Collection of books from the 17th-19th centuries with interesting ownership inscriptions, signatures and handwritten notes:
· Shulchan Aruch, with the Me'irat Einayim commentary (Sema) by R. Yehoshua Falk HaKohen. Berlin, [1717]. Bound with: Turei Zahav on Choshen Mishpat, by R. David HaLevi Segal. Fürth, [1767]. Notes in early Ashkenazic script (18th century). An interesting ownership inscription appears at the end of the volume, by a Jew named Shlomo Zalman, mentioning his studies under his teachers R. Zerach Eidlitz in Prague and R. Matityahu Neugroschel of Prague, Rabbi of Rausnitz (Rousínov).
· Lechem HaPanim, commentary on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah, by R. Moshe Yekutiel Kaufman. Wilhermsdorf, [1726]. Numerous signatures and ownership inscriptions: "Itzek Lifchovitz"; "This book belongs to Aharon Katz of Hirschaid" (Germany); "G-d granted me this holy book, Avraham Baruch Katz of Hirschaid, I purchased this book from Leib the bookseller for… Today, Monday, Tammuz 21, 1735"; "I, his younger brother Aharon Katz of Hirschaid, acquired this book from my step-brother written above, in exchange for… Tuesday, Shevat 11, 1736"; "I acquired this book from the one written below… Chaim son of R. Shimshon", and additional signatures. Several brief notes.
· Responsa Beit Yaakov, by R. Yaakov of Zuzmir (Sandomierz). [Dyhernfurth, 1696]. Lacking 2 leaves at the beginning and [8] leaves of indexes at the end. Several notes, by two writers.
· Mishneh Torah, Part I, Mada-Zmanim, by the Rambam. Fürth, [1765]. A signature appears on the title page: "Mordechai Adler". An ownership inscription appears at the top of the title page: "…Aharon Moshe, I acquired it from R. Mordechai Adler Katz, Marcheshvan 17, 1796…". Other ownership inscriptions and signatures.
· Pri Chadash, on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah, by R. Chizkiya da Silva. Fürth, [1769]. Various signatures and ownership inscriptions: "Belongs to… the great Torah scholar… Dov, head of the Beit Din of…"; "Belongs to R. Avraham son of R. Yosef, Posek of Lazdijai"; "Aharon son of R. Y.Tz."; and other signatures.
· Seder HaDorot, history of personages and events from the creation of the world until close to the time of the author, by R. Yechiel Heilprin Rabbi of Minsk. Karlsruhe, 1769. First edition. Part of the title page is missing and was replaced with a photocopy. Lacking last two leaves. An ownership inscription appears on the title page: "This Seder HaDorot belongs to my father, the prominent Torah scholar R. Michael Shimon May, bookseller… here in Breslau… Moshe Leib son of the great scholar…" (R. Michael Shimon May, d. 1833, a renowned scholar, printer and bookseller, one of the authors of Chiddushei Hagahot on the Tur – printed in Dyhernfurth, see item 172). Several handwritten notes appear in the book.
· Shaar HaMelech, on the Rambam, three parts, by R. Yitzchak Nunez-Belmonte, with Taam HaMelech, by the physician R. Baruch Jeitteles of Prague. Brno, [1801-1803]. Second edition of Shaar HaMelech and first edition of Taam HaMelech. Lacking title page and last leaf of Part II. Ownership inscription handwritten and signed by R. Yosef Shmuel Katz (a dayan in Nikolsburg [Mikulov] at the time of Maharam Banet): "…I thank G-d that I merited to purchase Shaar HaMelech, Yosef Shmuel son of R. Refael Katz".
· Responsa Noda BiYehuda, Tinyana, Part I (Orach Chaim and Yoreh De'ah) and Part II (Even HaEzer and Choshen Mishpat), by R. Yechezkel Landau. Sudylkiv, 1833. Printed on light-blueish paper. Stamps of the kabbalist R. "Menachem Menchin Heilperin" (1834-1924, one of the founders and deans of the Shaar HaShamayim yeshiva for kabbalists. Composed and published many Kabbalistic works). Notes in (cursive and square) Ashkenazic script.
9 books in 8 volumes. Size and condition vary.

Talmud Yerushalmi Seder Nashim, with the Pnei Moshe and Mareh HaPanim commentaries, by R. Moshe Margolis. Amsterdam: Johannes Janssonius, [1754]. First edition of the Pnei Moshe commentaries.
An ownership inscription appears at the top of the title page, handwritten and signed by the great Torah scholar R. Binyamin Wolf Lev: "G-d granted me this holy book, so says B. Wolf". P. 24a of Tractate Gittin contains a scholarly note (slightly trimmed) in his handwriting.
Additional signatures. Signatures in Atbash cipher appear on the title page and at the beginning of the preface, which when decrypted read: "Michael Bacharach" and "Michael".
The famous Torah scholar, R. Binyamin Wolf Lev (1777-1851), author of Shaarei Torah, was the rabbi of Vrbové in Hungary and son of R. Elazar Lev, author of Maase Roke'ach. Famous Torah scholar, one of the prominent rabbis of the generation of the Chatam Sofer and R. Akiva Eiger. Many great Torah scholars were his disciples, including the Machaneh Chaim and the Kol Aryeh. He left behind compositions on all subjects of the Torah, which were printed in his famous series - Shaarei Torah. His first work was published at the young age of 26, receiving enthusiastic approbations from the leading Torah scholars of his time, R. Akiva Eiger, the Chatam Sofer and Maharam Banet. R. Baruch Frankel, author of Baruch Taam, praised him in his approbation as an expert in analyzing all Talmudic topics, early and more recent halachic works. The Ktav Sofer eulogized him as a master in Talmud and Halachic works, who did not cease to delve in Torah day and night, and seldom had physical enjoyment.
R. Michael Bacharach of Prague (1731-1801) was the grandson of the Chavot Yair, a leading Torah scholar in Prague and dayan in the Beit Din of the Noda BiYehuda. He left behind many works on the Talmud, Rambam and the four sections of Shulchan Aruch. Arugot HaBosem, two volumes, on the first fifty sections of Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer, was printed from his writings (Machon Yerushalayim, 1985). After the passing of the Noda BiYehuda, a dispute erupted in Prague as to who should take his place at the head of the Beit Din. According to the Noda BiYehuda's will, his son, R. Shmuel Landau, succeeded him, yet R. Michael Bacharach did not accept his authority, and in 1794 opened an opposing Beit Din which he headed with his friend the dayan R. Yaakov Ginsburg. A polemic book named HaOrev was published anonymously in 1795, concerning this controversy and the contentions of the dayanim who seceded from R. Shmuel (see Kedem Auction 59, item 137).
[2], 40; 27; 39; 19; 29; 25; 23; 2 leaves. 35.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Some dark leaves (with foxing). Title page and first leaves are damaged, with old paper restorations. Old binding. Front cover detached, and missing spine.

Turei Even, novellae on tractates Rosh Hashanah, Chagigah and Megillah, by R. Aryeh Leib, Rabbi of Metz (the Shaagat Aryeh). Zhovkva, 1830.
At the top of the title page, a handwritten signature: "Avraham Aharon son of R. Moshe…". On the front endpaper, an ownership inscription: "Zalman Lichtenfeld who studies by the great and sharp scholar, well versed in Talmud and Halacha, R. Avraham Aharon Pscherhofer". A handwritten note appears on p. 23a, presumably in R. Avraham Aharon's handwriting.
R. Avraham Aharon Pscherhofer (1815-1869) was the Rabbi of Frauenkirchen and disciple of the Chatam Sofer. He was ordained by his teacher the Chatam Sofer. Several of the Chatam Sofer's responsa were sent to him, in one of which he writes: "May all mothers bear children like him".
Additional ownership inscription at the foot of the endpaper, of his son R. Moshe Mordechai Pscherhofer (Rabbi of Sered, disciple of the Ktav Sofer and R. Yehuda Assad): "This holy book belongs to the great Torah scholar M. M. Pscherhofer… 1884 [Frauenkirchen], Sunday of Nitzavim 1884".
Ownership stamp on the title page: "Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Spitzer Rabbi of Hamburg" – R. Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Spitzer (1872-1934) was the Rabbi of Hamburg and son-in-law of R. Moshe Mordechai Pscherhofer.
86; 40 leaves. Leaf 72 is bound before leaf 71. 36 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Title page detached and worn. Early binding, peeling and damaged. Front cover is detached. Torn leather spine.