Bidspirit auction | Two Pearls in One Volume

Two Pearls in One Volume – First Editions from the Press of Daniel Bomberg: “Responsa of the Rashba Attributed to the Ramban” Together with “Pesakim u-Ketavim” of the Author of Terumat HaDeshen. Venice, 1519. Extremely Rare. Manuscript Annotations. - An impressive and highly desirable volume containing two of the most fundamental responsa works printed in the earliest age of Hebrew typography, both first editions issued in the year 1519 from the renowned Venetian press of Daniel Bomberg, among the earliest and greatest printers of Hebrew books in all generations. Before us is a remarkable union of two pillars of halachic literature: the sages of Sepharad on one side and the sages of Ashkenaz on the other—the Rashba and the author of Terumat HaDeshen—bound together in one handsome and distinguished volume. Responsa of the Rashba Attributed to the Ramban. Venice, Daniel Bomberg Press, 1519. First Edition. Printed on the title page under the name: “Teshuvot She’elot le-Rabbenu Moshe bar Nachman zt”l”, containing 288 responsa. First edition of an important and foundational responsa work, mistakenly attributed to the Ramban. However, leading halachic authorities already established that the overwhelming majority of the book is not by the Ramban, but rather responsa authored by Rabbeinu Shlomo ben Aderet – the Rashba, one of the greatest halachic decisors of medieval Spain. The confusion stemmed primarily from one responsum (no. 284), opening with the words: “This is the response answered by the Ramban z”l to Rabbi Yonah...” From this, the assumption took root that the entire book belonged to the Ramban. In truth, this is the only responsum attributed to the Ramban, while the remainder are by the Rashba. Already Maran Rabbi Yosef Karo, in his introduction to Beit Yosef, clearly states that these responsa are those of the Rashba, despite the heading attributing them to the Ramban. This work is regarded as one of the foundational books of halachic jurisprudence and is cited numerous times throughout later rabbinic literature. [95] leaves. 24 cm. Fine paper. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod 265. Pesakim u-Ketavim of the Author of Terumat HaDeshen. Venice, Daniel Bomberg Press, 1519. First Edition. A rare and important work containing 267 responsa, rulings, and customs of Rabbeinu Yisrael Isserlein, author of Terumat HaDeshen, one of the foremost Ashkenazic sages of the 15th century and among the last of the Rishonim. The work was arranged by one of Terumat HaDeshen’s leading disciples, who gathered his master’s responsa together with practices, rulings, and customs that he personally saw and heard from him. In the same year, the book Terumat HaDeshen itself was also printed. In later editions, the two works were combined into a single book of two parts. Accordingly, the present copy preserves an early and rare witness to the work’s original and independent form. Rabbi Yisrael Isserlein is considered one of the greatest halachic authorities bridging the era of the Rishonim and Acharonim, and his responsa are cited thousands of times in rabbinic literature. Great scholars referred to him as “Gadol HaAcharonim”, among them Rabbi Yaakov Reischer, Rabbi משה Lima, the author of the Tanya, and Rabbi Yechezkel Landau. [95] leaves. 24 cm. Fine paper. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod 275. Before us is a rare and highly important volume uniting two cornerstones of halachic decision-making—Sepharad and Ashkenaz, the dawn of Hebrew printing, and the great medieval authorities—in first editions printed in one of the most significant years in the history of the Hebrew book. Condition: Good to very good. Stains. Colored page edges. Magnificent modern leather binding.