Bidspirit auction | Baal HaNefesh by the Raavad

Baal HaNefesh by the Raavad – A Special Copy with Wide Margins – Berlin 1762 * The sefer Baal Hanefesh by the Raavad on the laws of Niddah, divided into seven chapters. The remarks of the Raza”h and Hilchos Niddah by the Ramban are printed at the end.  It is a sefer yesod for these particularly serious halachos. An especially fine copy with large margins! Copies of this kind were generally printed for wealthy patrons and communal dignitaries, and are accordingly rare and highly sought after. The author, Rabbi Avraham ben David (circa 1120-1198), known as the Raavad, was one of the early Rishonim and commentators on the Gemara, and author of the Hasagos on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah. The Ramban in his preface to Hilchos Niddah L’HaRamban praises the Baal Hanefesh effusively, explaining that the Raavad preempted him with his sefer. This is the first edition in which Baal HaNefesh was printed together with the glosses of the Razah. Included here as well are the glosses of Rabbi Yeshaya Bassan, the teacher of the Ramchal. These glosses were previously printed within the sefer Zivchei Todah (Venice, 1741). Berlin, 1762. Page Count: [1], 74 leaves. Condition: Good, with a few stains and some holes. On the title page appear the signatures of Rabbi Chai Moshe Raphael Pijotto of Aleppo, author of Vayichal Moshe, who owned a large and important library.