Rokeach, by R. Elazar [of Worms] son of R. Yehudah. [Fano: Gershom Soncino, Erev Pesach 1505]. First edition.

A foremost work of halachah and ethics. Many bibliographers hold this to be the first Hebrew book printed with a title page.

The author,
R. Elazar of Worms (ca. 1160-1234), was a kabbalist and halachic authority, a leading member of the Chassidei Ashkenaz and the Tosafists. He was a disciple of his father's cousin R. Yehudah HaChassid, and of his father R. Yehudah son of R. Kalonymus of Mainz. He composed many works, in halachah, Biblical commentary, ethics and kabbalah, but is best known for his illustrious work, the Rokeach, which he composed after his wife and children were murdered in his presence (the numerical value of Rokeach is equal to that of his name, Elazar, as he writes in his preface). The Rokeach contains halachic rulings and customs, and serves as an important source for many rulings of the early Tosafists and Ashkenazi Torah scholars in the 12th century. It encompasses a variety of fields and Talmudic topics – halachic pilpul, customs, reasons for halachot, ethics, and more.

This book was recognized as a primary source on halachah and custom, and had a far-ranging impact on halachic literature.

Many censorship expurgations (deleted words supplied by hand on several leaves).

Ownership inscriptions on title page, in Italian script, of "Yoav son of Baruch degli Piattelli" – R. Yoav son of R. Baruch degli Piattelli was a rabbi of Rome in 1668, publisher of Margaliot Tovot by R. Yaakov Tzahalon, Venice 1665. "…I, Yochanan Ghiron, purchased it through R. Binyamin" – R. Yochanan Ghiron, Torah scholar and kabbalist, Rabbi of Florence, corresponded at length with R. Shmuel Aboab; his responsa appear in Responsa Rabach, Pachad Yitzchak and other works of Italian rabbis. Additional inscriptions on paper mounted at top of title page.

On second leaf, signature: "'Acquisition of the servant' Chaim Mordechai Lebeton" – R. Chaim Mordechai Lebeton (1780-1869), a leading Torah scholar and Rabbi of Aleppo. Author of Nochach HaShulchan.

Short marginal glosses by various writers.

Latin inscriptions in text and margins, on some leaves.

[108] leaves. Lacking last leaf (with colophon). 28.5 cm. Fair condition, approx. ten of first leaves in fair-poor condition. Stains, including large dampstains to most leaves. Tears, including large open tears to title page and first twelve leaves, affecting text in many places, repaired with paper (with handwritten replacements of most of missing text, in Italian script). Worming, affecting text. Early parchment binding, with new spine. Defects to binding.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.