Title Page from the Second Edition of the Shulchan Aruch. Venice, 1567. Printed in the Author's Lifetime

Title Page from the Second Edition of the Shulchan Aruch. Venice, 1567. Printed in the Author's Lifetime

"Authored by the gaon, wonder of the generation, the complete sage, Rabbi Yosef Karo ..."

Title page of Shulchan Aruch, Part I - Orach Chayim. Venice, Juan Grifo Press. Second edition, printed in the lifetime of the author, Rabbi Yosef Karo, "Ba'al HaShulchan Aruch" (only two years after the first edition). Nissan, 1567. Antique handwritten notations on the back of the title page.

On the title page: "Authored by the gaon, wonder of the generation, the complete sage Rabbi Yosef Karo ... whose Torah shines like daylight upon the city of Safed ..." The author's preface appears on the second page regarding the most important sefer halachah of all time, "These are the words of the messenger, Yosef Karo son of Rabbi Ephraim son of Rabbi Yosef Karo zlh"h."

Stunning etching of winged angels and cherubs bearing the holy ark in the center of the title page, with the interesting caption: "Without the good influence of the Zodiac, rationale helps little" which hints at the author's mystical dimension. In addition to his being the gadol hador in Torah, he was also occupied with hidden wisdom, as is known from the story of the maggid who would reveal himself to him to teach him.

As would be expected, the Orach Chayim section of Shulchan Aruch is the most studied, and its title page the most likely to be blemished. In this title page here, the text is almost fully complete (except for a few words). Professionally restored with paper completions, primarily in the margins.

[2] pp, approximately 34 cm.

Fine condition. Aging stains. Restored with paper completions.