Bidspirit auction | Sefer Issur VeHeter – With

Sefer Issur VeHeter – With Signatures of the Rovigo Family. Ferrara, 1555. First Edition. Exceptionally Rare Complete Copy. - First edition of the celebrated foundational halachic work Issur VeHeter HaAroch (commonly abbreviated O”H), one of the most influential and authoritative texts in the field of dietary law and ritual prohibitions in Ashkenaz and throughout the Jewish world. Before us is a complete and highly rare copy, including the two rare errata leaves at the end of the volume—leaves lacking in the overwhelming majority of known copies. The book was printed in Ferrara in 1555 at the press of Avraham ben Ushki, one of the notable Hebrew printers of his age. Avraham ben Ushki, previously known as Duarte Pinel, fled Portugal after his concealed identity as a converso Jew was exposed, and became one of the central figures in the revival of Hebrew printing in Ferrara. Two years earlier he was responsible for the famed Ferrara Bible, the first edition of the Bible printed in Spanish. Copy of Distinguished Provenance – The Rovigo Family On the title page appear handwritten ownership inscriptions of members of the prominent Rovigo family, one of the best-known Jewish families of Italy: “And this belongs to Yehudah of Rovigo, may God graciously favor him.” “Came into the possession of the honored Rabbi Raphael Rovigo.” “Came into the possession of the honored Rabbi Ovadiah Rovigo.” Additional manuscript inscriptions appear at the end of the book. Two of the approbations printed in the volume were given by members of this family: the kabbalist Rabbi Avraham Rovigo, later known as Rishon LeZion, and his brother Rabbi Yisrael Rovigo. Importance of the Work The book contains sixty chapters, fifty-eight dealing with the laws of prohibited and permitted foods, and two additional chapters concerning the sick and the laws of life-saving on Shabbat and Yom Kippur. It became one of the principal authorities relied upon by later halachic decisors. Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz wrote in his introduction to Kreti U’Pleiti: “Especially Issur VeHeter HaAroch, from whose mouth we truly live in rulings of issur veheter.” The work also served as a major source for the rulings of the Rema in Yoreh De’ah, and one of the reasons he composed his Darkei Moshe was to incorporate the teachings of this work, which had not been available to Maran Rabbi Yosef Karo. Identity of the Author The identity of the author is not known with certainty. The book was composed by one of the leading Ashkenazic sages in the generation of Rabbi Yisrael Isserlein, author of Terumat HaDeshen. Some have identified the author as Rabbi Yonah of Regensburg, disciple and relative by marriage of the author of Terumat HaDeshen. In earlier generations the work was mistakenly attributed to Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona, though it has long been established that such an attribution is chronologically impossible. Description of the Present Copy An especially impressive example: high-quality bright paper, handsome title page, wide margins, and excellent overall preservation. [174], [2] leaves. 21.5 cm. Condition: Very good. Fine bright paper. Wide margins. Plain binding.