(Gaon of Pumbeditha). Hamekach Vehamemkar [laws of torts and securities]

AUCTION 21 | Thursday, December 04th, 2003 at 1:00

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Lot 91

HAI BEN SHERIRA

(Gaon of Pumbeditha). Hamekach Vehamemkar [laws of torts and securities]

FIRST EDITION. Title within architectural arch ff. 97, (1). Few light stains in placs, scattered marginalia on first few leaves, generally a clean copy. Contemporary vellum. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Venice 950; Habermann, di Gara 214

Venice: Giovanni di Gara 1602

Est: $600 - $900

PRICE REALIZED $1,300

the earliest classic of commercial law. A code of practice for Jewish merchants by R. Hai Gaon, who was the last of the great Geonim of Mesopotamia. The work became a classic of commercial literature. Included as an appendix, is a brief formulary for contracts which is probably the most ancient in existence. It includes a “Sepher Mashcon” (Contract of Loan) which shows the methods of Jewish money-lenders