IBN LEV'S HIGHLY IMPORTANT RESPONSA - THE 4TH BOOK

LEV, JOSEPH IBN (JOSEPH BEN DAVID IBN LEV).

She'eilot U'Teshuvot (Hebrew, i.e. Questions and Answers). [4th Book (of 4)].

Venice, Zan. Zanetti, 5422 (=1606).

Small 4to. Later marbled paper over earlier blue paper-covered boards, paper spine over earlier cloth spine. Binding somewhat worn. Woodcut title-page and woodcut vignette at end, depicting two lions under a tree. Old owner's stamp to title-page and to second and last leaf ("D.L.W. - David Weissappel). Some marginal annotations in old Hebrew script. Last half of leaves turned brown, otherwise a bit brownspotted. Top-corner torn off last leaf, but this corner is present, and there is no loss of text. Fairly well preserved and complete copy of this early Hebrew book. (51 ff.)

First edition of this fourth book of responsa by Joseph Ben David Ibn Lev.

Joseph Ibn Lev (1505-1580) was a Turkish Rabbi who moved to Constantinople in 1550. He reacted against Pope Paul IV due to his cruelty against the Jews. He is called "The Great Jurist" and is known to have written the four books of Responsa, which were highly thought of. This is the fourth of the four books of Responsa that he wrote. The three first were printed in Constantinople around 1560-1573, and this fourth was printed in Venice in 1606. Other editions appeared later on, but every one of these four books in the first edition rare and only few copies are registered.

Order-nr.: 36154