36 83 LEVI BEN GERSHON (GERSONIDES / RaLBa”G). Milchamoth Hashem [“Wars of the Lord”: philosophy]. FIRST EDITION. Title within ornamental border and featuring device of Cardinal Madrucci, the patron of the printing enterprise (see Amram pp. 296-97; Yaari, Hebrew Printers’ Marks, no. 28, facsimile of title in EJ, Vol. XI, col. 93). ff. 75. Title remargined. Bound in Valmadonna-custom deep cherry morocco, spine in compartments, titled on spine in gilt. Housed in fitted slip-case. Folio. [Vinograd, Riva di Trento 20.] Riva di Trento, Jacob Marcaria, 1560. $1500 - $2000 ❧ Levi ben Gershom (1288-1344), a native of Languedoc in the south of France, was a polymath, excelling in the fields of Biblical exegesis, philosophy, mathematics and astronomy and was likely the last distinguished Aristotelian not only in the Jewish world, but in all of Medieval Europe. Milchamoth Hashem analyzes philosophical matters pertaining to the immortality of the Soul, the nature of prophecy, Divine omniscience and providence, the nature of the heavenly spheres and the question of the eternity of matter. For an analysis of Gersonides’ inquires found in Milchamoth Hashem alongside a critical comparison to Aristotle’s beliefs, see I. Zinberg, A History of Jewish Literature, Vol. III, pp. 129-39; see also G. Freudenthal (Ed.) Studies on Gersonides: A Fourteenth-Century Jewish Philosopher-Scientist (1992). 80 LANDAU, JACOB. Sepher Agur [laws and precepts]. Second edition. Title within architectural arch. Initial letters of opening word within white-on-black decorative woodcut vignettes. This copy contains the rare final four leaves of riddles (Sepher Chazon) following the index. Few marginal notes. ff. 102. Foliated in recent red ink, dampstained, title, laid down. Bound in Valmadonna-custom blind-tooled chestnut calf, spine titled in gilt. Sm. 4to. [Vinograd, Rimini 6.] Rimini, Gershom Soncino, 1526. $5000 - $7000 ❧ GERSHOM SONCINO’S ISSUE OF A FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT CODE OF HALACHAH. The final Halachic Code composed by a German Rabbinic scholar prior to the compilation of the Shulchan Aruch. The Sepher Agur follows the order of the Tur and contains 1,439 sections, primarily focusing upon ritual, the laws of the Sabbath and the Festivals. The author’s purpose was to add the decisions of the later German scholars, such as Jacob Moelin and Israel Isserlein, which had been omitted by Jacob ben Asher’s Tur.” Lot 81 Lot 80 81 LANDAU, JACOB. Sepher Agur [Halachic Code]. Another edition. Printer’s device on title-page. WITH THE RARE FINAL FOUR LEAVES (Sepher Chazon) usually lacking from all other copies. Title page with signatures and inscriptions, one of which is dated 1595. ff. 132, (4). Stained. Bound in Valmadonna-custom blind-tooled chestnut calf, spine titled in gilt. Sm. 4to. [Vinograd, Venice 261.] Venice, Cornelio Adelkind for Marco Antonio Giustiniani, 1546. $1000 - $1500 82 LEON, JACOB JUDAH (TEMPLO). Tavnith Heichal - Libellus Effigiei Templi Salomanis. FIRST HEBREW EDITION. Separate Hebrew and Latin titles. Followed by a Hebrew translation of the Privileges granted by the United Dutch Provinces. ff. (2), 4-38. Few leaves stained. Bound in Valmadonna-custom full morocco. Sm. 4to. [Vinograd, Amsterdam 179 (unseen); Fuks, Amsterdam 266 (“there exist different copies with somewhat different contents and foliation”).] Amsterdam, Marcus Levi, 1650. $500 - $700 ❧ Treatise on the exterior, interior and ritual objects of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. Lot 82 Lot 83