Levushim, Mordecai ben Abraham Jaffe, Venice: Giovanni Calleoni, 1620

Four parts in two volumes (13 ¼ x 9 in.; 340 x 230 mm). FOLIATION: Vol. I: Levush ha-Tehelet, Levush ha-Hur. 201 [2];  Levush ‘Ateret Zahav: 148 [2], (2). Vol. II: Levush Butz ve-Argaman: 87; Levush ‘Ir Shushan:162 [2]. First title with extensive owners’ notations. Lightly browned; moderate staining; some spotting; a few marginal tears and losses, repaired; some worming; a few leaves from another copy. Modern half vellum over red cloth.

Vinograd, Venice 1122-25.

A comprehensive code by Mordecai ben Abraham Jaffe (c. 1535-1612), the Levushim were created to address the need for a halakhic work, more reflective of Ashkenazic custom and traditions, than Joseph Caro 's encyclopedic work Beit Yosef, yet more expansive than the terse glosses of Moses Isserles on Caro’s abridged code, the Shulhan Arukh. Jaffe wrote ten volumes in all, which shared the initial word Levush, of which five were concerned with halakha. The five halakhic Levushim, follow the order of the Turim of Jacob ben Asher: ha-Tekhelet and ha-Hur (on Orah Hayyim); Ateret Zahav ( on Yoreh De’ah); BUTZ VE-ARGAMON (on Even ha-‘Ezer) and 'Ir-Shushan, (on Hoshen Mishpat). The titles are derived from phrases in the biblical book of Esther (8:15). The remaining Levushim comprised a selection of commentaries and sermons.