Etz Shatul, Sefer HaIkarim by R. Yosef Albo with explanation by R. Gedaliah son of Moshe [Lipschitz]. Venice: Giovanni Cajon, [1618]. First edition.
The author of Etz Shatul was a Polish Torah scholar. The book begins with approbations from the prominent leaders of the generation, including the Shlah, the Maharsha, the Maharam of Lublin, the Kli Yakar, the Tevuot Shor and others. The work is divided into "roots" and "branches". The text of Sefer HaIkarim appears in the center of each page, with the "roots" and "branches" printed around it.
Copy of R. Shmuel David Luzzatto – Shadal. On title page, ownership inscriptions in his handwriting: "Shmuel David Luzzatto – professore del Collegio Rabbinico di Padova" (in Hebrew script); and several other inscriptions in his handwriting.
On leaves of book, glosses handwritten by Shadal, most in pencil.
Two glosses in a different hand on pp. 85a and 89a. The first begins: "To me, Avraham, it seems…".
We know of another copy of this edition possessed by Shadal, which bears his inscription dated 1841 stating that he received it from Shlomo Shmuel Ancona, in exchanged for a Soncino [1486] edition of Sefer HaIkarim. The title page and two more leaves of this copy survived, and were put up for auction by Judaica Jerusalem, Purim 1994, Lot 216.
144 leaves. Without last two leaves. 28.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming to title page and other leaves, affecting title frame and text. Tears and open tears, affecting text, partially repaired with paper. New binding.
Does not contain last two leaves, lacking from many copies (these leaves are also lacking in the scanned copies on Otzar HaChochma and HebrewBooks).
CB, no. 5882,7; Zedner, p. 353; Roest, p. 594-595.
