Ten books printed in Amsterdam in the 17th and 18th centuries, including rare first editions:

• Musaf HaAruch – Aruch by R. Natan son of R. Yechiel of Rome, with additions and critiques by R. Binyamin Musafia. Amsterdam, [1655]. First edition of Musaf HaAruch. Ownership inscription on leaf 2.

• Yalkut Reuveni, sayings and midrashim on the Torah, selected from kabbalistic books, the Zohar and early authorities. Amsterdam, [1700]. Second edition.

The author, R. Reuven Hoshke Katz (d. 1673) was a kabbalist and preacher of Prague, grandson of R. Efraim Luntshitz, author of Kli Yakar.

• Shvilei Emunah, ten paths in faith and inquiry, by R. Meir ibn Aldabi. Amsterdam, [1708].

• Kol HaRamaz, commentary on the Mishnah by kabbalist R. Moshe Zacuto. Amsterdam, [1719]. First edition.

• Nedar BaKodesh, selections from Idra Rabba, Idra Zuta, Sifra DiTzniuta and Sefer Yetzirah. Amsterdam, [1723].

• Chavatzelet HaSharon, commentary on the Book of Daniel by R. Moshe Alshich. Amsterdam, [1726].

• Ohel Moshe, homilies by R. Moshe Epstein. Amsterdam, [1759]. Signatures and ownership inscription on title page.

• Likutei Man, haftarot with selected comments from the books of R. Moshe Alshich, edited by R. Eliezer Menachem Manly. Amsterdam, [1764].

Segulah book (as detailed on verso of title page).

• Sova Semachot, commentary on the Book of Iyov by Rabbeinu Bachya, with commentary Divrei HaGeonim. Amsterdam, 1768. Inscriptions on title page. Early stamps.

• Passover Haggadah – Arba Yesodot, selected commentaries. Amsterdam, [1783]. Edition with Hebrew commentary. Lacking 2 leaves at end.

Enclosed:

• Shemenah Lachmo, Part I, seven homilies for festivals, and Part II, seven homilies for circumcision, marriage and more. Dessau, [1701]. "Amsterdam" emphasized on title page. Ownership inscriptions on title page (some deleted) and on second leaf.

11 books. Varying size and condition. Most in new bindings, several volumes in original leather bindings. Bookplates. The books have not been thoroughly examined, and are being sold as is.

Provenance: Collection of Yosef Weinman (1906-1974).

Shem HaGedolim, lexicon of Torah scholars and their books, by R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai. Livorno, 1774. First edition, printed in author's lifetime.

The composition Chasdei Avot, novellae on Tractate Avot by the Chida, is printed at the end of the book.

R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai – the Chida (1724-1806), prominent posek, kabbalist, outstanding Torah scholar and prolific writer. Besides his immense Torah stature, he devotedly undertook the position of emissary on behalf of the Hebron and Jerusalem communities. Twice in his lifetime he traveled to Europe. On his second journey, he reached Livorno in the month of Iyar 1774. Adhering to the law enforced in those days to prevent epidemics, he was detained for 40 days prior to entering the city. The Chida took advantage of that time to write this work, despite the fact that he had no books with him and could only rely on his phenomenal memory and wide-ranging knowledge. In his travelogue Maagal Tov (p. 66), the Chida writes: "While I was detained in confinement, I began and finished Shem HaGedolim". Soon after, at the end of that year, he printed the book. In later years, the Chida printed three more additions to this book. The edition we know today is composed of all four parts.

Inside front board, printed paper bookplate, filled in by hand, of the Toelet society in Amsterdam, dated 1825, with signature of "Zalman Hartner" ("keeper of books"). On title page and other leaves, stamps (partially deleted) of the Toelet society.

Inscription on title page.

131, [1] leaves. 14 cm. Interior of book in good condition, binding in fair condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves, including small marginal open tear to title page. Original leather binding, with gilt decorations. Wear, defects and open tears to binding.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.

Derech Chochmah, bound with: Maamar Al HaHaggadot, Maamar HaIkarim and Maamar HaChochmah – four works by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal. Amsterdam: widow and sons of Yaakov Proops Katz, [1783]. First edition. Divisional title page for each work.

The book comprises four works by the Ramchal, printed here for the first time: Derech Chochmah – on the purpose of human life, the way of attaining it and the correct course of study (presented as a dialogue between a teacher and his disciple); Maamar Al HaHaggadot – the correct approach to aggadic literature; Maamar HaIkarim – explanation of general topics: Torah and mitzvot, prophecy and providence, reward and punishment, and more; and Maamar HaChochmah – explanation of Rosh Hashanah prayers, Passover seder, reincarnation and kabbalistic principles.

These four works have been reprinted many times, most recently under the names Sefer HaMaamarim or Maamarei Ramchal.

Derech Chochmah: [5], 5; Maamar Al HaHaggadot: [1], 3; Maamar HaIkarim: [1], 7; Maamar HaChochmah: [1], 10 leaves. 17.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear and detached leaves. Stamps and inscriptions. Bookplate. Old binding.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.

Zohar, three parts. Slavita: R. Moshe Shapira, [1815]. Complete three-volume set.

Some words on title page in red ink.

The present set is in the earlier small format (a large-format Zohar was printed at a later time by the printer's son).

Ownership inscription, signatures and stamps.

The Slavita Printing Press, Founded by R. Moshe Shapira, Rabbi of Slavita

The Jewish printing press in Slavita (present-day Slavuta, Khmelnytskyi Province, Western Ukraine) operated between 1790 and 1836. The founder of the printing press was the Rabbi of the city, R. Moshe Shapira (1762-1840), son of the renowned R. Pinchas of Korets. Already in his youth, he showed exceptional talent in scribal writing, tracing, carving and etching. His illustrious father encouraged him to develop his talent to master these skills. In the early 1790s, R. Moshe was appointed Rabbi of Slavita, yet he concurrently established his famous printing press, not wishing to utilize Torah as a livelihood. The typeface used in the printing press was fashioned by R. Moshe. Apart from the printing press, he also established workshops for production of the paper and type. A large portion of Slavita's Jews earned their livelihood honorably in one of the many divisions of the printing firm. Slavita books were reputed in the Jewish world for their beauty, splendor and accuracy; as well as for the owner of the press, R. Moshe, who was revered by the great Chassidic leaders. R. Moshe of Slavita was close to the Baal HaTanya, R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who commended him: "Exceptional in Torah, fear of G-d is his treasure, of holy descent". Sipurim Nora'im by R. Yaakov Keidner (Lviv, 1875) relates the wondrous account of how the Baal HaTanya assisted R. Moshe in attaining a government license for his printing press.

A special advantage of this printing press was that it only produced sacred books, and its type was never desecrated by secular books. Most of the workers were G-d-fearing Jews. According to a famous Chassidic tradition, the equipment and type were immersed in a mikveh before use (regarding the printing press in Slavita, see [in Hebrew]: Haim Dov Friedberg, History of Printing in Poland, Tel Aviv, 1950, p. 104; Ch. Lieberman, Ohel Rachel, I, New York, 1980, pp. 199-202; Sh.D.B. Levine, History of Chabad in Tsarist Russia, Brooklyn, 2010, p. 61). Chassidic masters especially prized siddurim and books printed in holiness in the Slavita press for prayer and study, especially the Tikunei HaZohar edition, which was meant for those with the custom to study the present book of Tikunim between Rosh Chodesh Elul and Yom Kippur.

Tikun Leil Shavuot and Hoshana Rabba, based on the Shlah, with Kavanot from the Arizal. Slavita: R. Shmuel Avraham Shapira, son of the Rabbi of Slavita, 1827.

Some words on title page printed in red ink.

[2], 165 leaves. 20.5 cm. Bluish paper. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and wax stains. Tears to title page, repaired with tape, and marginal tears to several other leaves. Worming and small open tears to several leaves, slightly affecting text. New binding, worn and slightly loose.

Another edition was printed concurrently, with [2], 135 leaves. The present edition has known variants between copies in details of censor's name and slight typographical variants (see Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, listing 000303939).

The Slavita Printing Press, Founded by R. Moshe Shapira, Rabbi of Slavita

The Jewish printing press in Slavita (present-day Slavuta, Khmelnytskyi Province, Western Ukraine) operated between 1790 and 1836. The founder of the printing press was the Rabbi of the city, R. Moshe Shapira (1762-1840), son of the renowned R. Pinchas of Korets. Already in his youth, he showed exceptional talent in scribal writing, tracing, carving and etching. His illustrious father encouraged him to develop his talent to master these skills. In the early 1790s, R. Moshe was appointed Rabbi of Slavita, yet he concurrently established his famous printing press, not wishing to utilize Torah as a livelihood. The typeface used in the printing press was fashioned by R. Moshe. Apart from the printing press, he also established workshops for production of the paper and type. A large portion of Slavita's Jews earned their livelihood honorably in one of the many divisions of the printing firm. Slavita books were reputed in the Jewish world for their beauty, splendor and accuracy; as well as for the owner of the press, R. Moshe, who was revered by the great Chassidic leaders. R. Moshe of Slavita was close to the Baal HaTanya, R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who commended him: "Exceptional in Torah, fear of G-d is his treasure, of holy descent". Sipurim Nora'im by R. Yaakov Keidner (Lviv, 1875) relates the wondrous account of how the Baal HaTanya assisted R. Moshe in attaining a government license for his printing press.

A special advantage of this printing press was that it only produced sacred books, and its type was never desecrated by secular books. Most of the workers were G-d-fearing Jews. According to a famous Chassidic tradition, the equipment and type were immersed in a mikveh before use (regarding the printing press in Slavita, see [in Hebrew]: Haim Dov Friedberg, History of Printing in Poland, Tel Aviv, 1950, p. 104; Ch. Lieberman, Ohel Rachel, I, New York, 1980, pp. 199-202; Sh.D.B. Levine, History of Chabad in Tsarist Russia, Brooklyn, 2010, p. 61). Chassidic masters especially prized siddurim and books printed in holiness in the Slavita press for prayer and study, especially the Tikunei HaZohar edition, which was meant for those with the custom to study the present book of Tikunim between Rosh Chodesh Elul and Yom Kippur.