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Judaica and Hasidic Books and Manuscripts

Lot 3:

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Sforno on the Torah - Rare 1808 Lemberg Edition

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Start price: £150

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Description

Author: Rabbi Ovadia Sforno (רבי עובדיה ספורנו).

  • Notable Connection: This volume is a rare specimen from the Lemberg (לבוב) press of the early 19th century. Sforno’s commentary is one of the "classic" pillars of the Rabbinic Bible, favored for its philosophical depth and concise language. This edition is particularly unique as it is only the
    second printing of this work in the Lemberg region, making it a key target for collectors of Eastern European printing history. The title page features a magnificent woodcut ornament and the official censor’s stamp of Tomasz D.L..

    Decipherment of Handwritten Provenance:
    • The first leaf contains personal inscriptions that trace the book’s history through the Landes family in Kempen:
    • Hebrew: "This book belongs to… Phineas ben Leib…".
    • German: The 1874 entry is a heartfelt family record. It reads: "This book belongs to Julius Landes… it was given to him by his father [or relative]… in Kempen on March 13, 1863". It is signed by S. Ehrlich.

Condition report:

Binding: Modern dark professional binding featuring gold-tooled lettering on the spine reading "ספורנו" and "תקס"ח". 


Condition: The internal leaves show authentic aging with characteristic water stains. There are minor wormholes present on the last two pages of the volume.