Auction 65 · Lot 88

… Sepher HaMussar [ethics]

Estimate: $1,000–$1,500
Hammer price: $1,500

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

author

KALATZ, JUDAH.

printer

Eliezer b. Gershom Soncino

Place

Constantinople

Publication

1536-37

Description

FIRST EDITION. Title within architectural arch.

references

Vinograd, Const. 159; Yaari, Const. 124; Mehlman 978; St. Cat. Bodl. 5693, 1 (ed. rara).

summary

An ethical work with both rationalistic and kabbalistic expositions. Contains chapters concerning social and commercial halacha. The author was a mystic and moralist who resided in Tlemcen, Algeria at the turn of the 15th-century. Concerning the Kalatz Family, see S. Z. Havlin, LeToldoth Mishpachath Al-Calatz, in Kiryat Sepher, Vol. 49, (1974) pp. 643-56. Havlin cites S. Schechter and H. Enelow, who opine that portions of the Sepher HaMussar were “adapted” from Israel Alnaqua’s Menorath HaMa’or.

ff. 136 (of 140), lacking the four leaves before the title containing an additional introduction from the author’s son. Scattered marginalia, several leaves supplied from another copy, slight worming in places, upper corners of first sections stained,marginal repair on a few leaves. Modern elegantly tooled calf. 4to.

Enquire about this lot