Arba'ah Turim by Rabbeinu Ya'akov Ben Asher. Two sections in one volume: Even Ha'Ezer and Choshen Mishpat. Daniel Bombergi Printing Press. Vencie, 1522-1523. Post incunabula.
This is most likely the nicest edition among the early editions of Arba'ah Turim. Thick, bright, high-quality leaves. Nice fonts and orderly printing.
Third section, Even Ha'Ezer. [81] leaves. Printed with a special title page. The year that appears on the title page is 1522; however, according on the colophon it is written: "by the brothers the sons of Baruch Adil Kind on behalf of Daniel Bombergi at his house in 1523 in the month of Tishrei" (the printing thus started in 1522 and ended in 1523).
Fourth section, Choshen Mishpat, [203] leaves. Printed with a special title page. On the colophon: "printed by the brothers the sons of Baruch Adil Kind at the house of Daniel Bombergiand on his behalf in the month of Tishrei 1523".
Before us is an especially impressive copy with an ancient wooden binding, most likely, the original one! The front and back binding are held by thin ropes. Large Acadian letters are carved on the front binding (the binding is split and its left part is missing, which is makes it difficult to decipher the inscription). On the binding, ther eis a glued leaf with an ancient inscription: "Belongs to Beit Ha'Midrash".
Books from the 16th century with their original bindings are extremely rare!
Signatures and inscriptions: On the inner binding, the title page and several other leaves there are dozens of early signatures and inscriptions. They reflect the many hands the book had passed through in the hundreds of years since its printing.
On the inner binding, an interesting, early text which is difficult to decipher. On the title page of the first section, among others: "David bar Shimon Shalita of Menheim … Frankfurt" (on the leaves of the book there are two long signatures by him). On the margins of the leaves, dozens of lingual corrections.
On the reverse side of the title page of the second section: "My son Elyakim was born in Mazal Tov on the fourth of Elul 1699 may he grow in Torah and to the Chupah and good deeds". An additional Hebrew ownership inscription and inscriptions in a foreign language.
On the last leaf, a signature: "… I have received from Reb Chizkiya of Poland …". An ancient inscription: "To be saved from danger […] or from a fire […] and after it a [Kabbalistic?] text. It should be noted that the book before us had indeed survived a fire! The fire had already started consuming the wooden binding and the first leaves of the book; yet it was miraculously saved.
Condition: Due to the fire, the front binding and the first twenty leaves of the book are damaged, with omission of text and fire stains. On the next leaves there are stains of dampness and moth signs, usually only on the margins with no damage to text. However, most of the leaves of the book are nice and complete. In general, the copy is most impressive!