Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Responsa of the Geonim – Prague, 1590
Opening: $400
Sold for: $1,125
Including buyer's premium
Responsa of the Geonim. Prague: Mordechai son of Gershom HaKohen, 1590. Second edition of the short Teshuvot HaGeonim, based on the Constantinople 1575 edition.
The book contains four hundred brief responsa, beginning with an index. Most questions relate to civil law, while the others relate to marriage law. While this anthology of responsa preserves early Geonic material, most importantly fragments of Sefer HaMaasim Livnei Eretz Yisrael, it also contains many forged responsa (more than a hundred, over a quarter of the responsa in the book) which, rather than Geonic responsa, are adaptations of the Shulchan Aruch or other sources (see at length: S. Emanuel, Teshuvot HaGeonim HaKetzarot, in: Atara L'Haim, Studies… in honor of Professor Haim Zalman Dimitrovsky, Jerusalem 2000, pp. 439-459).
Title page illustrated with various figures of humans, angels and lions, with the printer's device of Mordechai son of Gershon HaKohen in the center, depicting hands offering the priestly blessing (see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, no. 38, note on pp. 137-138).
On the verso of the title page is an introduction by the editor R. Shlomo Kabuli, and at the end of the book are concluding words and a poem by R. Menachem Egozi – both reprinted from the Constantinople 1575 edition.
Ownership stamps of R. "Mordechai son of R. Yaakov Friedman in Mezeritch" – R. Mordechai Friedman of Mezeritch, author of Meorer Yeshenim (Warsaw, 1926) and Poteach Devarim (printed with Ohel Moshe, Warsaw 1889).
Many censorship inscriptions on both sides of title page.
[46] leaves. 17.5 cm. Mostly dark paper. Most leaves in good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Small marginal tears and open tears to several leaves, not affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Worming. Close trimming, affecting page headers in several places. Bookplate. Old leather binding. Defects, rubbing marks and heavy wear to binding (open tear to spine).
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries
Early Printed Books – 16th-17th Centuries