Bidspirit auction | Responsa of the Geonim –

Responsa of the Geonim – Constantinople, 1575 – First Edition - Responsa of the Geonim. Constantinople: David Casti and Eliezer son of Yitzchak Ashkenazi, 1575. First edition. The book contains four hundred brief responsa, with an index. Most questions relate to civil law, while the others relate to marriage law. On the verso of the title page is an introduction by the publisher and proofreader, R. Shlomo Kabuli, who found the work in the estate of his father – R. Menachem Kabuli, a leading Constantinople rabbi. The book was printed by Eliezer son of Yitzchak Ashkenazi, who printed Hebrew books in various cities, including Prague, Lublin and Constantinople. He was also involved in the first printing of books in Safed in the 16th century. His printer's mark appears on p. 8a, depicting an erect lion donning a crown and facing rightwards, surrounded by a floral frame (see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, Jerusalem 1944, p. 142, note to illustration 51). While this anthology of responsa preserves early Geonic material, most importantly fragments of Sefer HaMaasim Livnei Eretz Yisrael, it also contains many forged responsa (more than a hundred, over a quarter of the responsa in the book) which, rather than Geonic responsa, are adaptations of the Shulchan Aruch or other sources (see at length: S. Emanuel, Teshuvot HaGeonim HaKetzarot, in: Atara L'Haim, Studies… in honor of Professor Haim Zalman Dimitrovsky, Jerusalem 2000, pp. 439-459). This responsa anthology was reprinted in several editions. It was reprinted within a few years in Prague, ca. 1590. On p. 22a, calligraphic Sephardic signature. 46 leaves. 19 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including light traces of former dampness to first leaves. Worming, tears and open tears, affecting text, repaired with paper (all leaves repaired). Elegant new leather binding.