<p><span style="color:#9C0000"><strong>(TALMUD, BABYLONIAN).</strong></span></p> <p><br /></p> <p>Masechta Bechoroth. </p> <p>With commentaries including Rashi, Tosaphoth and Rabbeinu Asher (Ro’sh).</p> <p><br /></p> <p><span style="color:#9C0000"><strong>FIRST BOMBERG EDITION. </strong></span></p> <p><br />First word of Tractate within decorative vignette. Signature on title-page of R. Chaim(?) Alfandari, with marginalia in the same and many other hands throughout. Also bears signature of R. Elia Franzis. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>ff. 69. Mispaginated in places, as all copies. Trimmed, some staining, final leaf with upper corner removed affecting text supplied in manuscript. Modern boards. Folio. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Vinograd, Venice 55. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Venice, Daniel Bomberg, 1522.</p> <p><br /></p> <p> Daniel Bomberg’s editions of 1520-23 formed the edito princeps of the Babylonian Talmud setting the standard pagination and layout to which almost all subsequent editions adhered: A section of the Mishnah text followed by its Gemara, the commentary of Rashi on the inner margin and that of the Tosaphists on the outer. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>The uniformity of pages in all published editions was of great practical use to Talmud scholars, creating a standard for reference citation and serving as a symbol of the unity of the Jewish people which Talmud study across the ages has enhanced. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>Rabbinovicz commented on the aesthetic quality of the famed Bomberg Talmud: “The paper is exquisite, the letters black and vibrant, and the margins between [the commentaries of] Rashi, Tosaphoth and the Talmud broad - subsequent editions never matched up to its beauty.” See Ma’amar al Hadfasath HaTalmud, p.41.</p>