenu rabbenu” (“Teach us, our master”) used by congregational preachers.
This copy contains censorship markings and expurgations throughout. The final leaf bears the signature of a censor, apparently dated 1616, followed by several words yet to be deciphered, possibly in Hebrew. Several leaves have been reinforced. The bottom of the text block is slightly separated toward the middle of the volume, but remains held within the binding.
Condition: Several leaves including first two leaves are reinforced; censorship throughout; full vellum 18th century binding.
Reference: Vinograd Venice 243 and Habermann Bomberg 177 for this edition.
Provenance: The collection of Abraham Lieberman, Flatbush, Brooklyn NY
Opening price: $1500
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