Sepher Ha’Agudah [Halachic compendium arranged in order of the tractates of the Talmud]

AUCTION 51 | Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Graphic & Ceremonial Art Including: The Alfonso Cassuto Collection of Iberian Books, Part II

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Lot 66

ALEXANDER SUESSLIN HAKOHEN OF FRANKFURT

Sepher Ha’Agudah [Halachic compendium arranged in order of the tractates of the Talmud]

FIRST EDITION. Title within elaborate architectural arch. Letters of initial words in vignettes. A wide margined copy. As stated on the opening blank: “From the Library of HaGaon R. Shmuel Mohilever” (see below) ff. 4, 250. Some staining, slight marginal worming in places, opening few leaves remargined. Later gilt-stamped calf backed patterned boards, rubbed. Folio Vinograd, Cracow 32

Cracow: Isaac Prostitz 1571

Est: $2,000 - $2,500

The Sepher Ha’Agudah is a widely-popular, authoritative Code, cited extensively by R. Jacob HaLevi Moellin (Mahari”l) and R. Moses Isserles (Ram”a). It was published from a manuscript with corrections supplied by Joseph HaKohen (author of responsa She’erith Yoseph and brother-in-law of the Ram”a). The author of Sepher Ha’Agudah (d. 1348), was a disciple of R. Isaac of Dueren and served as rabbi in Cologne, Worms and Frankfurt. See EJ, Vol. II, cols. 585-6 (incl. facsimile) R. Samuel Mohilever (1824-98) was an outstanding student of the famed Volozhin Yeshiva and grew to be considered as one of the great rabbis of Russia. He was the founder of Chovevei Zion, the very first organization to espouse what was to become the Religious Zionist Movement. See EJ, Vol. XII, cols. 217-219; Leo Jung (ed.) Men of the Spirit (1964) pp. 415-36