The five books of R. Moshe Alshich on the five Megillot, in five volumes. First editions of all works.

· Shoshanat HaAmakim, on the Book of Shir HaShirim. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1591. Printed in the lifetime of the author. Signature on p. 30a: "Lipman son of R. Itzik Pussweiler [=Bouxwiller]".

· Einei Moshe, on the Book of Ruth. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1601. Signature on p. 30a: "Eliezer Lipman Pussweiler".

· Devarim Tovim, on the Book of Kohelet. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1601. Signature on p. 30a: "Lipman Pussweiler".

· Masat Moshe, on the Book of Esther. Venice: Daniel Zanetti, 1601. Ownership inscription on title page: "Aharon son of R. Elyakim". Ownership inscription on back endpaper: "This book belongs to the officer R. Yosef Willstätt, the tax collector of the Jewish community of Metz. Signed today, Tuesday, 12th Av 1745" (R. Yosef son of R. Lemele Willstätt, a dayan of Metz; an approbation by him appears in Even Yisrael, Metz 1766). Lengthy gloss on p. 16b, signed: "Masud Adahan".

On p. 84b fine woodcuts, depicting the figures of Mordecai, Ahasuerus, Esther and Haman, as well as the feast of Purim, and the mitzvot of gifts to the poor and mishloach manot.

· Devarim Nichumim, on the Book of Eichah. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1601. Signature on p. 30a: "Eliezer Lipman son of R. Itzik Pussweiler".

Shoshanat HaAmakim is the only one of the five books to have been published during the lifetime of the author. All the other books were printed by the author's son, R. Chaim Alshich, about a year after his father's passing.

Romemot El, the Book of Tehillim with a commentary by R. Moshe Alshich. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, [1605]. First complete edition of work.

The book was proofread by the author's son, R. Chaim Alshich. On leaf 2 appears his introduction to the book, in which he laments that his manuscript of the book (which he says was a draft unedited by his father) was stolen and printed, causing him much distress. He appears to be referring to Tapuchei Zahav, printed in Kuruçeşme, 1597, in which the Alshich's commentary was printed, only on the first book of Tehillim and without proofreading.

Signatures on title page (one deleted): "Daniel Shmuel"; additional inscription, cut off: "This book… Yesh[?] Ninio".

Ownership inscription on last leaf: "This book belongs to me, Moshe Franko".

310 leaves. 19.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Light worming to several leaves. Small marginal tears to title page and several other leaves. Final gatherings detached. Original parchment binding. Stains and light damage to binding.

CB, no. 360; Zedner, p. 128.

HaMekach VehaMimkar, by R. Hai Gaon. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1602. First edition.

Ownership inscriptions on title page, deleted.

On p. 97b, signature of censor Domenico Carretto, dated 1602(?).

97, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including many dampstains and traces of former dampness to all leaves, and mold stains in several places. Wear. Small marginal tears to some leaves. Light worming to several leaves. Original parchment binding, worn and damaged.

Shiltei HaGiborim, comprehensive work pertaining to the Temple, the Kohanim and Levites, the Temple vessels, musical instruments and more, by R. Avraham HaRofe Portaleone (Shaar Aryeh). Mantua: printed by the author R. Avraham Portaleone, [1612]. First edition. Four title pages.

In this book, the author describes at length the Temple, its vessels and its service. The principal part of the book (the first 90 chapters) is a comprehensive study of the material aspects of the Temple and its vessels. The book is based on the Bible and rabbinic sources, as well as ancient Jewish, Muslim and Christian traditions and contemporary science – architecture, medicine, chemistry and more. This part also identifies the botanical species of the incense spices and anointing oil, the gemstones on the breastplate and their properties, and a detailed study of the Temple music (including historical details on the instruments and musical modes used in the Temple). In addition, the book contains a comparative linguistic study of Hebrew words, based on the author's mastery of ten European and Semitic languages, especially Greek and Latin.

The book was typeset and printed by Elishama Zifroni, who specifically came from Venice to that end, bringing all the printing equipment and type from the Di Gara printing house, which had been closed shortly beforehand. The typesetter was apparently not adept at his job, and the author complains at length about various issues and printing errors (p. 184b).

On the last two pages is an afterword by the author with autobiographical details, as well as details on his non-Hebrew works and the present book, which was completed in Elul 1607.

Signature on title page, partially deleted with ink: "Shlomo son of R. Elyakim[?]".

Several glosses in Italian script, somewhat trimmed.

12; 103; [1], 106-124; [1], 126-130; [1], 132-186 leaves. Without [1] blank leaf after leaf 103. 28 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Marginal tears to title page and several other leaves, partially repaired with paper. Worming to last leaves, slightly affecting text, repaired with paper. New binding.

CB, no. 4288,1.

Nachalat Yaakov, collection of responsa pertaining to monetary and kashrut issues, edited by R. Yehoshua Yaakov Heilprin. Padua: Gasparo Crivellari, 1622-[1623]. Only edition.

The editor of this book, R. Yaakov Heilprin, was a disciple of the Maharam of Padua and R. Avigdor Cividal of Venice, a Polish exile to Italy. He served as rabbi in several communities, finally settling in Padua near the end of his life. Most of the book is comprised of the responses sent by the Torah scholars of the generation to the author's questions. The authors of the responsa include the Shlah, the Levush, and leading Italian Torah scholars: R. Yitzchak Gershon, R. Simchah Luzzatto, and others. The Torah scholars whose responsa are presented in this book, are listed in the leaf following the title page.

At the beginning of the book (before the list of authors) appears an approbation by R. Yeshayah HaLevi Horowitz – the Shlah, in praise of R. Yaakov Heilprin and his book, and a recommendation to print and buy the book: "It is fitting and a mitzvah to print it, to fulfill 'and the land will be filled with knowledge', and whoever sees it should buy it…". This approbation was written by the Shlah in Venice, on his way to Eretz Israel.

Ownership inscription on title page (somewhat blurred): "G-d granted me this book, Avraham HaLevi of Chełm" – R. Avraham HaLevi of Chełm, Rabbi of Emden – leading Torah scholar of his generation. He succeeded R. Yaakov Emden (Yaavetz) as Rabbi of Emden (ca. 1750s-1760s). He is mentioned in Responsa Noda BiYehudah Kama, Yoreh Deah, section 1, and in Zichron Yaakov (Fürth 1770); a responsum by him dated 1765 appears in Responsa She'elat Yaavetz II, sections 24-25. In 1760 he served as Rabbi of Hildesheim, and his document of appointment is printed in Kerem Shlomo (IV, 1). Together with R. Yaakov Emden he battled the remaining Sabbateans in Germany (see further in articles by A. Brik, Shanah BeShanah, 1980, pp. 335-340; Shanah BeShanah, 1993, pp. 409-420).

4, [1], 5-48, [4] leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including large dampstains to many leaves. New binding.

The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book lists two copies, one of them containing several blank pages, and the other, from the library of N. Ben-Menachem, containing only one blank page – p. 26b. This copy, just like the Ben-Menachem copy, contains only one blank page.

Regarding further typographic differences between the various copies, see: Y. Rivkind, Dikdukei Sefarim, Alexander Marx Jubilee Volume, New York, 1950, p. 429.

CB, no. 5538,2; Zedner, p. 300.