Bidspirit auction | Rare Collection of Important Halachic

Rare Collection of Important Halachic Sefarim 1540–1616 * A varied collection of five foundational halachic sefarim, studied extensively in yeshivos and batei medrash. The sefarim were printed in Germany, Italy, and Poland between the years 1540 and 1616. On the leaves of several sefarim appear early glosses. Conditions vary; many of the volumes are incomplete copies, well suited for completion of other copies and similar purposes. 1 – Arba’ah Turim by Rabbeinu Yaakov ben HaRosh. Augsburg, 1540–1541. Incomplete copy. In this edition, the glosses of Rabbi Avraham of Prague were printed for the first time. The copy contains 314 leaves, with nine leaves lacking. It includes the beautiful illustrated title page of Orach Chaim, as well as the final two leaves that are missing in some other copies. 2 – Halachos Gedolos. Venice, 1548. First edition. There is a missing tear in the center of the title page affecting the name of the sefer. This work contains halachic rulings, laws, and a count of the 613 mitzvos, and is one of the foundations of halachic literature, one of the earliest sifrei yesod composed after the sealing of the Talmud. The greatest of the Rishonim accorded this sefer exceptional importance and almost refrained from disputing its words: “For all the words of Halachos Gedolos are words of tradition, as the poskim write about them everywhere” (Shu”t Maharik, end of shoresh 150). Similarly, the Chida writes in the name of the Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh: “We heed the words of בה”ג, for all his words are words of tradition” (Birkei Yosef, Orach Chaim, siman 16). On the title page appear signatures of the kabbalist Rabbi Alter Yissachar Frenkel-Teomim. Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 220. 3 – Toras HaAdam by the Ramban. Venice, 1595. The lower half of the final leaf is missing and was completed in early Eastern handwriting. The sefer contains 30 chapters dealing with the laws of the sick, burial of the dead, and matters of mourning. Printed on the final page is an Iggeres that the Ramban sent to his son from Eretz Yisrael, in which he describes the churban. Includes a poem in praise of the sefer by Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena. Several glosses in Eastern script. Bibliography: Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 236 (in the notes). 4 – Four Parts of the Shulchan Aruch by the Beis Yosef. Venice, 1598. The final leaf and part of the first title page are lacking. An early set of the Shulchan Aruch, the most important halachic work composed in recent centuries, upon which all of Klal Yisrael rely. This edition is known as the “Mashiach Edition, ” because on the title pages the year is hinted at with the word “Mashiach, ” whose gematria equals 1598. The author, the Beis Yosef, had passed away only 23 years earlier, and at the time of printing, many of his talmidim were still alive, among them the Alshich Hakadosh (d. 1600), the elder Maharam Galanti (passed away 1612), and others. Signature on the title page: “Chaim Bresla.” 5 – A Large Kuntres from the Tur Beis Yosef on Choshen Mishpat. Cracow, 1616. A partial compilation containing 133 leaves out of 142. Heavily damaged. In total: five sefarim, all incomplete and damaged. For a more detailed description of the sefarim, their completeness and condition, please refer to the Hebrew text. Please review the photographs prior to submitting an offer. Additional photographs can be provided upon request.