Olath Yitzchak [Jewish laws in the interogatory “heichi timtza”style]

AUCTION 23 | Tuesday, March 30th, 2004 at 1:00

Hebrew Printed Books & Manuscripts from The Rare Book Room of the Jews College Library, London The Third Portion

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Lot 127

ISAAC BEN JOSHUA

Olath Yitzchak [Jewish laws in the interogatory “heichi timtza”style]

FIRST EDITION. Title within historiated woodcut architectural border, including Priestly hands flanked by rampant lions (Yaari’s Printers Marks no. 38). With interesting, former owners inscription by Yehudah Leib b. Moshe of Zelichov, presenting this volume to his newly born grandson ff. (14), 9-12, 21-68. LIghtly browned, stained in places, last leaf supplied from another copy. Boards worn. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Prague 145; Mehlman 830

Prague: n. p. 1606

Est: $1,000 - $1,500

PRICE REALIZED $2,000

An unusual, novel collection of 843 riddles and problems covering the entire gamut of Jewish law. The style of riddle is often cryptic, involving lateral thinking. For example, riddle no. 732, based on Ba’al Hatrumoth, asks: ”If one has witnesses as to his actions, he loses - without witnesses, he wins.” Riddle no. 832, based on Reishith Chochmah, asks: “When should a scholar not be “tocho ke’baro” - his inside should not be as his outer appearance (two-faced).” Arranged in order of Talmudic Tractates and later Codifiers, with an index of some one hundred subjects