Bidspirit auction | “Damesek Eliezer”, Lublin, 5406 [1646]

“Damesek Eliezer”, Lublin, 5406 [1646] — Rare Book. First and only edition. With a highly impressive decorative title page. - Chiddushim and Biurim on Halacha and Practice on the entire tractate of Chullin, by the gaon Rabbi Eliezer Ashkenazi, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshivah of the holy community of Apta, with numerous approbations from the leading sages of his generation. The title page was lacking and has been completed with an impressive artistic handiwork reconstruction, decorated in multiple colors. Several of the opening leaves have likewise been completed in fine scribal handwriting. Sefer Damesek Eliezer This work is extremely rare, and already more than two hundred years ago the Chida wrote in Shem HaGedolim that “it is of rare occurrence.” This was later attested by Rabbi Chaim Nosson Dembitzer in Klilas Yofi (Vol. II, p. 86a): “The book Damesek Eliezer on Tractate Chullin is extremely rare, and is presently found only one in a city and two in a country.” The gaon Rabbi Chaim Benveniste, author of Knesses HaGedolah, frequently cites the author’s work. Regarding this, the gaon Rabbi Efraim Zalman Margaliot, a descendant of the author, wrote in Rosh Efraim (siman 36): “I was astonished that the Knesses HaGedolah so frequently consults the book Damesek Eliezer, and hardly left a single matter of his without gathering his words.” The gaon Rabbi Eliezer Ashkenazi was a disciple of Rabbi Meshulam Feibush, Av Beis Din of Kraków, and studied in his yeshivah together with the Bach. At the time of printing his work he was already among the elders of the generation, yet in his humility he sought approbations from the leading sages of his time, including Rabbi Heshel of Kraków, the author of Tosefes Yom Tov, the author of Mageni Shlomo, and Rabbi Shabbatai Sheftel ben the Shelah, all of whom greatly praised him and his work. Lublin, 5406 [1646], first and only edition [reissued in modern times]. The first three leaves were missing and have been replace twice — once in photographic reproduction [3 leaves], and once in artistic scribal manuscript [6 handwritten leaves, including the decorative title page]. Age staining throughout. Paper restorations on several leaves (in some places affecting the text). In some areas trimming of margins has slightly affected text. At the end of the volume there are several repairs and reinforcements; the final leaf includes a paper restoration with minor text loss. Details: 431 leaves. Size: 30.5 cm. Fair condition.