Bidspirit auction | Kushta Reish. Ben HaMelech V’Hanazir.

Kushta Reish. Ben HaMelech V’Hanazir. Kushta 1518. First Edition. Rare! * Stories and parables conveying lessons of wisdom and mussar presented in the form of a conversation between a king who is absorbed in worldly pursuits and a nazir who abstains from all pleasures of the world. This sefer is an exceedingly rare and valuable find. In the National Library in Jerusalem there is one copy that is incomplete (13 leaves), and another copy that is defective. Ben HaMelech V’Hanazir is a timeless treasure of mussar and philosophy that was translated into Lashon Hakodesh in a newly edited form, with additions, by Rabbi Avraham HaLevi Chasdai HaNasi, one of the sages of Spain in the early 13th century. The sefer was enthusiastically received in all Jewish communities and appeared in numerous additions. Gedolei Yisrael, both Rishonim and Achronim such as the Meiri, the Vilna Gaon, and Chassidic greats studied and quoted from Rabbi Avraham Chasdai’s words of wisdom. The printing year and place appear in the colophon: “The work was completed, a beautiful, heavenly work, pure and refined seven times – Ben HaMelech V’Hanazir – and it was completed on the second day of the month of Nissan in the year “You are blessed” (1518) in the great city of Constantinople, which is under the kingdom of our master and king His Highness Sultan Salim, may his kingdom endure in his days, and in our days may Judah and Israel be redeemed and dwell in peace and fear of G-d.” Constantinople, 1518. First edition. Page count: [56] leaves. Size: 19.5 cm. The title page is surrounded by a woodcut-decorated border. Condition: Stains, mostly light ones; on leaf [57b] a darker stain. Minor margin repairs and small restorations. New leather binding. Bibliography: Yaari, Constantinople no. 57; Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, p. 227, in the additions. ----------------------------------------- Any inquiries about this lot? We are also available on WhatsApp >>>