Bidspirit auction | Two Fundamental Works Bound In

Two Fundamental Works Bound In One: Teshuvos Maharik, Cremona 1557 – Teshuvos Ralbach, Venice 1565. First Edition. Bound in Original Wooden Binding - Beautiful copies of two fundamental responsa works, bound together in a contemporary wooden binding, which originates from the Yeshiva of Frankfurt. 16th century works bound in their original binding are uncommon.  Book One: Teshuvos Maharik – the fundamental responsa work of R. Yosef Colon, Cremona 1557. Second updated edition, with new appendices arranged according to the order of the Rambam, not found in the first edition.  Book Two: Teshuvos Ralbach — R. Levi Ibn Habib, Venice 1565. A beautiful copy of the first edition of one of the most fundamental works of responsa.   R. Levi ben Yaakov ibn Habib (c. 1483-1545), commonly known as the Ralbach, the son of R. Yaakov ibn Habib, author of Ein Ya'akov. Born in Zamora Spain, R. Levi was among the Jewish children forcibly converted in Portugal by the order of King Manuel in 1497. The ibn Habib family escaped a year later, finding refuge in Salonika. R. Levi eventually relocated to Jerusalem where he served as the “Dayan Hamemuneh”, responsible for the organization of the city's intellectual and religious life. At the end of the volume are several responsa dealing with astronomy and calendrical issues with 10 pages of striking graphs and charts. The volume is completed by appendices comprising Kunteres Hasemicha, addressing the historic controversy in which the Ralbach played an important role. Following the attempt by R. Yaakov Berab of Tzefas to reinstitute Semicha, which had been discontinued for almost a millennium, the Ralbach wrote these responsum to prove the illegality of Mahari Berab’s view. A controversy arose between them, and after the death of Mahari Berab in 1541, the renewed institution of Semicha gradually languished into obscurity.  This copy belonged to R. Eizik Hann Nördlinger, the elder brother of R. Yosef Yuspa Hann Nördlinger, author of the famed “Yosef Ometz”. In his introduction, he thanks his brother R. Eizik for helping with the publication. A handwritten poem written by R. Eizik, bearing his name, is seen on the front endpaper. Several handwritten glosses are seen throughout both works.  Both works bound together in original German binding made of wood, with blind-tooled decorative designs – a rare phenomenon amongst 16th century Hebrew books! For an almost identical binding on a Hebrew book, see: Sotheby’s, The Delmonico Collection, December 2008, Lot 186.  Teshuvos Maharik (Book I): [12], 171, [1] pp. 30cm. In overall very good condition. Small open tears to first few leaves. Traces of dampness can be seen on some leaves. Stamp of the Library of the Yeshiva of Frankfurt can be seen on title page.  Teshuvos Ralbach (Book II): [4], 209, [1], 328 pp. 30cm. In very good condition, with light stains in some places. Two leaves in the middle of the book are detached and smaller in size, probably supplied from another copy. Like almost all copies, this copy does not include the additional [2] leaves of errata, which were added after the printing to some copies only.