22 44 ELIEZER BEN NATHAN. Even Ha’Ezer - Sepher RABa”N [responsa, Halachic novellae and discourses]. FIRST EDITION. Title within magnificent historiated woodcut border incorporating printer’s device (Yaari, Printer’s Marks, no. 37). Signature of Dr. Michael Sachs on title-page. ff. 154. Browned, fore-edges stained. Bound in Valmadonna-custom blind- tooled crushed morocco, outer edges gilt. Folio. [Vinograd, Prague 186.] Prague, Moses ben Bezalel Katz, 1610. $1000 - $1500 ❧ This work contributes much to our knowledge of the state of scholarship and way of life of the Jews of France, Bulgaria and especially Germany in the 12th century. A native of Mainz, the author (c. 1090-1170) was an important and well known figure of his age. See M. J. Heller, The Seventeenth Century Hebrew Book, Vol. I, pp. 256-7. 45 EPHRAIM (SOLOMON) OF LUNTSCHYTZ. Oleloth Ephraim [sermons for festivals and other occasions]. Second edition. Marginal notations. Flap at end with photographic images of the British Library copy. ff. 178 (of 180) opening two leaves supplied in facsimile. Browned and stained, few leaves with paper repairs, trace wormed. Bound in Valmadonna-custom morocco-backed marbled boards, Sm. folio. [Vinograd, Prague 281.] Prague, Abraham Heide, 1619. $300 - $500 46 FANO, MENACHEM AZARIAH DA. Asarah Ma’amaroth [kabbalah]. With commentary “Yoel Moshe” by Moses ben Solomon Halevi of Frankfurt. DELUXE COPY, PRINTED ON BLUE PAPER. Title within architectural arch. FIRST EDITION of commentary. ff. 158. Few stains, several leaves laid to size, some loss on few initial leaves and the final leaf. Bound in Valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. 4to. [Vinograd, Amsterdam 160.] Amsterdam, Judah ben Mordechai, 1649. $600 - $900 ❧ RARE, BIBLIOPHILIC EDITION. PRINTED ON BLUE PAPER. See Treasures of the Valmadonna Trust Library - Otzroth Ya’akov, Colored Paper no. 27. The author (1548-1620) of a well-to-do banking family in Bologna, Italy, was initially a follower of the Cordoverian system of Kabbalah but afterward, under the influence of the elusive R. Israel Sarug, switched his allegiance to the Lurianic school. The propagation of Kabbalah emanating from Safed into Europe was largely due to R. Menachem’s prolific efforts. See Robert Bonfil, New Information on Rabbi Menahem Azariah da Fano and his Age, in: Studies in the History of Jewish Society in the Middle Ages and in the Modern Period [Jacob Katz Festschrift] (1980) pp. 98-135. Lot 46 Lot 44