Sepher Benyamin Ze’ev [responsa]

Estimate

$3,000–$5,000

Hammer price

$3,000

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. A wide-margined copy.

references

Vinograd, Venice 167; Mehlman 702.

summary

Of importance due to the insight offered concerning the social conditions and religious life of the Jews in Asia Minor. See M. Carmilly-Weinberger, Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Jewish History (1977) pp. 155-56; M. Benayahu, Prolegomenon to the Responsa Benjamin Ze’ev (1989). 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. Despite the distinctly independent tone in its rulings, the work was often cited by R. Moses Isserles (the ReM”A), thus assuring its place of permanence in the annals of Halacha.

ff. 367, (2), 376-399, 399-575. Signature of former owners on title, scattered marginalia, light staining in places, occasional worming (repaired), opening and closing leaf expertly remargined. Modern calf. Thick 4to.

Enquire about this lot