Tapuchei Zahav – Yesod Shirim, the Midrash HaNe'elam on the Book of Ruth, part of the Zohar. Tiengen: Eliezer son of R. Naftali Treves and R. Yosef son of Naftali, 1559. First edition.

On the title page the name is given as "Tapuchei Zahav… Yesod Shirim". The work printed here is Midrash HaNe'elam on the Book of Ruth.

This is effectively the first printing of this part of the Zohar on the Book of Ruth, in the same time period as the other first editions of the Zohar printed in Mantua and Cremona (1558-1560).

Colophon on last leaf: "Thanks to the truly perfect one… has brought me to the conclusion of the printing of this book… R. Eliezer son of R. Naftali Treves, printed here in Tiengen by the oppressed Yosef son of R. Naftali, Sunday 23rd Tevet 1559".

On title page – inscription of verse with marking of word serving as initials ("R. Ch. M." for Refael Chaim Monselice). Additional inscriptions. Signatures of censor Giovanni Domenico Vistorini and of Fra Camillo.

On front endpaper, inscription dated 28th Sivan 1657.

[32] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Light wear. Small marginal tears. Worming, slightly affecting text, partially repaired with paper filling. Small open tears to several leaves, affecting text. Stamps. New binding.

Rare edition. The 16th-century Tiengen press (Waldshut-Tiengen, southern Germany, near the French border) printed only six Hebrew books over the course of a few months in 1559-1560.

CB, no. 3501.