Responsa of the Ralbach – R. Levi ibn Habib. Venice: printer not indicated, 1565. First edition.

On leaves 277-328 is printed a lengthy chapter on the famous controversy on Semichah ordination: "A polemic between the sages of Safed [headed by R. Yaakov Beirav] and the sages of Jerusalem [headed by the author] regarding Semichah".

Signature on title page (taped over) in Italian script: "Mazal Tov Modona" – apparently, the signature of R. Mazal Tov Modena, disciple of R. Yishmael HaKohen of Modena, author of Zera Emet. A leading Italian Torah scholar in his generation (ca. 1770s-1830s). In 1806 he was called to join Napoleon's Sanhedrin, and after his teacher's passing (in 1811) he succeeded him as Rabbi of Modena.

Inscription in Ashkenazic script: "Yitzchak son of Michael Lange".

On last leaf, signature of censor Giovanni Domenico Carretto, dated 1619.

Censorship expurgations to several leaves.

[6], 209, [1], 217-328 leaves. [2] leaves of errata bound at the beginning of the book. 29.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Marginal open tear to title page, repaired with paper. Worming, slightly affecting text, partially repaired with paper. Paper repairs across margins of leaves in several places. New binding.

There are several known variants of this edition, in some of which the anonymous proofreader's notes are abbreviated or omitted. Changes were made during the course of printing, and some leaves were reprinted. See: Y. Rivkind, Dikdukei Sefarim, Kiryat Sefer, X, 1933-1934, pp. 492-493, no. 8; Y. Rivkind, Alexander Marx Jubilee Volume, New York 1950, pp. 419-420, no. 23; Y. Yudlov, Ginzei Yisrael, Jerusalem 1985, pp. 119-120, no. 715.

CB, no. 6136,2; Zedner, p. 432; Roest, p. 672.

Tur Even HaEzer, with Beit Yosef. Venice: Giorgio di Cavalli, [1565]. One of the editions printed in the lifetime of the author, as alluded to on the title page: "And he entitled it Beit Yosef, may G-d grant him more lengthy days and good years…", and in the chronogram at the foot of the title page which translates as "Yosef Karo is still alive".

Ownership inscription (trimmed) on title page: "Yosef son of [---] Yitzchak Eizik Ashkenazi…".

232 leaves. Leaves 119-120 bound upside down. 33.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including large dampstains and traces of former dampness. Tears, including open tears to title page and first and last leaves, affecting text, mostly repaired with paper. Worming, slightly affecting text. Early binding, damaged. Spine composed of parchment leaves from an early Latin manuscript.

The printer's device of Giorgio di Cavalli, printed on the title page, depicts an elephant bearing warriors in a turret, flanked by a Hebrew inscription (regarding this printer's device, see: Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, images 32-34 and p. 136; Ruthie Kalman, Printer's Marks from Hebrew Books Printed in Venice in the 16th Century, doctoral dissertation, 2010 [Hebrew]). According to Yaari, the Hebrew inscription was added by the renowned proofreader R. Shmuel son of Yitzchak of Bohemia (who later worked at the Prostitz press in Kraków).

CB, no. 5500,38; Zedner, p. 810; Cowley p. 289.

Two books by R. Ovadiah Sforno – first editions:

· Commentary on the Torah, by R. Ovadiah Sforno, "the greatest of physicians". Venice: Giovanni Griffio, 1567.

92 leaves. 20.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Wear. Light worming. Marginal tears to several leaves. Old binding, worn and damaged.

CB, no. 6688,2; Zedner, p. 619; Roest, p. 912.

· Commentary on Shir HaShirim and Kohelet by R. Ovadiah Sforno. Venice: Giovanni Griffio, 1567.

16 leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Worming, affecting text, repaired with tape (with dark residue from tape). Close trimming, slightly affecting decorated frame surrounding title. New binding.

CB, no. 6688,4; Zedner, p. 619; Roest, p. 912.

On verso of last page, signature of censors: Luigi da Bologna, dated 1598, Camillo Jaghel, dated 1613, Giovanni da Montefalcone (undated), Renato da Modena, dated 1626.

On both title pages, printer's device of Griffio. See: Avraham Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, Jerusalem, 1944, pages 18-19, 135-136.

Ibur Shanim, on the Hebrew calendar, by R. Yissachar Susan. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1579. Second edition.

The author,
R. Yissachar son of R. Mordechai ibn Susan (ca. 1510-1580) was born in Fez, Morocco. He immigrated to Jerusalem and studied in the yeshiva of the Ralbach, R. Levi ibn Habib, later settling in Safed. In ca. 1538, he left Eretz Israel (by some accounts he was forced to leave Safed due to his support for his teacher the Ralbach in the famous semichah controversy), passing through Turkey, Salonika, and other lands. At popular request, he then composed his book on the Hebrew calendar, recording the unique customs of the Maghrebi community in Safed to which he belonged (for instance at p. 61a). He writes that he once voiced a ruling regarding the Torah reading in his synagogue in the presence of R. Yosef Karo, and the latter didn't raise any objection (p. 57a). The book was first printed in Constantinople in 1564 under the title Tikun Yissachar, much to the author's chagrin; in his introduction to the present edition the author writes that the 1564 edition contains many errors and omissions. The present work is the author's amended edition. The book features diagrams for calculating moladot and tekufot.

Signature on title page: "Mazal Tov Modena" – signature of R. Mazal Tov Modena, disciple of R. Yishmael HaKohen of Modena author of Zera Emet. A leading Italian rabbi of his times (ca. 1770s-1830s). In 1806 he was invited to Napoleon's Sanhedrin, and after his teacher's passing (in 1811) he succeeded him as Rabbi of Modena. His halachic rulings and novellae remain in manuscript. His son, disciple and successor as Rabbi of Modena was R. David Zacuto, author of Zecher David and more.

Inscriptions on front endpaper: "Mazal Tov Modena… with Mordechai Padua…".

Signature on last leaf: "I am Ish Ger [a stranger] in the land" – R. Avraham Yosef Shlomo Graziano (Ish Ger), an Italian Jewish scholar who lived in the 17th century and a famous collector of books and manuscripts.

On verso of title page, note in Italian script: "Regarding the sealing of judgment on the night of Hoshana Rabba…" (possibly in the hand of R. Graziano).

On last leaf, signatures of censors Girolamo da Durazzano dated 164, Luigi da Bologna, dated 1601, and Arcangelo Calbetti.

136 leaves. 20 cm. Fair condition; some leaves in fair-poor condition. Many stains. Worming in many places (heavy worming to some leaves), affecting text in many places. Old cardboard binding.

CB, no. 5282,2; Zedner, p. 393; Roest, p. 501.

Responsa Divrei Rivot by R. Yitzchak Adarbi. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1586. Second edition.

Signature (in Italian script) at top of title page: "Netanel Trabot" – signature of R. Netanel Trabot (1568-1653), a leading Italian halachic authority of his generation, Rabbi and yeshiva dean of Modena. His famous disciples include R. Avraham Yosef Shlomo Graziano (Ish Ger) and R. Shabtai Be'er, author of Be'er Esek (see at length: Yosef Green, R. Netanel Trabot of Modena, Biography and Halachic Rulings, Asufot, II, Jerusalem 1988, p. 91 [Hebrew]).

Additional signatures and inscriptions on title page: "Belongs to R. Baruch Bendit of Bamberg"; "Belongs to the officer R. Baruch Bendit, leader of the province and chief officer of the Bamberg community, written by Shmuel Shimon…"; "Eliyahu David son of Yosef… Iyar 1683".

Ownership inscription on leaf 2: "Feier son of R. Mordechai Katz of Weikersheim".

On p. 111a, short gloss in Italian script.

On title page and last leaf, signatures of censor Camillo Jaghel dated 1613, and two additional signatures on last leaf, of censor Luigi da Bologna dated 1598 and of censor Renato da Modena dated 1626.

194, [1], 194-198 leaves. 30.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text. Small marginal tears to several leaves. New binding.

CB, no. 5303,2; Zedner, p. 377.