Minchat Chinuch, "a wide-ranging commentary to Sefer HaChinuch, with tremendous pilpul and wondrous erudition", Parts I-III. Lviv: R. Uri Ze'ev Wolf Salat, [1869]. Three title pages.

First edition of the book, published anonymously in the lifetime of the author – R. Yosef Babad Rabbi of Ternopil, as stated on the title page: "Authored by one of the great Torah scholars of our times, who is holy and pure, and published it anonymously out of his exceptional modesty… was published through the efforts of R. Reuven Kohen Rappaport".

Only in the second edition, printed in Lviv 1889, about 15 years after the passing of the author, did the publisher reveal the name of the author. Over the years, Minchat Chinuch became a basic book in the world of scholarly and in-depth study, in all study halls, in Galicia and Poland, Lithuania or Hungary, and throughout the Jewish world until this day. To date, hundreds of thousands of copies have been printed in dozens of different editions, apart from dozens of books discussing his teachings and questions.

The author,
R. Yosef Babad (1801-1879), Rabbi of Ternopil, was a leading Torah scholar of his times. He was also known for his holiness, and was close to a number of Chassidic luminaries, and he considered Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz his mentor. Served as Rabbi of Husakove, Zbarazh, Sniatyn and finally Ternopil, where his illustrious grandfather R. Yehoshua Babad had formerly presided. He dressed in the garb of Chassidic rebbes, and at times he even received kvittels and dispensed advice and blessings.

Does not contain last seven leaves, with Minchat Ani by the publisher, R. Reuven Kohen Rappaport, and Kometz Minchah, with addenda and further novellae by the author.

All three parts in one volume: [2], 116 leaves; 91, 93-148 leaves; 54, 57-73, 73-89, 91-92, [2], 95-105 leaves. Lacking seven leaves at end ([2], 4, [1] leaves). Leaves 79-80 of first sequence appear twice. Misfoliation. 36.5 cm. Varying quality of paper; some leaves printed on dry, brittle paper (at times also dark). Varying condition, fair to good-fair. Stains. Marginal tears and open tears to first title page and other leaves, not affecting text. Worming to several leaves. First title page and last leaves of volume detached (along with bindings). Old binding, with wear and defects (both sides detached, without spine).

Alfei Menashe, by R. Menashe of Ilya, close disciple of the Vilna Gaon. Vilna: [Simchah Zissel Tipograf and Menachem Man Romm], [1822]. First edition, printed in author's lifetime.

Signature across first leaves (deleted).

[3], 2-92 leaves. 16.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear, worming and small tears. Bookplate. Old leather binding, with wear and defects, without spine.

Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra, no. 1568.

Enclosed: Second edition – Alfei Menashe, by R. Menashe of Ilya, with Maaseh Mikshah by R. Gershon Chen Tov. Warsaw, 1860. Two title pages.

Signature on first title page: "Mordechai son-in-law of R. Yitzchak Mordechai Rosengarten in Mezeritch" [apparently R. Mordechai Friedman of Międzyrzec Podlaski, author of Poteach Davar].

In this edition, only the Talmudic novellae were printed without the main work. This book ignited a controversy, leading to the printing of an opposing book in 1872, Rivevot Efraim.

[1], 14 leaves; 13, [1] leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains and wear. Bookplate. Old binding.

Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.

Portrait of R. Yosef Shlomo Delmedigo – the Yashar of Candia. Illustration by W. Delff, after W.C. Duyster, from Sefer Eilim by R. Yosef Shlomo Delmedigo. [Amsterdam: Menasseh Ben Israel, 1628-1629].

Caption around the portrait: "Ioseph del Medico Cretensis philosophus et medicus aet. XXXVII. Anno M.D.C.XXVIII".

R. Yosef Shlomo Delmedigo of Crete, known as the Yashar of Candia (1591-1665) was a physician, philosopher, astronomer and mathematician, a disciple of Galileo Galilei (mentioned several times in his Sefer Eilim, and granted the honorific of Rabbi – "my teacher").

Approx. 13X18 cm. Good condition. Some stains. Minute tears to margins of engraving. Repaired with paper to verso. Signs of ink at bottom of engraving, slightly affecting artist's name.

Portrait of R. Toviah Katz (Tobias Cohn) the physician, engraving from first edition of his book Maaseh Toviah. [Venice, 1707].

Portrait of R. Toviah Katz the physician, garbed in elegant dress and wearing a fur cap, holding a book and an armillary sphere. Around it is a Hebrew caption: "If you ask my name or my homeland and country or my family, I will answer you faithfully that I am Toviah HaKohen from a family of scribes and from a town of scholars, the faithful city, Metz in France, may G-d secure it. And now I am 48 years old: in the month Eitanim [=Tishrei] of this year, 5461. And I dwell among my people in Constantinople: and may He Who enabled me to bring my thoughts into fruition, grant me the merit to see Jerusalem rebuilt".

R. Toviah HaKohen the physician (Tobias Cohn, 1652-1729) was an Ashkenazic Torah scholar. Born in Metz, he studied in the Cracow yeshiva, where we was ordained. He later studied medicine in the University of Padua in Italy, and lived in Constantinople where he served as physician for the sultan's court, also working on Torah and scientific writing and corresponding with the leading Torah scholars of his generation, including his stepbrother the Chavot Yair. His encyclopedic Maaseh Toviah is highly famous and was published in many editions. He immigrated to Jerusalem in 1715, where he remained active until his passing.

Engraving: approx. 15X20 cm. Matted: approx. 40X48 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears and open tears, affecting frame and margins of engraving, repaired with paper.

Portrait of R. Shlomo Shalem, a rabbi of Bulgaria and of the Portuguese community in Amsterdam. Engraving by Charles-Ange Boily, after an illustration by Benjamin Samuel Bolomey. [The Netherlands, 1762]. Hand-colored copy.

Portrait of R. Shlomo Shalem, aged 44, holding his book Shoneh Halachot, surrounded by a caption in Latin and with a caption in Hebrew below.

A floral border is mounted on the margins of the engraving (pieces of paper cut and colored green).

R. Shlomo Shalem (1708-1781), born in Adrianople (present-day Edirne, Turkey) and raised in Salonika (present-day Thessaloniki, Greece). Served as rabbi in various cities in Bulgaria before being appointed Rabbi of Sofia, the capital city. He later traveled to the west for health reasons, serving temporarily as Rabbi of Belgrade, and eventually reaching Amsterdam, where he was appointed rabbi of the Portuguese community and published his Shoneh Halachot, serving there for about twenty years until his passing. Even in his rabbinic office in Amsterdam he would include his connection to Belgrade as part of his signature, and this is also mentioned in the caption of the present portrait.

29X38 cm; matted: approx. 50X58 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Marginal open tears.

The engraving was previously auctioned by Kedem, Auction 58, Lot 97.