Responsa of R. Yitzchak son of R. Sheshet – the Rivash. Constantinople: Eliezer Soncino, 1546-1547. First edition.

Original decorated leather binding, from the period of the book's printing.

A classic of responsa literature and halachah. The Rivash, one of the last Rishonim, was born in Spain in 1326 and passed away in Algiers in 1408. His primary teacher was R. Nisim son of Reuven (the Ran). He also studied under R. Chasdai Crescas and R. Peretz HaKohen.

The book was printed booklet by booklet and distributed to purchasers on Shabbat in the synagogue, as was the practice in Constantinople in those days. This provoked a halachic discussion among Constantinople rabbis who opposed this practice (see: A. Yaari, HaDefus HaIvri BeKushta, Jerusalem 1967, p. 103, no. 145).

First [11] leaves comprise contents, followed by title page. Last [10] leaves comprise index (in most copies, the index appears at the beginning of the book, before the title page).

Signature deleted with ink on endpaper: "Yaakov son of Shimon Ulm". Inscriptions on first leaf (on blank recto): "R. Itzek Kann"; "[This] came to my portion from my father's estate, Gumpel son of R. Leib Kann… grandson of the above"; inscription in the form of a brief poem (relating to the name Yaakov); "I purchased it… Baer Adler HaKohen".

R. Baer Adler HaKohen (1785-1866), a dayan of Frankfurt am Main. He was a childhood friend of the Chatam Sofer and the Machaneh Levi. He is renowned for his ardent struggle against the prohibition of circumcision being propounded by the Reform movement, to which end he joined with his teacher R. Salman Trier and friend R. Aharon Fuld in authoring a German work, Rabbinische Gutachten über die Beschneidung, printed in Frankfurt, publishing letters and responsa received from leading Ashkenazic rabbis: the Aruch LaNer, R. Tzvi Hirsch Chajes, the Mateh Levi, and others. Some of his Torah novellae were printed by his brother R. Gavriel Adler, Rabbi of Oberdorf, in Kanfei Nesharim, at the end of Leshon Zahav (Offenbach, 1823).

Marginal glosses in Sephardic cursive script, by two writers. Most glosses are summaries of halachot from the responsa; a lengthy gloss with original content to Responsum 101.

[303] leaves. 30.5 cm. Most leaves in good-fair condition, first and last leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Traces of former dampness with mold stains to some leaves. Worming to some leaves, slightly affecting text. A few tears, including small marginal open tear to title page. Early leather binding. Worming and defects to binding.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.