Bidspirit auction | Shulchan Aruch, Two Pocket Editions

Shulchan Aruch, Two Pocket Editions in Two Volumes: Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat – Venice, 1574 / Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat – Venice, 1598 * Two volumes, each containing two sections of the Shulchan Aruch — Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat — by Rabbi Yosef Karo of Tzfat, author of the Beis Yosef, Kesef Mishneh, and Shulchan Aruch. The Shulchan Aruch is the most important work of halacha composed in the past several centuries and has served as the authoritative code of Jewish law for all Jewish communities. The first volume – 1574 edition: Even HaEzer: 167, [1] leaves. Choshen Mishpat: 359, [1] leaves. This is the last edition of the Shulchan Aruch printed during the lifetime of Rabbi Yosef Karo, and the first to be issued in a pocket-sized format. As is known, the Shulchan Aruch was reprinted many times during the author's lifetime because of its immediate and widespread demand. Within barely a decade of its first appearance, it had already been published in approximately five additional editions! The second volume – the “Mashiach” Edition (1598): Even HaEzer: 167, [1] leaves. Choshen Mishpat: 359, [1] leaves. This edition was printed page-for-page from the 1574 edition. It is exceptionally rare to find both editions together, allowing for a direct leaf-by-leaf comparison that clearly demonstrates the later edition was faithfully reproduced from its predecessor. This edition is commonly known as the “Mashiach Edition, ” because the date on the title page of Even HaEzer is encoded in the word “Mashiach” (משי”ח), whose numerical value equals the year 1598. (A large-format edition printed in the same year is also known by this name; see Zaidy 7, Lot 1.) Venice, 1574 / Venice, 1598. Four sections of the Shulchan Aruch in two volumes: Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat from the 1574 and 1598 editions. Identical Height: 14.4 cm. Condition: Overall good. Stains and minor wear. A few holes. Antique leather bindings, damaged.