Mechir Yayin, commentary on the Book of Esther by R. Moshe Isserles – the Rama. Cremona: Vicenzo Conti, 1559. First edition.

Mechir Yayin is the first work by R. Moshe Isserles. It was written during his stay in Szydłów following the outbreak of a plague in the Kraków region ca. 1556, which compelled his family to leave the city. The refugees in Szydłów were utterly destitute, making it difficult for them to fulfill the commandments of Purim. The Rama dedicated the present work to his father as a sort of substitute for mishloach manot (the name of the work, deriving from a verse in Isaiah, has the literal meaning of "substitute for wine"). The concluding words of the book contain an acrostic poem with the author's name: "What I saw fit to explain in this Megillah… I sent in the days of Purim as a gift to my most valiant father Yisrael, head of the uncountable people. One who wishes to investigate what I say must study physics, metaphysics and sciences, and such a person is one of the celestial spheres".

The book was proofread by Vittorio Eliano, a grandson of R. Eliyahu Bachur.

On verso of last page, signature of censor Domenico Gerosolimitano dated 1597, and signature of censor Giovanni Domenico Carretto dated 1628.

24 leaves. 18.5 cm. Good condition. Light stains. New binding.

CB, no. 6483,5; Zedner, p. 575.