Small-format volume with four books by R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai – the Chida: Moreh BaEtzba, Tziporen Shamir, Kesher Gudal and Kaf Achat. Livorno: Eliezer Saadon, [1802].

Divisional title page for each book. At top of first title page, handwritten dedication by the author – the Chida – to the emissary R. Yehudah Aharon Skali: "A small gift to the comprehensive scholar R. Yehudah Aharon HaKohen, may G-d grant him success and favor and bring him home safely. The author".

On verso of title page, self-dedication of R. Yehudah Aharon HaKohen Skali, recipient of the book: "'One who studies gifts will live', from… R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai, the author, may his light shine for me… Yehudah Aharon HaKohen Skali, 1807", with another cursive signature of his.

On leaf 2, stamp of R. Yehudah Aharon HaKohen Skali.

On front endpaper, inscription in Western script: "This book belongs to… Aharon HaKohen… signed Shlomo Gabison HaLevi" [cursive signature].

R. Yehudah Aharon HaKohen Skali, a rabbi of Jerusalem, grandson of R. Yitzchak HaKohen, author of Batei Kehunah. He set out as an emissary from Jerusalem to Italy, and was unusually one of the signatories permitting playing the organ in the Reform synagogue of Hamburg in 1817, although he is believed to have hinted at being compelled to sign. Avraham Yaari (Shluchei Eretz Yisrael, p. 710) dates his mission to Italy to the year 1817, likely based on the above signature, but the self-dedication appears to indicate that he had already received the book from the Chida in 1807!

He continued his journey from Trieste to Tripoli, North Africa, but was captured by pirates on the way there. After the Jews of Ancona redeemed him, he continued on his journey, and later detailed his tribulations in a letter to R. Moshe Elbaz in Sefrou (see: Yaari, ibid.).

Several inscriptions and pen trials on front endpapers.

131, [1] leaves. 14 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Dark inkstains to first leaves. Tears, affecting text on leaves 130-131. Original leather binding (gilt inscriptions of book names on spine, in initials). Tears and defects to binding.

Bookplate of Naphtali Herz van Biema of Amsterdam.

Bookplates of Mozes Heiman Gans.