Auction 109 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Megillot and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Responsa Binyamin Ze'ev – Venice, 1538 – Corrections in the Author's Handwriting – More Glosses – Early Leather Binding
Opening: $2,000
Sold for: $6,875
Including buyer's premium
Binyamin Ze'ev, halachic responsa and rulings, Parts I-II, by R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of R. Matitiah. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1538. Both parts in one volume.
The present copy contains handwritten corrections of the author, R. Binyamin Ze'ev: on pp. 73b, 210b, 260a, 337b, 405b and 501b. On p. 456b, a lengthy addition in his handwriting, signed with the following words: "So it seems to me, the layman" (as R. Binyamin Ze'ev commonly refers to himself in his book).
Glosses by another writer (in early Italian script) and many inscriptions with notations within text (emphasis and manicules). Most glosses by this writer are summaries of content, but two include commentary (as on leaf 399).
This book was brought to press by its author, R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of Matitiah of Arta, Greece, one of the greatest halachic authorities of his generation, and was the first book of halachic responsa to be published at the initiative of its author.
The book aroused great controversy due to several halachic decisions it contains which some leading Italian rabbis strongly contested, and R. Binyamin was dismissed from his position as rabbi of Arta in its wake. Some changes were made during the course of the printing, including the omission of sections 255-256 (at the end of Part I) "in order to maintain peace", and their replacement with two leaves of new text.
The book was proofread solely by R. Binyamin Ze'ev, as he writes in the colophon at the end of the book, and the great trouble entailed allowed mistakes to creep into the printing. After the initial printing, R. Binyamin Ze'ev proofread and corrected some of the copies by hand. This book is ascribed great importance in halachic literature, though some halachic authorities banned it following the opposition it aroused.
The Maharshal, his contemporary, who opposed relying on the halachic decisions in the book, notably relates to the errors which in his view crept into it: "If he is righteous, why did G-d allow an error to come about through him? Was he not the author, who brought the book to print in person?". The Rama, however, lists the author among the leading halachic authorities and relies upon his decisions. (On the book, the controversy it aroused and the differences between the copies, see: Meir Benayahu, Mavo LeSefer Binyamin Ze'ev, Jerusalem, 1989).
The last three leaves contain: a poem by Matityahu, the author's son (Thesaurus of Mediaeval Hebrew Poetry, III, p. 80, no. 245), and a eulogy by the author for his son R. Matityahu; praise of Yaakov son of Matityahu Foa for those who assisted in the printing of the book.
367, [2], 376-399, 399-575 leaves. 22 cm. Most leaves in overall good condition, first and last leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (dark stains to first and last leaves). Tears and open tears, including large tears to title page, affecting text, repaired with paper to both sides of title page. Worming in a few places. Early leather binding, with defects.
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries