Collection of Rare Incunables Leaves Printed in Italy, Portugal and Constantinople
31 Separate Leaves from Rare Incunables Printed in Italy, Portugal and Constantinople.
During the incunable period of the Hebrew press between the years 1469-1500, only a total of 150-200 book titles were printed. These books are extremely rare; many of them have few if any surviving copies. Some of them are documented based on relics of single leaves, which is all that survived. These folios from the earliest prints are in high demand by major world libraries and private collectors.
These printed pages are priceless relics that survived over 500 years of book-burnings, persecutions, and exiles!
Several of the leaves in the present collection were printed in Portugal, just before the expulsion of Jews from the country, and they have supreme historical value.
The collection includes:
1) 1 leaf from the Radak’s Sefer Hashorashim which was printed in
Rome by the Ovadia, Menashe and Binyamin of Rome Press between the years 1469-1473. This sefer was printed in large format and was one of the very first Hebrew books ever printed.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunables #i-65.
2) 8 leaves from Tur Yoreh Deah, printed in
Ishar, Spain by the Eliezer El-Anthansy Press in 1487. These leaves contain the entire index of Tur Yoreh Deah.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunables #i-42.
3) 4 leaves from Chovos Helevavos by Rabbeinu Bechaye ben Yosef Ibn Pekudah printed in
Naples, 1489
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunables #i-55.
4) 6 leaves from Sefer Ha’Agur by Rabbi Yaakov Landau. This sefer was printed in
Naples, in the Yosef Gontzenheiser Press, circa 1490.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunables #i-53.
5) 2 leaves from Sefer Kol Bo, printed in
Italy, circa 1490.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunables #i-50.
6) 2 leaves, one of them a title page for Sefer Vayikrah with a bordered design, from Rabbenu Bechaya’s commentary on the Torah. This sefer was printed in
Naples by Ezriel ben Yosef Gontzenheiser Press, in 1492.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunables #i-33.
7) 6 leaves from Tur Choshen Mishpat printed in
Constantinople by the David and Shmuel ben Nahmiash Press in 1493.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunables #i-40.
8) 2 leaves from Tur Orach Chaim printed in
Leiria, Portugal by the Shmuel Dortash Press in 1495.
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunables #i-44.
A total of 31 leaves of assorted sizes, most complete and in decent condition, and a few in poorer condition.
Provenance: Yechezkel Toporowitch Collection
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