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.