Tiferet Yisrael, on the virtue of Torah and mitzvot, by R. Yehuda Loew – the Maharal of Prague. Venice: Daniel Zanetti, [1599]. First edition, printed in the author's lifetime.

Signature on title page (in Hebrew and Latin characters): "Yechiel Michel Sachs – Dr. Michael Sachs" (R. Dr. Yechiel Michael Sachs, rabbi and scholar in Prague and Berlin, d. 1864).

65 leaves. 29.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including large dampstains. Marginal open tear to one leaf, slightly affecting text. Worming. New binding.

Only book of the Maharal printed in his lifetime in Venice. The rest of his works were printed for the most part in his city Prague, and two were printed in Kraków. The book was published by R. Yaakov son of R. Gershon Bak (a progenitor of the Bak family), who had printed Tana D'Vei Eliyahu in Venice a year earlier, and Midrash Tanchuma in Verona in 1595. He later established a Hebrew printing press in Prague.

Includes leaf 65 at end of book, which is lacking in many copies, containing addenda to leaf 49.

CB, no. 6153,14; Zedner, p. 404; Cowley, p. 399.

Sefer HaEmunot, on beliefs and opposition to philosophy, by R. Shem Tov ibn Shem Tov. Ferrara: Avraham ibn Usque, 1556. Only edition.

Title page dated Tamuz 1556. Colophon at end of book dated Tishrei 1556.

Sefer HaEmunot is a polemical work against philosophy and in support of Kabbalah. The author, R. Shem Tov ibn Shem Tov, a Torah scholar in pre-expulsion Spain, directs most of his sharp criticism at the Rambam. The sons and grandson of the elder R. Shem Tov were supporters of the Rambam and philosophy and were even leading commentators of his Moreh Nevuchim (his grandson, R. Shem Tov II, is the author of the famous Shem Tov commentary). A contemporary attests that when they were expelled to Portugal, the sons of R. Shem Tov disposed of all of their father's writings in the Lisbon synagogue, "because they were ashamed of how their father spoke against the Rambam, and in his honor they buried it" (see: Meir Benayahu, Makor Al Megorshei Sefarad BePortugal, Sefunot XI, pp. 236-244). Sefer HaEmunot was rescued from burning by Christians in Portugal, along with other important manuscripts, and was later circulated in many copies, one of which reached R. Moshe (Maharam) Alashkar, who vehemently objected to the derision of the Rambam. In response, he wrote a sharp critique of the book, accusing the author of forgery and malicious intent. Maharam Alashkar's critique was first printed in his responsa (section 117), Sabbioneta 1554. When Sefer HaEmunot was first published in the present edition, the publisher Baruch Uziel Chazaketti felt it his duty to print together with it the objections of R. Moshe Alashkar (and the two books are in fact often bound together).

The two last leaves contain a fragment from the Zohar (printed prior to the first editions of the Zohar, Mantua and Cremona, 1558-1560).

On the title page and last leaf of book appears the printer's mark of R. Avraham ibn Usque, with an astrolabe in the center projecting an anchor, captioned with two Biblical verses and the initials "A.U." (see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, Jerusalem 1944, illustration 22 and pp. 133-134).

Glosses in early Ashkenazic script on first leaves (most containing short summaries of topics).

Censorship expurgations.

On last leaf, signature of censor Giovanni Domenico Carretto, dated 1616.

116 leaves. Approx. 20 cm. Most leaves in good-fair condition, first leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear to first leaves (affecting illustrated title frame). Tears and open tears, affecting text on several leaves, partially repaired with paper. New binding.

CB, no. 7126,1; Zedner, p. 697; Roest, p. 1045.

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.

Milchamot Hashem, philosophical work by R. Levi son of Gershom, the Ralbag. Riva di Trento: [Yaakov Marcaria and Antonio Bruin], 1560. First edition.

On title page: "Milchamot Hashem… the fine parts of the books of Aristotle and other famous philosophers". First edition of the work (the second edition was printed over 300 years later).

Title page with decorated frame and with mark of the printer and physician Yaakov Marcaria, containing the emblem of Prince-Bishop Cristoforo Madruzzo (see: A. Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, Jerusalem 1944, no. 28; note on p. 135).

On the verso of the title page the publisher Yaakov Marcaria addresses the controversy surrounding this work by the Ralbag: "Although some of his statements appear to contradict our Torah and the Jewish sages… and many call it 'Milchamot Im Hashem' (wars with G-d)… he defended himself against this in the introduction to the book…".

Signature on title page: "Belongs to me, Elisha of Portaleone" (apparently the father of R. Shmuel Portaleone, a disciple of R. Menachem Azariah [Rama] of Fano).

On last leaf, signatures of the censors Domenico Gerosolimitano and Domenico Carretto.

75 leaves. 29.5 cm. Good condition. Light stains. Small singe mark on last leaf, with open tear, slightly affecting text. Close trimming, slightly affecting illustrated title frame. Old binding with leather spine. Front binding and spine partially detached. Wear and damage to binding (tears to spine).

CB, no. 6138,2; Zedner, p. 431; Roest, p. 671.

Tur Even HaEzer, with Beit Yosef. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara "with Bomberg press and type", 1565. One of the editions printed in the lifetime of the author, R. Yosef Karo, whose name is mentioned on the title page with a blessing for the living.

Colophon on last leaf by proofreaders, one of who is Vittorio Eliano, grandson of the grammarian R. Eliyahu Bachur.

Censorship expurgations in several places. On verso of last leaf, signature of censor Domenico Gerosolimitano, dated 1598.

Handwritten inscription on title page by "Benaiah of the Baruch family" (from the De Benedetti family of Moncalvo and Casale Monferrato, two neighboring communities in Piedmont, northwest Italy).

Additional inscriptions, partially deleted with ink: "Came to me by lot, Zerach Segre, 15th Cheshvan 1631"; "Acquire truth and do not sell it; granted by G-d to His servant [---] Saraval"; "Purchased [---] 1617".

Another inscription on p. 2a, partially deleted: "Also granted by G-d to His servant [---]".

258 leaves. 35.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, partially repaired with paper. Small marginal tears to several leaves. New binding.

CB, no. 5500,39; Zedner, p. 297.