Auction 11 · Lot 61

Olath Yitzchak [Jewish laws in the interogatory style]

Estimate: $700–$1,000
Hammer price: $1,200

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

author

ISAAC BEN JOSHUA

printer

n.p.

Place

Prague

Publication

1606

Description

FIRST EDITION. Title within historiated woodcut architectural border, including Priestly hands flanked by rampant lions (Yaari’s Printers Marks no. 38)

references

Vinograd, Prague 145; Mehlman 830

summary

An unusual, novel collection of 843 riddles and problems covering the entire gamut of Jewish law. The style of riddle is often cryptic, involving lateral thinking. For example, riddle no. 732, based on Ba’al Hatrumoth, asks: ”If one has witnesses as to his actions, he loses - without witnesses, he wins.” Riddle no. 832, based on Reishith Chochmah, asks: “When should a scholar not be “tocho ke’baro” - his inside should not be as his outer appearance (two-faced).” Arranged in order of Talmudic Tractates and later Codifiers, with an index of some one hundred subjects.

ff. (14), 9-12, 21-68. LIghtly browned, stained in places, neat marginal repairs to last two leaves. Contemporary vellum, worn. Sm. 4to

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