Responsa of Joseph ibn Leb, in four volumes, Salonika, Constantinople and Kuru-Chesme: 1556-1597

4 volumes (Vols.1-3: 10½ x 7½ in.; 266 x 190 mm.; Vol. 4: 8¼ x 5¾ in.; 210 x 146 mm). Collation: Vol. 1: 1-17^{6, 184, 19-216, 224, 23-246, 254, 26-306=174 leaves (including the blank in quire 22), Vol. 2: 15, 2-286, 293=170 leaves (including the blank on f. 164), Vol. 3: 14, 2-86, 94, 10-116, 124, 13-296, 304=172 leaves, Vol. 4: 1-234, 243, =95 leaves (+ an additional 4 leaves of an index from the 1606 Venice ed.); Vol. 1 with occasional damp-staining in lower margin, Vol. 2, marginal damp-stains and rust marks, a few leaves browned, worm-track in upper margin of last few quires, Vol. 3, leaves 2-4 loose, title soiled, worming in gutter margin of a few leaves near the beginning, occasional browning and damp-staining, Vol. 4, 4 leaves of indices from the 1606 Venice edition bound in, all margins extended on title and next four leaves, a few other marginal mends at the end. Vols. 1-3 bound in contemporary calf, blind-tooled in a panel design with lozenges in central panel and roll-tooled floral patterns and rope-work in the frames; worn, back-strips torn, clasps gone; Vol. 4 in Nineteenth-century three-quarter morocco, gold-stamped title on spine.}

Assorted ownership notes and stamps

Vinograd, Salonika 55, Constantinople 220, 243, 317; Yaari, Constantinople 162, 173, 182, 237; Hacker 162, 173, 182, 237; Mehlman 746, 747, 748, 749

4 volumes (Vols.1-3: 10½ x 7½ in.; 266 x 190 mm.; Vol. 4: 8¼ x 5¾ in.; 210 x 146 mm). Collation: Vol. 1: 1-176, 184, 19-216, 224, 23-246, 254, 26-306=174 leaves (including the blank in quire 22), Vol. 2: 15, 2-286, 293=170 leaves (including the blank on 164), Vol. 3: 14, 2-86, 94, 10-116, 124, 13-296, 304=172 leaves, Vol. 4: 1-234, 243, =95 leaves (an additional 4 leaves of an index from the 1606 Venice ed. are bound in); Vol. 1 with occasional damp-staining in lower margin, Vol. 2, marginal damp-stains and rust marks, a few leaves browned, worm-track in upper margin of last few quires, Vol. 3, leaves 2-4 loose, title soiled, worming in gutter margin of a few leaves near the beginning, occasional browning and damp-staining, Vol. 4, 4 leaves of indices from the 1606 Venice edition bound in, all margins extended on title and next four leaves, a few other marginal mends at the end. Vols. 1-3 bound in contemporary calf, blind-tooled in a panel design with lozenges in central panel and roll-tooled floral patterns and rope-work in the frames; worn, back-strips torn, clasps gone; Vol. 4 in Nineteenth-century three-quarter morocco, gold-stamped title on spine.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The complete first edition including the rarely seen fourth volume printed in Kuru-Chesme

The responsa of Joseph ben David ibn Lev (1505-1580), also known by the acronym Maharival, was printed over the course of some 40 years beginning during the author's lifetime and continuing after his death. Part one was printed in Salonika in 1557 by Joseph Jabez. Parts two and three were printed in Constantinople 1562 and 1573 respectively by Joseph and his brother Solomon Jabez. The final volume was printed in Kuru-Chesme in 1597 by Joseph Ashkeloni. In addition to responsa, these volumes include ibn Lev's novellae on several Talmudic tractates.

Joseph ben David ibn Leb was born in Monastir (now Bitola, Macedonia), though little else is known of Joseph's early life until 1534 when he moved to Salonika and where he spent a very troubled two decades embroiled in conflict and losing two sons to tragic circumstances. After relocating again in 1550 to Constantinople, he was appointed teacher in the yeshivah founded by Doña Gracia (Mendes) Nasi.

Ibn Leb's writings provide an insightful window through which to view contemporary Jewish life in the sixteenth century. At the instigation of Doña Gracia and her nephew Joseph Nasi, ibn Leb compiled a responsum in which he supported the banning of trade with Ancona and the taking of reprisals against the papal domains, in retaliation for the actions of Pope Paul IV against the marranos of Ancona.

N.B. These four volumes, printed over four decades at three different presses in three different cities, comprise the complete first edition of the responsa of Joseph ben David ibn Leb (Maharival). Due to discrepancies between bibliographers concerning the peculiarities of each of the volumes, in order to ascertain the most accurate and definitive information those bibliographers must be consulted seriatim. Yaari and Mehlman provide the underpinnings, but the most up-to-date information is to be found in Yosef Hacker's "Defusei Kushta be-Me'ah ha-Shesh 'Esreh" in Areshet # 5, pp. 457-493. However, it must be noted that  concerning volume 3, while Hacker's suggestion of replacing the inconsistent and confusing pagination scheme employed by Yaari (which resulted in an incorrect  page count) with quire counts, in order to arrive at an accurate page tally, is useful, his own quire count overstates the total number of quires and concomitantly, the number of leaves which is actually 172 as called for in Mehlman. For Volume 4 both Hacker and Mehlman correctly call for 95 leaves.