Sepher Haroke’ach [ethics, rabbinic law and custom]

AUCTION 25 | Monday, October 25th, 2004 at 1:00
Important Hebrew Printed Books: The Property of a Gentleman

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Lot 11
ELEAZER BEN JUDAH OF WORMS.

Sepher Haroke’ach [ethics, rabbinic law and custom]

FIRST EDITION ff.110 including final blank. Lightly browned and stained in places, previous owners signatures on title and final blank, small worm-hole on title affecting portion of a single letter. Censors signature on last leaf. Modern calf. Folio Vinograd, Fano 12; Mehlman 954; not in Adams

Fano: (Gershom Soncino) 1505

Est: $15,000 - $20,000
PRICE REALIZED $26,000
The first Hebrew Book to be printed with a title page. Gershom Soncino was perhaps the most prolific printer of his time, producing more than one hundred Hebrew titles and as many non-Hebrew texts (under the name Hieronymus Soncino). Regarding Soncino’s years on the Adriatic coast in Fano, see M. Marx, Gershom Soncino’s Wanderyears in Italy, in HUCA Vol. XI (1936) pp. 457-59. Renowned as a Tosafist, Eleazar of Worms was the last major figure of the Chassidei Aschkenaz Movement. According to legend, by exercising the esoteric conjointment of the Hebrew alphabet, R. Eleazer was transported by cloud to Spain to acquaint Nachmanides with the mysteries of the Kabbalah. See I. Zinberg, A History of Jewish Literature (1973), vol. III, p.24 The present work is entitled “Rokeach,”because its numerical value equals the value of the Author's name