Kodesh Hilulim, "Las Alabancas de Santidad, traducion de los Psalmos de David, por la misma Phrasis y palabras del Hebrayco". Book of Tehillim in Hebrew, with Spanish translation and commentary by R. Yaakov Yehudah Leon Templo. Amsterdam: printer not indicated, 1671.

R. Yaakov Yehudah Leon Templo (1603-after 1675), a Portuguese born Amsterdam rabbi, studied in Amsterdam under R. Yitzchak Uziel, rabbi of the Neveh Shalom community. He was known for his pioneering work on the structure of the Temple and for a model of the First Temple he built, which earned his family the name Templo. The present book is his Spanish translation and commentary on Tehillim, which was also highly regarded by scholars and poets of all stripes.

Printed from left to right.

Signature on title page: "Hirschel Lehren" –
R. Tzvi Hirsch Lehren of Amsterdam (1784-1853), founder and head of the Pekidim and Amarkalim society, which coordinated the fundraising for Eretz Israel in Western and Central Europe, and transferred the funds to their destination to benefit the Yishuv in the Holy Land.

Short handwritten inscription on one leaf.

[16] leaves; 458, [6] pages. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Early parchment binding, with defects.

Ex libris label on back binding: "Yaakov Naftali Herz Levi" of Amsterdam. Belonged to collector Naphtali Herz van Biema (see: Catalog der reichhaltigen Sammlung hebräischer und jüdischer Bücher… N. H. van Biema, Amsterdam: Joachimsthal, 1904).

Collection of leaves and fragments of leaves from Abudarham, commentary on blessings and prayers and their halachot by R. David Abudarham (Avudraham). [Fez: Shmuel son of Yitzchak Nedivot and his son Yitzchak, 1516].

[53] leaves and leaf fragments (original: [170] leaves). Approx. 29-32 cm (height of leaves after restoration). Fair to fair-poor condition. All leaves professionally restored, and filled with paper around margins. Stains. Much worming, tears and open tears, affecting text in many places. Large parts of leaf lacking from many leaves, sometimes most of leaf lacking. Not bound.

This book is evidently the first Hebrew book to be printed in Fez, and one of the only Hebrew books to be printed there in that period (Hebrew printing in Fez continued only some four centuries later).

Shulchan Arba, laws relating to the table and eating, by R. Bachya son of Asher ibn Halawa. Venice: Marco Antonio Giustiniani, 1545.

On last page, stamp of "PROF. LELIO DELLA TORRE".

Prof. Lelio (Hillel) della Torre (1805-1871) was an Italian rabbi, author and intellectual. He was a member of the circle of Shadal. He served as teacher and assistant rabbi in Turin, subsequently studied Talmud and theology in the Rabbinical Seminary in Padua, and later also served as rabbi in Ferrara.

Some handwritten deletions and corrections inside text, and marginal gloss on one leaf.

On last page, signature of censor.

11 leaves. Approx. 28 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Marginal tears and open tears to several leaves and to inner margins of title page, slightly affecting text of several leaves, repaired with paper. New binding.

CB, no. 4525, 18.

Responsa of Rabbeinu Asher (the Rosh). Venice: Aloyse Bragadin, 1552. Second edition.

This edition added a detailed index of the 108 sections of the book.

Ownership inscription on endpaper in Italian script of "Aharon Ashkenazi", born 3rd Shevat 1653.

Censorship expurgations in several places. Handwritten notations on margins.

Censor's signature on last leaf.

158 leaves. 29 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including many dampstains and traces of former dampness, with mold stains to some leaves. Tears, including large open tears to top and bottom of title page (large portions of leaf lacking), slightly affecting title. Worming in a few places. Old binding, with leather spine. Wear and defects to binding and spine.

CB, no. 4455, 28.

Tzedah LaDerech, halachic work on various topics, by R. Menachem son of Aharon ibn Zerach. Sabbioneta: Vincenzo Conti, [1567]. Second edition.

A comprehensive work by R. Menachem ibn Zerach, a Spanish scholar of the 14th century and disciple of R. Yehudah son of the Rosh, covering all the year-round laws and customs. The lengthy preface contains many important details relating to the Tosafists and Rishonim and about the author's times. The author writes that his book is geared to "members of our Master the King's court… [who] due to the turbulences of the time and desire for luxuries… become lax in their fulfillment of Mitzvot…".

Ownership inscriptions on title page and p. 2a.

Glosses and corrections to margins of leaves and main text in several places.

260 leaves. Lacking: leaf 261 and [2] folding plates at end of book. 21 cm. Many stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Wear and creases to some leaves. Marginal tears to title page and other leaves, including tear slightly affecting text on one leaf. New binding, detached.

CB, no. 6368, 2; Zedner, p. 527.