Sepher HaRoke’ach [ethics, rabbinic law and custom].

ELEAZER BEN JUDAH OF WORMS.

(Gershom Soncino)

Fano

1505

FIRST EDITION. The Moses Gaster copy with his signature on title and last leaf. Formerly in the Gradenwitz Collection, London. Magnificent gilt-tooled polished calf with gilt dentelles by Sangorski & Sutcliffe (1954, receipt attached).

Vinograd, Fano 12; Mehlman 954; Haberman, Soncino 19; not in Adams

The first Hebrew Book to be printed with a title page. Gershom Soncino was perhaps the most prolific printer of his time, producing more than one hundred Hebrew titles and as many non-Hebrew texts (under the name Hieronymus Soncino). Regarding his years on the Adriatic coast in Fano, see M. Marx, Gershom Soncino’s Wanderyears in Italy, in HUCA Vol. XI (1936) pp. 457-59. The Author was an eclectic scholar with an oeuvre ranging from Halachah, Kabbalah, exegesis and piyut, he was the last major figure of the Chassidei Aschkenaz Movement. The present work follows the tradition of many of the works of the Ba`alei-Tosafot of France and Germany, geared toward educating the scholar in the specific details of Halachah as well as recommended Minhag and ritual. Entitled “Rokeach,” - whose numerical value equals that of the Author`s first name, Eleazar (=308).