48 118 SABA, ABRAHAM. Tzeror Ha’mor [“A Bundle of Myrrh” - Kabbalistic commentary to the Pentateuch]. Second edition. Title within elaborate floral wreathed and garlanded architectural arch and with printer’s device (Yaari’s Printer’s Marks no. 16). Opening word of each Book within elaborate woodcut vignette. ff. 165. Dampstained, previous owner’s marks, signed by censor at end. Later speckled sheep, Valmadonna-custom gilt-titling on spine. Folio. [Vinograd, Venice 293.] Venice, Justinian-Adelkind, 1546. $1000 - $1500 ❧ The Author (c.1440-1508) was exiled in 1492 from his native Castille. No sooner did he find refuge in Oporto, Portugal, than King Emanuel ordered all Jews converted and all Hebrew books burned. Saba’s sons were forcibly baptized and his extensive library plundered. He escaped to Fez, Morocco, where he reconstructed this work from memory. See N.S. Libowitz, R. Avraham Saba U’Sepharav (1936); EJ, Vol. XIV, cols. 555-6. 119 SARDI, SAMUEL BEN ISAAC. Sefer HaTerumoth [code of commercial law]. FIRST EDITION. Title within garlanded arch with printer’s device (see Yaari, Hebrew Printers’ Marks no. 48). ff. 116. A made-up copy, paper repairs to many leaves, few silked, title from a slightly shorter copy, lower portion of which repaired and supplied in facsimile, f.2 soiled. Bound in Valmadonna- custom calf-backed marbled boards. Folio. [Vinograd, Salonika 143; Mehlman 792.] Salonika, Abraham ben Mattathias Bath-Sheva (Bassevi), 1596. $2000 - $2500 ❧ Rare first edition of the first Code of Jewish Law devoted exclusively to commercial law (Dinei Mamonoth). Sepher HaTerumoth is divided into 70 Gates, wherein each case is preceded by a discussion of the Talmudic source, thereafter, differing opinions are presented leading to the final decision taken. The author (c.1185-1255) was a disciple of Nachmanides, halachic queries addressed to his teacher are included here. According to the title-page, the sponsor of the work, “having borrowed money to acquire the tools of printing” was the celebrated Salonikan halachist R. Samuel de Medina (Maharashda’m). See EJ, Vol. V, col. 643; Vol. XIV, col. 875. 120 SHEM TOV IBN FALAQUERA. Sepher HaMevakesh [a rhymed dialogue of philosophical knowledge]. Second edition. ff. (8), 48. Stained. Contemporary mottled calf, rebacked and titled in gilt along spine. 8vo. [Vinograd, The Hague 8.] The Hague, Leib Soesmanns, 1778. $500 - $700 ❧ The Author (c.1225-95), was well versed in Greek and Islamic thought and rejected the notion that secular philosophy is inappropriate of study, an attitude he maintained stemmed from ignorance. Indeed Falaquera contended that the Greek philosophers derived their teachings from Jewish sources. A defender of Maimonides at the time of the anti-Maimonidean Controversy, Falaquera subscribed to the view first propounded in the Moreh Nevuchim, that it is the development of the intellect that leads to salvation. In this work, a young student, (“hamevakesh” - the seeker) debates the appropriate approach to intellectual pursuit. ACCOMPANIED BY: Another edition. pp. 104. [Vinograd, Koenigsberg, 195]. Koenigsberg, 1858. Lot 119 Lot 118 Lot 120