Shulchan Aruch [Code of Jewish Law]

AUCTION 54 | Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 185

KARO, JOSEPH.

Shulchan Aruch [Code of Jewish Law]

Second edition. Four parts in one volume. Four title pages. Printers device on titles (Yaari no. 31). Title letters within decorative woodcut border-piece. Marginalia. ff. 61; 57; 34; 71. Few corners, opening and closing leaf with paper repairs, some dampstaining, signatures of censors on final leaf with few passages censored. Modern elaborately blind-tooled morocco. Folio. Vinograd, Venice 552.

Venice: Giovanni Griffio 1567

Est: $10,000 - $12,000

A digest of the expansive Beith Yoseph, the Shulchan Aruch (“Prepared Table”) was 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. In 1567, two editions were issued simultaneously; one printed by Giovanni Griffio, and the other at the House of Cavalli. For details regarding these early printings of the Shulchan Aruch, see R. Margolioth, Sinai, Vol. XXXVII (1955), pp. 25-35, and R. Y. Nissim in Sinai, Sepher Yovel (1958), pp. 29-39. The Cavalli edition of the Shulchan Aruch was sold by Kestenbaum & Company, Sale 25, Lot 25.