Obj. ID: 38677
Jewish printed books Sheelot u-Teshuvot ha-Shayahot be-Tur Hoshen ha-Mishpat by Shmuel ben Moshe de Medina, Thessaloniki (Salonika), 1797
This text was prepared by William Gross: Responsa.
This volume printed in Greece carries "As If" printers marks on the verso of tyhe title page and on the last page. This is one of three volumes in the set.
Title page with ornate, wide typographical frame in the form of an archway.
The history of Hebrew printing in Salonica began in the early 16th and lasted some 400 years, being brought to an end only with the Nazi conquest. The first Hebrew press was established in Salonica in 1512 by a Portuguese printer and émigré, Ibn Gedalya. By the 1560’s, with the mass influx of former Marranos from the Iberian Peninsula, printing activity in Salonica reached its height, with more than 120 books published (including a few in Ladino). With the exception of a short period, however, the city did not have any well-established printing house until the end of the 17th century.
By the mid-18th century, several printing houses which were to enjoy long periods of activity had been founded. The Halevi Ashkenazi family became one of the foremost printing families in Salonica during the 18th-19th centuries. Its scion, Bezalel Halevi Ashkenazi, established his press in 1740. The press continued to operate under his sons until 1763.
Bezalel’s grandson, Sa’adi Halevi Ashkenazi, founded a new press in 1792 in partnership with the Nechama brothers. He brought with him his grandfather’s type molds (a similar title page design from his grandfather’s press can be seen on B.762). In addition to his partnership activity, Sa’adi engaged in private printing until 1815. His brother, Bezalel, continued his work until 1826. Printing activity continued there under the leadership of Bezalel’s widow and sons until 1839. A later descendant, Sa’adi Halevi Ashkenazi (the Second), was the most important printer in Salonica during the 19th century (1840-1902).