Bidspirit auction | CHOVAS HALVAVOS WITH TIKKUN MIDOS HANEFESH.

CHOVAS HALVAVOS WITH TIKKUN MIDOS HANEFESH. CONSTANTINOPLE 1550. FIRST EDITION OF TIKKUN MIDOS HANEFESH. NEAR COMPLETE COPY LACKING SIX PAGES. RARE EDITION - The sefer Chovas Halvavos (Duties Of The Heart) was authored by R. Bahya Ibn Paquda, who is assumed to have lived in Spain in the eleventh century. Originally written in Judeo-Arabic it was translated into Hebrew by R. Yehuda Ibn Tibon (circa 1161). It was first printed in Naples in 1490. Divided into ten sections “gates”, the Chovas Halvavos has for hundreds of years served as the classic code of Jewish ethics. It has since been published in many editions, and had an unprecedented influence on future generations. This particular edition was printed from a different manuscript than the earlier editions. The publisher, R. Yitzchak Chazan, writes in his preface: “I have seen it printed twice, and both are full of errors and omissions… But G-d led me to find this book… proofread by an exceptional scholar from an old manuscript copy… and I set myself to printing it…”. First edition of The Tikkun Middos HaNefesh, attributed to R. Shlomo Ibn Gabirol, which has subsequently been printed in most editions of The Chovas Halvavos. Should be 6, 9-102 pages. Lacking pages 90-96 (3 provided in facsimile). 19.3 cm. Overall fair-good condition, some worming and staining affecting text with professional restorations. Fine modern leather binding