Babylonian Talmud – complete set. Munich-Heidelberg, 1949. "Published by Rabbis Committee in the American Zone of Ashkenaz".
Upon termination of World War II and the gathering of Jews in Displaced Persons Camps, there was a shortage of holy books for use by the refugees, as a result of the eradication of books during the war by the Nazis. Starting in 1947 the Va'ad HaRabbanim in Germany, with the aid of the American army and the Joint, arranged an operation of printing the Talmud for the refugees. At first only a few tractates were printed, according to the daily order of reading. In 1949 the first complete edition was printed, to be found herewith.
Each volume contains two title pages. The first was designed especially for the occasion of printing the Talmud on the scorched German soil. An illustration of a Jewish village appears on top of the copy with the writing: "Labour Camp in Ashkenaz during the Nazi Regime".
19 Volumes. 39cm. General good condition. Covers somewhat damaged. One binding not original.

Gemaras from the printing of the Talmud in Amsterdam 1714-1715 (Berachot, Shabbat, Pesachim), and its continuation in Frankfurt am Main 1720-1722 (Shabat, Eiruvin, Rosh Ha'Shanah, Yoma, Succah, Meggilah, Gitin, Nedarim, Nazir, Sotah, Baba Kama, Baba Metzia, Baba Batra, Chulin, Arachin, Temurah, Keritut, Me'ilah, Nida) and another volume printed in Amsterdam (Sanhedrin, Makot, Shavu'ot and Avodah Zarah).
Total of 13 volumes.
More than 150 scholarly comments and glosses appear in all the volumes, some are exceptionally long, in tiny pearl-like handwriting of Rabbi Zvi Binyamin Auerbach, author of "Nachal Eshkol".
The well-known Rabbi Zvi Binyamin Auerbach (1808-1882, Otzar Ha'Rabanim 17500), one of the outstanding leaders of German Jewery and one of the fighters against the reform. Son of Rabbi Avraham Auerbach [a foremost rabbi in Germany and Alsace, disciple of Rabbi Natan Adler and friend of the "Chatam Sofer"]. Served as Rabbi in Darmstadt for twenty three years and held back against the attacks of the reformers. Later served as Rabbi of Halberstadt where he published the book "Ha'Eshkol" of manuscript by Rabbi Avraham son of Yitzchak of Narbona, with extensive commentary named "Nachal Eshkol", in which he demonstrated how brilliant he was and his proficiency in the Talmud and the Poskim, [this book made him world-known, both amongst the Rabbinical circles and the Poskim who discussed his writings, as well as amongst researchers who tried to falsely accuse the book as forged, not written by Rishonim, a polemic that resulted in many writings to one side or the other].
Different handwritten leaves were found within the volumes, Torah novellae and comments, drafts, part of a letter dated 1781, a poem, inscriptions and signatures, [by Rabbis of the Auerbach family]. Ancient signatures and ownership inscriptions of different periods. Ink-stamps of Rabbi Zvi Binyamin Auerbach the second, great grandson of the author of "Nachal Eshkol", the last rabbi of Darmstadt just before the holocaust. Died in Tel Aviv, 1973.
Various sizes and condition [most volumes in poor condition]. Comments in pencil.

1. Tractate Ketubot, of the edition printed in Salonika between 1774-1781, by the leaders of the Talmud Torah in Salonika, in the printing press of Rabbi Refael Yehudah Kalai. The copy is almost complete (missing leaves: 25-26; 136-138. Total of 5 leaves. Some of the leaves are damaged).
2. Tractate Baba Metzia – 11 leaves [apparently printed in the printing press of Refael Yehudah Kalai and his associate Mordechai Nachman. Salonika, between 1774-1781].
These editions are exceptionally rare and complete copies barely exist.
Various sizes and conditions.
From Dr. Israel Mehlman’s private collection.