ABRAHAM BEN NATHAN OF LUNEL

(Hayarchi). Sepher HaManhig.
FIRST EDITION. Title within woodcut block floral border.
ff. (130). Ex-library, light dampstains in places, neat marginal repairs to final two leaves with isolated words provided in facsimile. Modern blind-tooled morocco, housed in custom slip-case. Sm. 4to. Vinograd, Const. 110; Mehlman 691.
Constantinople: Solomon ben Mazal-Tov 1519
The first work on European Minhag. A record of customs, particularly concerning prayer and synagogue functions as practiced in Provence, southern France. Its explicit purpose was to demonstrate the Halachic underpinning for every Minhag. Due to the wider circulation of Halachic decisions emanating from Spanish Rabbinic authorities, a need arose to record indigenous communal practices and so prevent confusion. The author, R. Abraham ben Nathan of Lunel, was a disciple of R. Abraham ben David of Posquières (RABa"D), famous for his glosses to Maimonides and to Alfasi. See Isadore Twersky, Rabad of Posquières (1962), pp. 240-44. A fine, wide margined copy of a significant and rare text.