Beit Yosef, Choshen Mishpat. 1559. First Edition, Printed in the Author’s Lifetime

Beit Yosef, Choshen Mishpat. 1559. First Edition, Printed in the Author’s Lifetime

Commentary and novellae by the gaon, the leader of the flock … Rabbi Yosef Karo. Sabbioneta, Tuviah Puah Press, 1559. First edition, printed by the author in his lifetime. Tur Choshen Mishpat surrounded by the Beit Yosef commentary. Signature on the title page: Moshe son of Rabbi Shlomo Prankita ..."

First edition of this fundamental book for all the laws of Choshen Mishpat. Rabbi Yosef Karo composed the great commentary Beit Yosef on the Arba Turim. In this work, he anthologized all the halachic sources and adjudicative literature from the poskim haRishonim and the various opinions. He authored the Shulchan Aruch per his conclusions in Beit Yosef.

Rabbi Yosef Karo, as written on the final leaf of this book, was occupied with his magnum opus, Beit Yosef, for 32 years! “I shall bless Hashem, I began this in Adrianople in 1522 and I completed it in Safed on Wednesday, 11 Elul 1542. I worked on its glosses further for the second edition, completing that in 1554.” Following this, he prays to Hashem, “Grant me the merit for this to be spread throughout the Jewish people so that I be among those who bring merit to the masses. May I be granted the privilege of authoring many more works …”

At the conclusion of Beit Yosef on Choshen Mishpat, the final part composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo, an important period of Rabbi Yosef Karo’s life reached its conclusion, together with an important period for all halachic adjudication.

Large printer’s device from Tuvia Puah’s press on the final page. This book is known to have been printed in 800 copies.

Impressive copy. Large volume, 40 cm. Wide margins, printed on high-quality paper.

332 leaves. Leaves 117-119 are lacking and completed by leaves from another copy. There are also several double leaves from the beginning and end of the sefer to complete the missing text.

Moderate condition. Blemishes with lack in the text of the first [20] leaves, and the last [18] leaves. Old dampstain in the bottom part of the volume. Paper completion in the title page. Isolated worming perforations in the inner margins. Old volume, slightly worn.

The leaves included from another volume are in poor condition.