Sepher Benyamin Ze’ev [responsa]

AUCTION 14 | Tuesday, November 13th, 2001 at 1:00

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

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Lot 63

BENJAMIN BEN MATTITHIAH (OF ARTA).

Sepher Benyamin Ze’ev [responsa]

FIRST EDITION. The Daniel Itzig Copy, with his stamps. ff. 366 (of 367), (2), 376-399, 399-575. Title provided in an old hand. Lightly browned, opening few leaves stained, censored in places, signed by censors at end. Contemporary blind-tooled vellum, remnants of clasps and hinges. Thick 4to. Vinograd, Venice 167; Mehlman 702; Habermann, Bomberg 161; not in Adams.

Venice: Daniel Bomberg 1539

Est: $1,500 - $2,000

PRICE REALIZED $1,200

Of a somewhat disputatious nature, R. Benjamin issued this mammoth collection of 450 legal decisions largely as self-justification following a tendentious Halachic feud with David Hakohen of Corfu concerning Agunoth. The work contains a distinctly independent tone in its rulings, but is often cited by Moses Isserles, thus ensuring for itself a permanent place in the annals of Halacha. Its’ historic importance lies in the insight offered concerning the social conditions and religious life of the Jews in Asia Minor. See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Fredom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp. 155-56; M. Benayahu, Prolegomenon to the Responsa Benjamin Ze’ev (1989)