"This is the book of Adam HaRishon given to him by Raziel HaMalach". Kabbalah and segulot. Amsterdam: Moses Mendes Coutinho, [1701]. First edition. Many kabbalistic illustrations.
This is the first edition, arranged and printed from manuscripts. This book is the source of many renowned segulot, for remembering what one has learnt, a protection amulet for parturients, etc. Just having this book in the house is a proven segulah for protection from harm and fire, as is written on the title page. Some say that it is a segula for the childless and women experiencing difficult labor.
Damaged and incomplete copy. 18, [1], 19-44 leaves; [2] handwritten leaves. (Originally: 18, [1], 19-45 leaves. Leaf 45 is completely lacking, and was replaced in handwriting over two leaves). Open tears affecting text, with handwritten replacements, to every leaf of the book. Size of tears varies. At the beginning of the book the tears are relatively small, then medium size, and towards the end of the book are several big tears (half the leaf or more). Many of the illustrations and angel seals on the last leaves are missing and were replaced in handwriting. 22 cm. Fair-poor condition. Apart from the tears described above, stains, wear, and marginal tears to the title page repaired with paper. Darkened leaves. Contemporary leather binding with clasp remnants. Damage to the binding.

Mesillat Yesharim, including all topics of ethics and fear of G-d, by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto - the Ramchal. [Amsterdam]: Naftali Hertz Rofe, [1740]. First edition, printed during the lifetime of the Ramchal by his leading disciples in Amsterdam.
Incomplete copy - four leaves from the proofreaders' introductions and the indices are missing.
Mesillat Yesharim is accepted as a refined, clear summary of all the Ramchal's other works (Derech Hashem, Daat Tevunot, 138 Pitchei Chochma, etc.), written in measured, precise language with great depth of thought. In his introduction to the book Mesillat Yesharim - im Iyunim (with study), R. Yechezkel Sarna mentions a tradition passed down in the name of the Vilna Gaon that until Chapter 11 not one unnecessary word can be found in the book [!]. R. Yerucham of Mir would tell his disciples that "Mesillat Yesharim is based on the Ramchal's more esoteric works on Kabbalah, but he simplified the concepts so as to make them more accessible to us. We imagine that we have a connection to Ramchal's words [but in reality they are deeply esoteric]" (Daat Chochma U'Mussar, 1, p. 249).
The author explains in his introduction that this work was composed to assist in the acquisition of ethical wisdom and fear of G-d, which cannot be acquired by knowledge alone. The purpose of this work is not the innovation of new concepts but rather the constant review and meditation which anchor thoughts inside a man's soul. Indeed, this book has been accepted across the worldwide Jewish population as the primary book of ethical study.
When the Vilna Gaon first received this book he proclaimed that a new light has come down to illuminate the world. Due to his great regard for the book, he paid an entire gold dinar (a high price) for it. Rabbi Y. Meltzen wrote in his introduction to Derech Hashem that he heard Torah scholars say in the name of the Vilna Gaon that if the author was still living, he would travel by foot all the way to Italy to greet him. The Vilna Gaon was accustomed to reviewing the book often.
Chassidic leaders as well understood the great qualities of the book and the holiness of its Kabbalistic author. The Maggid of Kozienice said that all the levels he reached in his youth stemmed from the book Mesillat Yesharim. The holy Rebbe of Apta, author of Ohev Yisrael, and R. Menachem Mendel of Rimanov diligently studied Mesillat Yesharim in depth and had awesome and wonderful things to say about it. The Rebbe of Apta was used to saying that he received his spiritual direction and his education first and foremost from the book Mesillat Yesharim (Sefer HaChassidut, p. 146). Rebbe Nachman of Breslev was accustomed to instruct newcomers to Judaism to study Mesillat Yesharim, and the author of Bnei Yissaschar wrote in in his additions to the book Sur MeRa V’Ase Tov that "this book will quench your thirst and … its words are sweeter than honey". R. Yaakov Yosef of Ostroh writes in his approbation to the book 138 Pitchei Chochma by the Ramchal (Koritz 1785): "The book Mesillat Yesharim, the path the tzaddikim tread, written by …Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto is the Torah which Moshe presented to Israel to understand the words of our Sages and their 'riddles', by its straightforward sayings...". In his introduction to the book, the publisher quotes the words he heard from the Maggid of Mezritch that "his generation was not worthy to understand the righteousness and abstention [of the Ramchal]".
The tzaddik R. Yosef Zundel of Salant told his great disciple R. Yisrael of Salant that upon receiving a farewell blessing when leaving the Volozhin Yeshiva, he asked R. Chaim of Volozhin which mussar book to study. His teacher responded: "All mussar books are good to study, but Mesillat Yesharim should be your guide". Since its first printing in 1740, Mesillat Yesharim has been reprinted in hundreds of editions [!], and until today it remains the primary mussar book in Torah and Chassidic study halls.
[4], 61 leaves. (Incomplete copy - originally: [6], 63 leaves. Missing [2] leaves from the proofreaders' introductions, and two leaves from the indices at the end of the volume.) 15.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming to the text. (The book has been professionally restored with paper). The title page contains the signature: "Refael David Tevel Halevi". New handsome vellum binding.

Sefer Yetzira with five commentaries, including the commentary by R. Eliyahu of Vilna (the Gaon of Vilna), printed here for the first time. Grodno, 1806.
First edition of the Vilna Gaon's commentary. Includes Kabbalistic sketches. This is the first Kabbalistic book of the Vilna Gaon's teaching to be printed. Published by his renowned disciple R. Menachem Mendel of Shklow, who later immigrated to Eretz Israel and founded the Ashkenazi settlement in Jerusalem.
An inscription in large letters appears in the margin of p. [23b]: "A gift from the great luminary of Neustadt, son of the brother of the holy R. Eliyahu of Vilna".
R. Eliyahu, Rabbi of Neustadt-Sugind (Žemaičių Naumiestis), was the nephew of the Gaon of Vilna. His father was R. Avraham, author of Maalot HaTorah, brother of the Gaon of Vilna.
12, [2], 42, [30] leaves. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Pages trimmed on text border, slightly affecting the titles and the edge of the text on several leaves. New binding.
Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra 682.

Halachot Ketanot, responsa on various topics, two parts, by R. Yaakov Chagiz. Venice, [1704]. First edition.
The margins and endpapers of the book are brimming with hundreds of notes in Ashkenazic script. Some of the notes relate to the contents of the book. A few of them begin with the sharp remarks: "All is nonsense", "This is nonsense" and the like. However, most of the notes are completely unrelated to the contents of the book, and contain ideas on various verses and more. The writer actually made use of the margins of the book as available space to record his novellae, and this book essentially contains a large handwritten composition.
Signatures appear on the title page and on p. 28b of R. Shmuel Zanvil son of R. Eliezer Lieberman Bing - one of the rabbis of the Kloiz in Halberstadt, Germany (d. 1758). The Hazkarat Neshamot booklet of the Kloiz (Yosef Meisel, Reshumot, New Series 3, 1947) extols his virtues: "Master in wisdom yet young in years… swift in study of Torah, sharp and well versed in Talmud and Halacha, unique in his time, toiled and wrote many novellae, for thirty years he resided in the House of G-d – the great Beit HaMidrash…".
The back endpaper contains an ownership inscription: "This book belongs to the great luminary R. Shmuel Zanvil, known as R. Zanvil Brandenburg, who lives here in Strelitz". [R. Shmuel Zanvil Brandenburg was the rabbi of Strelitz and later a dayan in Berlin. See his approbation from 1777 to the book Chukei Chaim (Berlin, 1796), and see: Landshuth, Toldot Anshei HaSheim, p. 85; Meisel, Pinkas Kehilat Berlin, pp. 302, 260].
Some of the notes were possibly handwritten by one or both of these rabbis.
Stamps of R. Moshe Efraim Zuckerman (rabbi in Poznań).
[4], 71, [9] leaves. Leaves 13-14 were bound after leaf 16. 24.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. In many notes, the ink is faded and difficult to read. Old binding, peeling. Worming to back cover. Lacking spine.

Hanhagat V'Limud HaTalmidim V'Darchei Yesod HaLimud, by R. David Meldola. Amsterdam, [1754].
The book includes two sections, the first one named Hanhagat HaTalmidim, surrounded by the Limud HaTalmidim commentary, and the second called Darchei HaLimud, surrounded by the Yesod HaLimud commentary.
The page adjoining the title page contains a dedication handwritten and signed by R. Yisrael Landau, son of the Noda BiYehuda, to his friend R. Shimon Oish, one of the Torah scholars of Prague. The initials of this exceptional poetic dedication spell out: "Mazal Tov, Shimon son of R. Moshe Wolf Oish". The dedication is signed: "… Yisrael… one of the small ones of the tribe of Levi… from the Landau family… today Thursday 19th Cheshvan [1818]".
R. Yisrael HaLevi Landau (1758-1830) was the youngest son of R. Yechezkel Landau - the Noda BiYehuda, and father of R. Eliezer Landau of Brody (author of Yad HaMelech on Rambam). He was his father's close attendant. In 1791, in his father's lifetime, he published the book Tziyun LeNefesh Chaya – Tzelach on Tractate Brachot. In his preface, the Noda BiYehuda praises his son for offering to print and disseminate his teachings, taking upon himself everything involved in publishing the book. After his father's passing, he also published Tzelach on Tractate Beitza, and edited and published his father's book Dagul MeRevava on Shulchan Aruch, adding his forewords in fine, poetic language. His father quotes his novellae several times in his books (for instance, at the end of Tzelach on Pesachim: "and these are the words of my youngest son the great scholar R. Yisrael Segal"). He published anonymously a book named Chok L'Yisrael (Prague, 1798) – an abridgment of Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvot and Smag, with Judeo-German translation, and also composed the books Har HaZeitim and Moneh Mispar on Talmudic Aggadot, which remained in manuscript form.
The addressee of the dedication, R. Shimon Oish, was one the rabbis and Torah scholars of Prague, "who's heart was aflame with the fire of Torah since his youth" (see Kedem Auction 14, item 369). He was mechutan with R. Shmuel Landau, rabbi of Prague and son of the Noda BiYehuda, with whom he had correspondence in learning already before he married. This correspondence was printed in R. Shmuel's book Shivat Tzion in a few responsa, in one of them R. Shmuel writes to him: "…dove into mighty waters and wisely collected extensive and profound Talmudic principles… and I studied his delightful words and took great pleasure in them…". He also corresponded with Maharatz Chayes and R. Shlomo Yehuda Rapoport (Shir). He left behind handwritten compositions.
[7], 9, 11-12, 49-51; [1], 7, 9-20, [1] leaves. 14 cm. Good condition. Stains. Worming. Gilt edges. Fine original binding with gilt ornamentation. Minor damage and stains to the binding.
This copy contains an additional leaf of approbations and the last leaf, which do not appear in all copies (see Bibliography of the Hebrew Book, no. 147871).