Meginei Aretz. Dyhrenfurth, 1692. Rare First Edition. Glosses

Meginei Aretz. Dyhrenfurth, 1692. Rare First Edition. Glosses

Meginei Aretz - Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim with Turei Zahav and Magen Avraham. Printed by Shabtai Meshorrer [Bass], author of Siftei Chachamim. With approbations from rabbinic leaders of the generation. Incomplete copy at the end. Many lengthy and important glosses in Oriental script from the time of printing.

This is the first edition of Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim with commentaries by the Ta"z and the Magen Avraham. It is in fact the first edition of the Ta"z's commentary, and the first edition of the Magen Avraham's commentary - the earliest and most fundamental commentaries on the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim. The book was very successful, and the same printer printed another edition about ten years later (in 1702). From then until now, hundreds of editions have been printed in a similar format, with these two commentaries printed around the text of the Shulchan Aruch. Over the generations, more commentaries have been added; they are printed at the bottom of the pages. The name Meginei Aretz was given to this edition, which is what it has been called ever since. This book is an important milestone in the printing of the Shulchan Aruch. It is rare and extraordinarily sought-after. The National Library has only one copy, which is lacking the last leaf.

The printer Rabbi Shabtai Meshorrer Bass, author of Siftei Chachamim on Rash"i and the bibliographic work Siftei Yeshenim, writes a foreword about the progression of the printing and the great effort invested in deciphering the manuscripts. He also writes about the manuscript brought to him by Rabbi Chaim, son of the Magen Avraham. This book includes an introduction from the same Rabbi Chaim, son of the Magen Avraham, an important introduction in which he mentions this printer, and unsuccessful earlier attempts to print the book. He also writes that he did not find an introduction to this work among his father's writings. This introduction is printed to this day in all editions of the Shulchan Aruch.

[2], 340, [2] leaves, 31 cm. Fine condition. Aging stains. Minimal worming perforations. Artistic restoration of the margins of the title page and the first leaves without damage to the text. The last 15 leaves are lacking and were completed from a different edition (apparently Amsterdam, 1792). New binding.