Auction 109 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Megillot and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Mishnah Etz Chaim by Rabbi Yaakov Chagiz – Livorno, 1653-1656 – Six-Volume Set – First Edition
Opening: $800
Sold for: $2,750
Including buyer's premium
Six orders of the Mishnah, with commentary of Rashi and Etz HaChaim, by R. Yisrael Yaakov Chagiz. Livorno: Yedidiah son of R. Yitzchak Gabbai, author of Kaf Nachat, 1653-1656. Six volumes.
First edition, printed by the author, R. Yaakov Chagiz, shortly before his immigration to Eretz Israel and establishing his famed yeshiva in Jerusalem. Only the first part (Seder Zeraim) had previously been printed in Verona, 1650, but the full set was first printed in the present edition.
In the colophon at the end of Seder Kodashim, R. Yaakov Chagiz expresses his hope to immigrate to Eretz Israel.
On title page of Seder Moed, ownership inscription: "Yitzchak Michael Zalman of Lugo"; on last leaf of volume, his signature in calligraphic rabbinic script. [Yitzchak Michael Zalman was apparently a member of the Treves family of Lugo].
On title page of Seder Nezikin: various stamps, and a handwritten non-Hebrew inscription dated to 1687.
On last leaf of Seder Kodashim, censorship inscription dated 1775.
At top of title page of Seder Taharot, inscription (faded): "…[?] of Fano".
Six volumes. Zeraim: 24; 175 leaves. Moed: 284 leaves. Nashim: 2-223 leaves. Title page lacking (with photocopy replacement). Nezikin: 302 leaves. Leaf 116 appears twice. Kodashim: 79, 81-272. Lacking leaf 80. Taharot: 368 leaves. 15.5-16 cm. Varying condition of volumes, good-fair to fair. Stains, including dampstains (many stains to some volumes). Wear. Worming, affecting text (much worming to third volume). Tears and open tears, affecting text in several places, partially repaired with paper. New bindings (uniform), with leather spines.
One of the first books printed in Livorno.
The first Hebrew press in Livorno was founded in 1650 by Yedidiah Gabbai, son of R. Yitzchak Gabbai, author of the Kaf Nachat commentary on the Mishnah. It was active for only nine years, and Hebrew printing in Livorno was resumed only 82 years later. Yedidiah Gabbai's son Avraham immigrated to Izmir, where he established its first printing press; the Gabbai family press later moved to Salonika.
The end of Seder Taharot, like other books printed by the family, features three crowns (resembling the printer's device of Bragadin in Venice), with a caption playing on the Gabbai family name: "There are three crowns, and the crown of a good reputation is superior to them (Gabeihem)".
Books Printed in Livorno – 18th-19th Centuries
Books Printed in Livorno – 18th-19th Centuries