Auction 3 · Lot 41

Sepher Benyamin Ze’ev [responsa]

Estimate: $2,000–$2,500
Hammer price: $3,250

Historical auction record. Hammer prices exclude buyer’s premium and taxes.

author

BENJAMIN BEN MATTITHIAH (OF ARTA).

printer

Daniel Bomberg

Place

Venice

Publication

1539

Description

FIRST EDITION. The Samuel Schoenblum-Mayer Sulzberger copy

references

Vinograd, Venice 167; Mehlman 702; Habermann, Bomberg 161; not in Adams

summary

Of a somewhat disputatious nature, R. Benjamin issued this mammoth collection of 450 legal decisions largely as self-justification following a tendentious Halachic feud with David Hakohen of Corfu concerning Agunoth. The work contains a distinctly independent tone in its rulings. Its importance lies in the insight offered concerning the social conditions and religious life of the Jews in Asia Minor. See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Fredom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp. 155-56; M. Benayahu, Prolegomenon to the Responsa Benjamin Ze’ev (1989)

ff. 367, (2), 376-399, 399-575. Opening leaf starting, following few leaves stained, otherwise an uncommonly crisp copy. 19th-century half-morocco, rubbed. Thick 4to

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