Hilchot Rav Alfas - Sabbionetta, 1554-1555 - Three Volumes

Hilchot Rav Alfas, with commentaries. Sabbionetta: Tobias Foa, [1554-1555]. First edition of Shiltei HaGiborim.
Three volumes. Ownership inscription on title page of the first volume as well as several glosses in Oriental script.
Ownership inscription on title page of second volume: "…Ye'oshua Avraham Istrok… 1647".
At the time this edition of Rav Alfas was published, the Inquisitors decreed the burning of Holy Books in Italy, beginning with the burning of the Talmud in Rome on Rosh Hashanah of 1553. During that period, study or printing of the Talmud was prohibited, but the books of the Rif were permitted for study. Subsequently, Italian scholars of in those days primarily studied the books of the Rif. Hence, this edition became an especially important and propitious book (for further information on the decree against Jewish holy books in Italy, see: Mavo L'Chiddushei R. Moshe Kazis, Machon Yerushalayim, 1888; E. Ya'ari, Burning of the Talmud in Italy; M. Benayahu, The Hebrew Printing Press in Cremona; etc.).
The famous composition Shiltei HaGiborim, written at that time by R. Yehoshua Bo'az, a leading Italian posek, was first printed in this edition.
Three (incomplete) volumes. Vol. 1: 98, 97-170, [2], 171-187, 189-225, 225-229, [1], 227-267, 265-410 leaves. Vol. 2: [1], 402-553 leaves (originally: [1], 402-778 leaves). Lacking 226 leaves. Vol. 3: 159 leaves (originally: 398 [i.e.: 396], 54 leaves). Lacking 292 leaves. 37.5 cm. Condition varies from one volume to the next. Many leaves are in good condition, some are in fair condition or fair-poor condition. Stains and wear. Dampstains and worming in various places. Heavy worming to Vol. 3. Coarse tears to title pages of two volumes. Repaired tears affecting text of several leaves. One volume has a new leather binding, one has an old, worn, leather binding and the third is without binding.