Sefer Michlol, by Rabbi David Kimchi, the Radak, with "explanations" by R. Eliyahu Bachur (Elia Levita). Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1545.
Signature on the title page: "…Jacob Beyth of Hamburg". Many marginal comments in Hebrew and Latin in ancient script contemporary to the publishing. The comments are the handwriting of the Italian apostate Immanuel Tremellius. Some of the Hebrew comments open with the words, "Thus said Immanuel Tremellius".
Immanuel Tremellius (1510-1580) was a Jewish apostate, priest and missionary. He was born in Ferrara, Italy, and converted first to Roman Catholicism, then to Protestantism, and finally to Calvinism. He was a Hebrew professor in the universities of Strasburg, Cambridge and Heidelberg, and tremendously influenced the study of Hebrew in England. He wrote a number of works including a missionary work in Hebrew entitled "Educating G-d's Chosen". This work was later published in Madras (today Chennai, India), in order to missionize the Jews of India. (See: Heberman, the History of Hebrew Publishing, Jerusalem, 1978, pp. 221, 290; Ya'ari, Hebrew Printing in the East, Vol. II, p. 99).
239, 238-268, [1] leaves. 15 cm. Good condition. Stains. Wear on the title page. Contemporary vellum binding. Slight damage to binding.
Provenance: Toaff family collection.

Sifrei, Halachic midrashim on Sefer Bamidbar and Sefer Devarim. Venice: Daniel Bomberg, [1545]. First edition.
Censorship inscription on last page.
63 leaves. 29.5 cm. Good condition. Most pages are clear and clean. Stains. Slight worming. New binding.

Sefer Bechinat Olam, ethical and philosophical poetry, by R. Jedaiah (HaPenini) ben Abraham Bedersi. Ferrara, 1551. First edition with commentaries by R. Moshe Ibn-Habib and Bakashat Hamemin (request written in poem form, with all words beginning with the letter Mem), by R. Yosef Frances.
The book is comprised of ethical lessons in poetic format regarding this world and the world to come. The Bakashat Hamemin appears at the end of the volume.
Rabbi Jedaiah HaPenini Bedersi (ca. 1270-1340) was a poet, doctor and philosopher from Beziers, France. He considered himself a disciple of the Rambam and he wrote enthusiastically in his favor during the great debate regarding the study of philosophy. (His responsa were published in the Rashba's responsa, chapter 418).
Ownership inscriptions of R. Yonatan Leib Kreitzler, a Kabbalist from Bonyhad, son-in-law of R. Shmuel Halevi Austerlitz of Tab.
122; 13 leaves. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Repaired tears to the margins of the title page and other pages. Slight worming, partially repaired. Original vellum binding; repaired.

Livyat Chen, principles of Hebrew grammar and writing, by R. Immanuel Benevento. Mantova (Mantua): Meir ben Ephraim of Padua and Yaakov ben Naftali Hacohen of Gazzolo, [1557]. Only edition.
On the title page is the signature of R. Gur Aryeh Halevi: "Gur Aryeh Levi - I know my redeemer lives". On the last page is the signature of "Moshe Ish Tov Halevi". Long glosses in Italian Hebrew script. Handwritten vowelization marks, as well as dozens of short notes and corrections.
The Kabbalist R. Gur Aryeh Halevi Finzi, son of R. Moshe Hoshaya Halevi Finzi, was known as Harav Ga'al (died 1697, Otzar Harabanim 4370). He was a renowned 17th century rabbi in Mantova, where he was appointed dayan in 1665. He corresponded with R. Shmuel Aboav, and dozens of responsa in "Responsa Devar Shmuel" are addressed to him, (par. 97, 106-123, 132-133, 141-144, 153-155, 161-169, 172-174, 210-211, 217-220). He also corresponded with R. Moshe Zacut (See Responsa Harama"z, Yoreh Deah par. 2, Even HaEzer par. 1), and with his student R. Binyamin Hacohen Vitale (see Responsa Haraba"ch). He was a great Kabbalist, and the Chida (Shem Hagedolim, Harama"z), states that R. Gur Aryeh heard the heavenly messenger who taught Torah to Rama"z. His glosses on the Shulchan Aruch were printed after his death in the edition of Shulchan Aruch printed in Mantua (1722-1723) by his student R. Avraham Yedidya Basila and by his nephew, R. Gur Aryeh ben R. Binyamin Halevi Finzi.
R. Gur Aryeh Halevi Finzi II (ca. 1697-1753), rabbi in Casale and Mantova, was the son of R. Binyamin Halevi, brother of R. Gur Aryeh Halevi Finzi. In 1721 he was appointed dayan on the Beit Din of R. Yehuda Briel in Mantova. In 1722 he began to print the Shulchan Aruch with the glosses of his uncle, together with his teachers, the renowned brothers R. Avraham Yedidya Basila and R. Aviad Sar Shalom, author of "Emunat Chachamim". In his introduction, R. Gur Aryeh writes that he was named for his renowned uncle who passed away before his birth. He corresponded in Kabbalah with the students of HaRamaz, with R. Avraham Sagari of Casale, and with R. Eliezer Sofina, rabbi of Pisa. [The book "Toldot Geonei Italia" p. 66-67 mentions the younger R. Gur Aryeh as a grandson of the elder, where in reality they were uncle and nephew. The title "Grandson" was commonly used to refer to nephews in Italy and France. The Italian term Nipote can also refer to a grandson or a nephew - see "Beit Aharon VeYisrael", issue 151, pp. 156-157; issue 152, pp. 133-134; issue 189, pp. 171-172].
[6], 108 leaves (missing [2] leaves at the end that have been added to several copies). 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Many stains and wear. Worming. Title page is worn and has been backed with paper. Open tear in the center of leaf [6]. New leather binding, damaged. Bookplate.
Last page contains censors' signatures from 1595 and 1628. Missing [2] leaves which contained a lamentation over the burning of the Talmud in Ancona in 1556, which was witnessed by the author.
Provenance: Toaff family collection.

Sefer Tzori HaYagon, ethics and philosophy, by Rabbi Shem Tov ben Yosef Ibn Falaquera [includes glosses by R. Shaul ben Shimon]. Cremona: Vincenzo Conti, [1557]. First edition.
Printed on the title page: "This book has the power to rid the soul of anguish as the five grains rid the body of hunger".
20 leaves. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. New binding.