Nachalat Avot, Pirkei Avot with commentary of Rambam and Nachalat Avot by Don Yitzchak Abravanel. [Riva di Trento]-Venice: [Yaakov Marcaria] and Giorgio di Cavalli, 1566.

On title page: "Proofread by Vittorio Eliano, grandson of the chief grammarian R. Eliyahu Bachur Segal".

Copy of prominent Moroccan rabbis. On title page, ownership inscription handwritten and signed by R. Shmuel son of R. Saadiah ibn Danan of Fez, one of the authors of the Moroccan Takanot (flourished ca. 1600): "Purchased by me for my joy… to fulfill my desire, wish and money, a servant of the Merciful and Gracious, Shmuel son of R. Saadiah ibn Danan" (calligraphic signature; the inscription and signature are somewhat trimmed).

Another inscription (somewhat truncated) handwritten and signed by R. Avraham ibn Danan, grandson of the same R. Shmuel, and a leading rabbi of Fez in the time of the Yaavetz: "This book fell into my portion when I divided with my brothers… [1706], a servant of the Merciful and Gracious, Avraham Danan" (calligraphic signature).

Additional ownership inscription of R. Yosef HaLevi ibn Yuli, a rabbi in Meknes: "Belongs to me, I acquired it by purchase in Kislev [1832], Yosef HaLevi ibn Yuli".

On leaf 2, inside the initial panel, signature of R. Yehudah Toledano, also a rabbi in Meknes: "Yehudah Toledano".

On leaves of book, glosses by several writers in Western script. They may be (wholly or partially) by the abovementioned rabbis.

R. Shmuel ibn Danan (the third; ca. 1550-1622), son of R. Saadiah ibn Danan (the second). R. Shmuel was a leading Torah scholar of his generation, and a prominent rabbi in Fez. He was one of the great halachic decisors and is famed as one of the authors of the Moroccan Takanot; his rulings and ordinances are extensively cited in North African responsa literature. He was also a prolific author in all realms of the Torah (for more information on him see: Malchei Rabanan, pp. 123b-124a). R. Shaul Serero, who succeeded him in Fez, calls him "the last of the early lions" (see: Benayahu, Divrei HaYamim shel Fez, Tel Aviv 1993, p. 41). In Responsa Bikesh Shlomo (Casablanca 1930, section 39), R. Shlomo ibn Danan (his descendant) writes: "I heard from… R. Shaul ibn Danan that our ancestor R. Shmuel ibn Danan, the unique one of the rabbis of the Takanot, was one of the two hundred rabbis who ordained Maran" (i.e. who upheld the authority of R. Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch).

The next person to sign, R. Avraham ibn Danan (Malchei Rabanan, p. 16b), great-grandson of the above R. Shmuel (son of R. Shaul son of R. Saadiah son of R. Shmuel). R. Avraham was a member of the Fez Beit Din, and signed many halachic decisions alongside R. Yehudah ibn Attar and R. Yaakov Abensour – the Yaavetz.

Notably, there is a facsimile printed in Mikavtze'el XXVII (Nisan 1999, p. 8) of a copy of Responsa of the Rashba (Bologna, 1539), passed down from R. Saadiah ibn Danan to his son R. Shmuel, which eventually came into the possession of his great-grandson – R. Avraham. It bears a similar inscription by R. Avraham, also from 1706.

R. Yosef HaLevi ibn Yuli (Malchei Rabanan, p. 57a), a rabbi in Meknes, signed halachic rulings and enactments in the latter half of the 19th century (see for example: Mori Amar, Takanot Chachmei Meknes, pp. 200, 223). He immigrated to Eretz Israel in the great 1862 aliyah from Meknes.

R. Yehudah son of R. Meir Toledano (ca. 1780-1840), known as Riat (for his initials) and Haedus(?), a rabbi in Meknes, Salé and Rabat. A prolific author in all fields of the Torah. He left behind many manuscript works (see: Min HaGenazim, XII, pp. 98 ff.).

[21], 25-65, 67-96 leaves. Lacking three leaves: two leaves [14-15] from the unnumbered sequence, and leaf 66. Leaves very disordered. Approx. 29 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Many tears and open tears, to title page and other leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper filling. Worming, affecting text, partially repaired with paper filling. New binding.

The title page features the printer's device of Giorgio di Cavalli, with an elephant bearing a castle containing soldiers (on this printer's device, see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, illustrations 32-34 and p. 136; Ruthie Kalman, "Printer's marks from Hebrew books printed in Venice in the 16th century", doctoral dissertation, 2011 [Hebrew]).

This book was printed in two locations. Most of the book (gatherings i-x, approx. first 60 leaves apart from title page) was printed in Riva di Trento, while only the title page and last part were completed in the Venice press (differences are discernible in font, typography and gathering markings).

CB, no. 1443; Zedner, p. 551; Roest, p. 824.

Responsa of the Geonim. Prague: Mordechai son of Gershom HaKohen, 1590. Second edition of the short Teshuvot HaGeonim, based on the Constantinople 1575 edition.

The book contains four hundred brief responsa, with an index. Most questions relate to civil law, while the others relate to marriage law. While this anthology of responsa preserves early Geonic material, most importantly fragments of Sefer HaMaasim Livnei Eretz Yisrael, it also contains many forged responsa (more than a hundred, over a quarter of the responsa in the book) which, rather than Geonic responsa, are adaptations of the Shulchan Aruch or other sources (see at length: S. Emanuel, Teshuvot HaGeonim HaKetzarot, in: Atara L'Haim, Studies… in honor of Professor Haim Zalman Dimitrovsky, Jerusalem 2000, pp. 439-459).

Title page illustrated with various figures of humans, angels and lions, with the printer's device of Mordechai son of Gershon HaKohen in the center, depicting hands offering the priestly blessing (see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, no. 38, note on pp. 137-138).

On the verso of the title page is an introduction by the editor R. Shlomo Kabuli, and at the end of the book are concluding words and a poem by R. Menachem Egozi – both reprinted from the Constantinople 1575 edition.

On last leaves, stamps (two deleted) of R. Yaakov Meir Biderman of Warsaw.

R. Yaakov Meir Biderman (1870-1941; perished in the Holocaust), eminent Torah scholar, son-in-law of the Sefat Emet and editor of his books. Served as dayan and member of the Vaad HaRabbanim of Warsaw. R. Yaakov Meir was one of the prominent leaders of the Ger Chassidic community and presided over the R. Meir Baal HaNes fund in Poland. He and his brother-in-law R. Mendel of Pabianice were involved in mediating between the administrators of the kollel in a dispute that had ramifications on differences of opinion between the different Chassidic courts in Poland (Ger, Aleksander, Porisov, Amshinov and others). R. Yaakov Meir was the father-in-law of his brother-in-law the Imrei Emet in his second marriage (Rebbe Pinchas Menachem, the Pnei Menachem, was born from this marriage), and of the Beit Yisrael in his first marriage.

Handwritten glosses and additions to contents and other leaves, some in an early hand (approximately contemporaneous with the printing).

[46] leaves. 18.5 cm. Partly dark paper. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Marginal tears and open tears to several leaves (mainly to last leaves), and small tear slightly affecting text of one leaf. Title page apparently supplied from another copy (margins repaired with paper filling). Stamps. New binding.

CB, no. 4053; Zedner, p. 726; Roest, p. 1009.

Kli Chemdah, homilies and commentaries on Midrash Rabbah on the Torah, by R. Shmuel Laniado of Aleppo. Venice: Giovanni (Zuan) di Gara, 1594-1595. First edition.

Homilies on Midrash Rabbah, according to the order of the Torah portions.

The author, R. Shmuel Laniado (1530-1605; LiKedoshim Asher BaAretz, 275), a Torah scholar of Safed and leader of the Jewish community in Aleppo, Syria, where he was dispatched by his teacher – R. Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch. Known as Baal HaKelim, after his works: Kli Chemdah, Kli Paz, Kli Golah and Kli Yakar.

The title page gives the date of printing as 1594 (slight error in chronogram), while the colophon on p. 268b gives the date as 17th Tishrei 1595.

Handwritten inscription on title page: "From the sons of the deceased R. Yosef Alatino".

270, 6, [1] leaves. 29.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of former dampness, with light mold stains. Worming, partially repaired with paper. Small marginal tears to several leaves. Verso of title page repaired with paper. Old binding.

On the title page appears the printer's device of Yosef son of Yaakov Shalit of Padua – a shield with a peacock, surrounded by a rhyme and topped with a crown (Yosef son of Yaakov Shalit appears not to have been involved in the printing of the book, and the illustration is only decorative; see: Y. Yudlov, Diglei Madpisim, Jerusalem 2002, p. 22).

CB, no. 7051,1.

Midbar Yehudah, sermons for the festivals, weddings, circumcisions, bar mitzvahs, eulogies and more, by R. Yehudah Aryeh of Modena. Venice: Daniel Zanetti, 1602. First edition.

On verso of title page, poem by R. Shmuel Archivolti, teacher of the author, praising the book and its author, and a poem of friendship by R. Azariah Figo.

On last page, "prayer to cleanse the proofreader of errors, to the reader", by the proofreader R. Nisim Shushan.

On front endpaper, ownership inscriptions: "Moshe Yehudah Belgrado"; "Av[raham] Mo[she] Belgradi".

The signatures appear to belong to R. Moshe [son of] Yehudah Belgrado, a friend of the author, R. Yehudah Aryeh, and his son – R. Avraham [son of] Moshe Belgrado – a disciple of R. Yehudah Aryeh, and recipient of his ordination as Chaver. R. Yehudah Aryeh was a friend of the family (see preface to Responsa Ziknei Yehudah, Simonson edition, Jerusalem 1956, p. 35), and he was likely the one who gave the book as a gift to R. Moshe Belgrado.

Several glosses, corrections and added punctuation in text and margins. Several censorship expurgations (with handwritten replacement of text on one leaf).

104 leaves. Leaves 2-3, 5-12 appear twice. 18 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming and tears to several leaves. Leather binding, damaged.

On last leaf, signature of censor Girolamo da Durazzano, dated 1640.

CB, no. 5745,17; Zedner, p. 428; Roest, p. 666.

Etz Shatul, Sefer HaIkarim by R. Yosef Albo with explanation by R. Gedaliah son of Moshe [Lipschitz]. Venice: Giovanni Cajon, [1618]. First edition.

The author of Etz Shatul was a Polish Torah scholar. The book begins with approbations from the prominent leaders of the generation, including the Shlah, the Maharsha, the Maharam of Lublin, the Kli Yakar, the Tevuot Shor and others. The work is divided into "roots" and "branches". The text of Sefer HaIkarim appears in the center of each page, with the "roots" and "branches" printed around it.

Copy of R. Shmuel David Luzzatto – Shadal. On title page, ownership inscriptions in his handwriting: "Shmuel David Luzzatto – professore del Collegio Rabbinico di Padova" (in Hebrew script); and several other inscriptions in his handwriting.

On leaves of book, glosses handwritten by Shadal, most in pencil.

Two glosses in a different hand on pp. 85a and 89a. The first begins: "To me, Avraham, it seems…".

We know of another copy of this edition possessed by Shadal, which bears his inscription dated 1841 stating that he received it from Shlomo Shmuel Ancona, in exchanged for a Soncino [1486] edition of Sefer HaIkarim. The title page and two more leaves of this copy survived, and were put up for auction by Judaica Jerusalem, Purim 1994, Lot 216.

144 leaves. Without last two leaves. 28.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming to title page and other leaves, affecting title frame and text. Tears and open tears, affecting text, partially repaired with paper. New binding.

Does not contain last two leaves, lacking from many copies (these leaves are also lacking in the scanned copies on Otzar HaChochma and HebrewBooks).

CB, no. 5882,7; Zedner, p. 353; Roest, p. 594-595.