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

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

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Lot 25
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 ff. ff. 62; 56; 34; 71; (9). Stained in places, margins of title page and first five leaves repaired. Previous owner’s inscription on title. Censor’s signature on final leaf. Modern morocco. Folio Vinograd, Venice 553; Adams J-339

Venice: Giorgio di Cavalli 1567

Est: $12,000 - $15,000
PRICE REALIZED $16,000
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; the present 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; “the printers’ mark of Cavalli, the elephant bearing a castle, and its significant motto may be interpreted to indicate how the times were changing. 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