Sefer HaTashbe"tz. First Edition. Original Stunning Binding

Sefer HaTashbe"tz. First Edition. Original Stunning Binding

"I heard about the great rabbi, the Rashbe"tz, that the merit of the great responsa work entitled Tashbe"tz beautifully printed and bound - there is nothing like it - is due to his being particular to spread a beautiful and important kerchief on the sefarim that were open in front of him for study" (Yaffeh Lalev by Rabbi Rachamim Palagi)

Sefer HaTashbe"tz - over nine hundred halachic responsa by Rabbi Shimon bar Tzemach - one of the leading rabbis of Algeria, one of the most important halachic works (Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod 270). Four parts in one volume, with separate title pages for Chut HaMeshulash (a total of four title pages). First edition. Amsterdam, 1738-1741. Including the original mesmerizing fish skin binding decorated with real gold imprints.

Tradition maintains that this magnificent cover was made from fish skin (there are those who question this). The rare and original binding was handcrafted, which is the reason that no two are identical. Rabbi Rachamim, son of Rabbi Chaim Palagi, writes in his sefer, Yaffeh Lalev, "I heard about the great rabbi, the Rashbe"tz, that the merit of the great responsa work entitled Tashbe"tz beautifully printed and bound - there is nothing like - it, is due to his being particular to spread a beautiful and important kerchief on the sefarim that were open in front of him for study."

There are variants of the title pages in the sefer. This is the rarer variant, with the first title page from 1741, with different pictures than the standard version, as detailed in Mif'al HaBibliographiah: "The first title page is from 1741, [chronogram: זאת התורה א’ש’ר’ שם משה לבני ישראל], and where instead of two lions in the standard first title page, there are drawings of Moshe and Aharon, Shlomo and David." These copies have the first title page and the three title pages for Part IV. (Refer to: N. Ben-Menachem, "BeSod HaSefarim, " Sinai, Vol. 16, 1945, pp. 324-326 as well as D. and G. Yardeni, "Seder Hadpassato shel HaTashbe"tz" Alei Sefer, 10 pp. 119-132).

The first title page, on leaves 1 and 9 [of the first pagination] and more, bear rabbinic notations and signatures in Oriental script, some calligraphic. The signatures include: "Yehoshua Asher Farhi" - apparently father of Rabbi Yosef Shabtai Farhi - Yashpe"h.

[11], 91; 69, [1]; 68, [1]; [1], 101, [1] leaf. 31 cm.

Fine condition. Aging stains. Minimal worming perforations. Tears and adhesions, with a tiny blemish in the text. Reinforcement to the margins of the first illustrated title page, without damage to the text. Reinforcement to the margins of binding. New spine.