Toldot Adam VeChava – Rabbenu Yerucham – Constantinople, 1516 – First Edition

Toldot Adam VeChava – Rabbenu Yerucham – Constantinople, 1516 – First Edition
Toldot Adam VeChava, and Sefer Mesharim, laws, by Rabbenu Yerucham of Provence. [Constantinople, 1516]. First edition.
Colophon on the last leaf: "This book was completed on 15th Av 1516, and was printed in Constantinople, under the rule of our master the king, His Majesty Sultan Selim…". The title page and colophon feature a lion rampant – device of printer Yehuda Sasson, who printed books in the press of the Nachmias brothers in Constantinople (see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriim, Jerusalem 1944, no. 8; p. 7 and p. 126).
This book was not published as a complete unit, but rather in booklets which were distributed to buyers every Shabbat in the synagogues, as was customary in Constantinople at that time (see: Yaari, HaDfus HaIvri BeKushta, Jerusalem 1967, p. 103, no. 145. A halachic debate arose amongst the Constantinople rabbis who opposed this practice). It is therefore rare to find complete copies.
Signature at the bottom of the title page: "Yisrael Luli". A leaf containing a lengthy document written in Salonika (relating to one "Yom Tov") is glued to verso of the last leaf, slightly trimmed.
272, [14]; 122 leaves. 24.5 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains, dampstains. Worming, slightly affecting text on several leaves. Margins of title page trimmed, with tears affecting text on verso, repaired. Title page repaired with paper on all its margins up to the border. Leaves 18, 23, 57 and 64 of the first foliation sequence are bound out of sequence. Tears to last five leaves, some affecting text, repaired. Front cover, with title page, detached. Lacking spine. Book split into several sections.