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Tevuot HaAretz by Rabbi Yehosef Schwarz – Jerusalem, 1843-1862 – Complete Set of First Editions – With Dedication Handwritten and Signed by Author
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Complete set of books by R. Yehosef Schwarz, author of Tevuot HaAretz – Divrei Yosef, printed in Jerusalem, first edition, four parts. In Part I, dedication handwritten and signed by author, addressed to Rishon LeTzion (Chief Rabbi) R. Chaim Avraham Gagin:
1. Divrei Yosef, halachah and astronomy of Eretz Israel. Jerusalem, 1843. Two title pages, first with illustrated woodcut.
On front endpaper, handwritten and signed dedication by author (in square and semi-cursive script) to "Rishon LeTzion and foremost in holiness, R. Chaim Avraham Gagin, from the author Yehosef Schwarz".
The recipient of the book, R. Chaim Avraham Gagin, "Rav Agan" (1787-1848), leading Jerusalem Torah scholar and kabbalist. He was the first Rishon LeTzion (Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem) to receive the official title of Chacham Bashi (Chief Rabbi in Jerusalem and Eretz Israel and official representative of the Jews) from the Ottoman authorities. Initiated and encouraged the printing press of R. Yisrael Bak in Jerusalem.
2. Tevuot HaAretz (Part II of Divrei Yosef). Jerusalem, 1845. With divisional title pages for Totzeot HaAretz and Maaseh HaAretz.
3. Divrei Yosef (Parts III-IV, first division), commentaries, responsa and miscellanea. Jerusalem, 1861. Leaf [7] with printed dedication, not filled in by hand. This leaf is not recorded in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book or Sh. Halevy, and does not appear in the NLI copy.
4. Divrei Yosef (Parts III-IV, second division), responsa. Jerusalem, 1862.
R. Yehosef (Joseph) Schwarz (1804-1865) was an outstanding Torah scholar and kabbalist, one of the first researchers in the field of Land of Israel studies. Learning under R. Abraham Bing at the Würzburg yeshiva, he concurrently studied geography and languages at the local university. While still in Germany, he became involved in Land of Israel studies, and in 1829 he published a Hebrew-German map of Eretz Israel which came to be regarded as a reference by historians and geographers at the time. Immigrated to Jerusalem in 1837. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, he was warmly embraced by two colleagues of his from Germany, the founders of the renowned German-Dutch Kollel Hod (an acronym for "Holland-Deutschland"), R. Moses Sachs and R. Eliezer Bergman. R. Schwarz persisted in Torah scholarship for the remainder of his life, including Kabbalah which he studied at the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva. There he resumed his research on the history and geography of the Land of Israel, exploring the length and breadth of the country and closely studying a great number of its sites, recording place names according to local traditions and biblical and Talmudic sources. His identifications of various ancient sites are recognized to this day, and his literary works are regarded as starting points for a host of discussions regarding the history of the Land of Israel, from both halachic and academic standpoints.
Four volumes. Volume I: [8], 70, [6] leaves. Volume II: [2], 156; [1], 2-22; [1], 24-52, [3] leaves. Volume III: [8], 69, [1], 71-247, [1] leaves. Volume IV: [4], 170, [1] leaves. 15-16 cm. Varying condition, good to fair-good. Stains. Tears and wear. Worming. Dampstains to volume III. Minor marginal open tears to title page of volume IV, with old paper repairs. Inscriptions and signatures. Bookplates. Old bindings, somewhat worn, with leather spines.
Sh. Halevy, nos. 17, 31, 58 (leaf [7] with printed dedication is not recorded by Sh. Halevy), 62.
Provenance: Collection of Prof. Jordan S. Penkower.
Early Hebrew Books Printed in Jerusalem
Early Hebrew Books Printed in Jerusalem