(The Elder). Lev Avoth [commentary to Ethics of the Fathers, with text].

Estimate

$1,200–$1,800

Hammer price

$1,700

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

author

HALEVI, SHLOMO BEN YITZHAK

printer

(Joseph Ya’avetz)

Place

Salonika

Publication

1565

Description

FIRST EDITION. Early notations, censor’s signatures.

references

Vinograd, Salonika 66.

summary

One of the earliest complete commentaries to the Pirkei Avoth. A member of the Portuguese Bet HaLevi family, the author was born in Salonika. After a short period serving as rabbi of Uskub, Yugoslavia, he returned to his hometown, where his devotion to communal service earned him the appellation “HaZaken.” See EJ II, col. 85-6. In the introduction, the author states he completed the first draft of this work aged 21 to commemorate his engagement to be married and subsequently read parts of it to his bride. He revised it ten years later and although "old age has set in, it is not due to physical labor but purely from the toil in Torah study."

ff. 128. Stained, few upper corners soiled and repaired without loss. Modern calf. 4to.

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