Chovoth HaLevavoth.

AUCTION 55 | Thursday, June 21st, 2012 at 1:00

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

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Lot 58

BACHIAH BEN JOSEPH IBN PAQUDA.

Chovoth HaLevavoth.

Translated into Hebrew by Judah Ibn Tibbon. Scholarly marginalia in an Italian hand especially on Sha’ar HaTeshuvah (ff. 66-68). ff. 103. Some staining in places, previous owners’ signature on title, censor’s signature on final leaf, closely shaved. Later calf-backed boards. Sm. 4to. Vinograd, Mantua 62.

Mantua: 1559

Est: $700 - $900

PRICE REALIZED $1,200

An attractive copy of this classic work, with new corrections plus seven leaves of indices to Bible and Talmudim. Throughout the ages, the book enjoyed wide popularity in a variety of circles, although in later centuries Eastern European Jews would shy away from the introductory Sha’ar HaYichud, which is of a decidedly philosophical nature, and focus instead on the remainder of the work, with its ethical guidance. USE FOR ANOTHER TIME: One of the “Tikkunimm” proposed by R. Ezekiel Landau, to a man who wished to rectify his acts of adultery, was to study the entire Chovoth Ha-levavoth except for the Shaar Ha-Yichud. See his famous responsum in Noda Be-Yehuda Part 1, no. 35,.