Teshuvot Rabbi Akiva Eiger, book of halachic rulings [responses to Halachic questions] and the first volume of Sefer HaKetavim [responses with explanations of treatises]. Warsaw, 1834. First edition printed during the author’s lifetime, following his request to his sons to print it "on beautiful paper in black ink and fine lettering, because, in my opinion, the soul reacts and the mind and concentration are awakened when studying from an attractive high-quality book" (from the introduction). This book was indeed printed on thick, high-quality paper, manufactured especially for this printing (the watermarks of the paper bear the name of the manufacturer and the name of the person who ordered the print: "Eiger"). Signatures and stamps of Rabbi "Chaim Ya'akov Naftali ben Rabbi A.B. Av Beit Din of Wieruszów". Many scholarly glosses in his handwriting. Some glosses contain thoughts of his grandfather, the Kutno Gaon, author of Zayit Ra'anan. The "Warsaw Tsaddik" – Rabbi Chaim Ya'akov Naftali Zilberberg (1850-1930), a leading Warsaw posek, was a disciple of Rabbi Akiva Eiger's disciples and also studied under Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and the Beit HaLevi. However, he was also accustomed to visiting the rebbes of his times, Rabbi Avraham of Ciechanów and the Sfat Emet of Ger. He was a confidant of the Netziv of Volozhin and the Chafetz Chaim (Rabbi Elchanan always referred to Rabbi Naftali with the title “HaGaon HaTsaddik”). Rabbi Zilberberg was very active in reinforcing Shabbat and family purity observance and he printed proclamations solidifying halachic adherence. He edited the writings of his father Rabbi Avraham Binyamim Av Beit Din of Wieruszów and the writings of his grandfather, the Kutno Gaon, author of Zayit Ra’anan in preparation for printing. Throughout his lifetime he toiled to publish the books of the Maharal Zunz. [1], 222 leaves. 34.5 cm. Thick high-quality paper, good-fair condition, age stains, loose lacking binding. Enclosed at the end of the volume are two leaves, “New additions – glosses on Sefer HaTeshuvot of Rabbi Akiva Eiger”, [Leaves 42-43 of the 1876 Warsaw edition].

Yefe Toar, on Midrash Raba – Bereshit, by Rabbi Shmuel Yaffe Ashkenazi. Furth, [1692]. Two title pages, the first is illustrated. Ancient signatures of "the holy Yissachar known as Ber Ittingo", who wrote that the book was given to him as a gift from his father Rabbi Yehuda Leib of Ittingo on his wedding day. Additional signatures of "Zvi Hirsh of Furth". [1], 540 leaves. Approximately 33 cm. Good condition. Handsome binding, non-original.