Shulchan Aruch [Code of Jewish Law]. Four parts in one volume.

AUCTION 12 | Tuesday, March 13th, 2001 at 1:00

Important Hebrew Printed Books and Manuscripts From the Library of the London Beth Din

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Lot 169

KARO, JOSEPH

Shulchan Aruch [Code of Jewish Law]. Four parts in one volume.

Second edtion. Title letters within decorative woodcut vignettes, opening word of each section within decorative woodcut border-piece incorporating printers’ device (cf. Yaari no. 33). Printers’ device on title (Yaari no. 32). With the signature and marginal annotations of R. Samuel Schotten Ha’kohen (the MaHaRSHaSHa”CH), author of Kos Yeshuoth (Frankfurt am Main, 1711) ff. ff. 62; 56; 34; 71; (9). Stained in places, scattered marginalia, previous owner’s inscription on title. Recent roan-backed boards. Folio Vinograd, Venice 553; Adams J-339

Venice: Giorgio di Cavalli 1567

Est: $5,000 - $7,000

PRICE REALIZED $14,000

A digest of the expansive Beith Yoseph, the Shulchan Aruch (“Prepared Table”) so named by Karo to indicate that he had prepared the material in a manner ready to be consumed immediately. It became the Rabbinic Code par excellence. Two editions were issued simultaneously; one at the House of Cavalli and the other at that of Giovanni Griffio. For details regarding the first printings of the Shulchan Aruch, see: R. Margoliot, in Sinai, Vol. 37 (1955) pp. 25-35 and R. Y. Nissim in Sinai Sepher Yovel (1958) pp. 29-39. Amram speculates that; “[t]he printers’ mark of Cavalli, the elephant bearing a castle, and its significant motto may be interpreted to indicate how the times were changed. The elephant marches “tarde sed tuto,” slowly but surely, like the march of Enlightenment that led man out of the darkness of the Middle Ages.” See: D. Amram, The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy (1963) p. 349.