Jacob ben Asher’s Arba’ah Turim (The Four Orders of the Jewish Code of Law) was compiled in the early 14th century and its dissemination throughout the Diaspora led quickly to its recognition and acceptance by Jewish scholars as an authoritative, convenient and concise approach to Jewish law.
Sold for $70,000 (£55,550) by specialist auction house Kestenbaum (25/20% buyer’s premium) on June 22 was an exceptionally crisp and well preserved copy, bound in the early 20th century as two volumes in half vellum and green morocco.
An example of the second printed edition, it was issued c.1490 by the celebrated Italian Ashkenazic family of printers, the Soncinos – this edition bearing the name of Solomon Soncino.