Machzor according to Ashkenazi rite – prayers and piyyutim for the Three Festivals, the Four Parshiot and the High Holidays. [Augsburg: Chaim son of David Shachor, 1536].
Printed without title page. The text begins on verso of the first leaf (p. 2) with the prayer Shochen Ad, followed by the Yotzer for Shabbat Chanuka. The machzor contains the piyyutim and yotzrot for the Festivals and holidays and does not include the regular prayers. The printer's colophon appears on the last leaf: "The Ashkenazi rite machzor was printed and completed on Tuesday, the 11th of Iyar… in Augsburg the capital city by Chaim son of R. David Shachor".
An owner's signature in early Italian script appears at the top of leaf [2], from the month of Kislev 1598, slightly cutoff due to trimmed leaves: "[---] Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1598… that I, Ms. Tamar (acronym), the widow of R. Moshe son [---] Halpron, gave this machzor as a gift to my son Aharon… So no person should rise and contest this fact... And the aforementioned Tamar has commanded me Shlomo Zechar[ya] to write this in the book to be a sign. Shlomo Zecharya Catil[ano]".
Presumably, this machzor was used by the chazan in the synagogue of one of the Ashkenazi communities in Italy and therefore, marks and inscriptions in Italian script appear in many places, marking the sections recited by the chazan and those recited by the congregation. These include deletions, comments, several glosses with replacements or textual revisions or customs.
Censorship deletions on several leaves.
Bound between the leaves of gathering 22 is a piece of paper with a handwritten inscription (in Italian script) of the Seder Selichot for Mondays and Thursdays.
Two handwritten leaves are bound at the end of the volume. These leaves contain the verses recited during the priestly blessing and the Yehi Ratzon prayer said at that time.
Complete copy. [255] leaves + [2] handwritten leaves. 29.5 cm. Most leaves are in good-fair condition. Stains, creases and wear. Dampstains to many leaves. Tear to first leaf, the first word is lacking and replaced with a photocopy. Tears to second leaf and to several other leaves, repaired with paper, slightly affecting text. Worming to some leaves, primarily to margins, some restored with tape (some damage to text). Several leaves with narrower margins, possibly supplied from a later copy. New leather binding.
The printer R. Chaim Shachor was one of the first printers in Prague, however, following a dispute between printers, he left the city. He settled in Oels (present day Oleśnica, Poland) where he continued working as a printer. After his printing press in Oels was destroyed in a storm, R. Chaim Shachor relocated to Augsburg (Germany), where he printed Hebrew books. He printed his books, including this Machzor, in an Ashkenazic-style square typeface, similar to the typeface used in Prague, unlike other printers who used a Sephardic-style typeface.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman.

[Vetus Testamentum Multiplici Lingua Nunc Primo Impressum], fourth volume: Quarta Pars Veteris Impressa: Adiuncta Utrique Sua Latina Interpretatione. Alcalá de Henares (Spain): Arnald Guillén de Brocar, [1517] (based on the colophon on the last page). Hebrew, Greek and Latin.
Fourth volume of the six-volume Complutensian Polyglot, the first multilingual edition of the Bible, published in four language: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin. This volume contains the books of Neviim Acharonim – Yeshayahu, Yirmiyahu, Yechezkel and Trei Asar, as well as three works of Biblical apocrypha – Maccabees I, II and II. The pages consist of three parallel columns, each containing text in a different language: The outer column is the original Hebrew text, the middle column is the Latin translation, and the inner column the Greek translation. In order to facilitate the use of this edition by those not proficient in Hebrew or Greek, superscript letters were employed in the Hebrew text to refer to the relevant word or phrase in the Latin text, whilst in the Greek text, supralinear Latin translation was inserted (in small characters).
The composition is accompanied by several fine woodcut illustrations: The coat of arms of the initiator of this edition, Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, on the title page; ornamented initials for each chapter; and the printer's device on the colophon leaf.
The Complutensian Polyglot, considered one of the most prominent Bible editions in history, was written and edited by scholars from throughout Spain in 1502-1517, with the goal of concentrating into one book the text of the Bible in the main languages.
Work on this edition began a few years after the Spanish expulsion, at the initiative of the Grand inquisitor and confessor of Queen Isabella I - Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros (1436-1517). Since most of those fluent in Hebrew in Spain at that time were previously Jewish, Cisneros had a hard time finding editors for the Hebrew part of the edition, and was compelled to appoint three converted Jewish scholars: Alfonso de Zamora, Pablo Coronel and Alfonso de Alcalá. For over ten years, the experts sat in the Spanish city of Alcalá de Henares (Latin name: Complutum, hence the name of this edition), and the work they produced is considered the prototype of Biblical polyglots.
[268] leaves. Gatherings: a-z6, aa-oo6, pp4, A-F6, G4, a2. Approx. 38.5 cm. Good condition. Minor stains and damage. Tears and open tears to margins of a few leaves (mostly small tears, not affecting text). One detached leaf. Marginal open tears to first leaf, partially repaired with paper (slightly affecting text on verso), leaf attached to book with tape. Old, damaged leather binding, partially repaired. New spine.

Mikraot Gedolot, Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim, with the commentaries and Masorah. Basel: Ludwig König, [1618-1619].
The entire Bible in one thick volume, with a fine leather binding.
Five books of the Torah, with Targum Onkelos, the commentaries of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Baal HaTurim and Masorah.
Neviim Rishonim, with Targum, the commentaries of Rashi, Radak, Ralbag, R. Yeshaya and Masorah.
Neviim Acharonim, with Targum, the commentaries of Rashi, Radak, Ibn Ezra and Masorah.
Ketuvim, with Targum, the commentaries of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Ralbag and Rasag. At the end of the volume are the Targum Yerushalmi on the Torah, the long Masorah on the Bible in alphabetical order and "Tiberias" – an introduction and lengthy composition on the history of the Torah transmission, by Johannes Buxtorf (in Latin). This is the second edition of this composition, edited by his son J. Buxtorf II, printed in Basel, 1665.
Large, impressive volume. [6], 228; [1], 234-441; [1], 442-705; 707-837, 839-881, 883-946; 7, [1]; 67 leaves. [8], 108 pages. Without the 36 leaves of Haftarot according to various rites, and [2] leaves of errata, which are found in a few copies. This copy does not contain the blank leaves 838 and 882, and the blank leaves which sometimes appear after leaves 441 and 705 in the first pagination, and after leaf 67 of the last pagination. 41.5 cm. Thick, light-colored, high-quality paper. Good condition. A few stains. Minor damage. Light-colored leather binding, with minor damage.
This is one of the prominent Bible editions. Its significance is owing in part to the facts that it contains the complete long Masorah and short Masorah, and that the text of the Masorah was corrected from copiers' mistakes. It is one of the most important editions for researching the Masorah.

Shenei Luchot HaBrit (the holy Shelah), words of ethics and awe, Kabbalah and Halacha, by R. Yeshaya HaLevi Horowitz; with Vavei HaAmudim by his son R. Sheftel Segal. Amsterdam: Immanuel Benveniste, 1648. First edition.
Hundreds of lengthy glosses from an unidentified writer (in neat Ashkenazic script, from the time of the printing – ca. late 17th century). These glosses were recorded over the years in script of varying size (tiny to small-medium), and were presumably all written by the same writer who developed his work over the years, sometimes even writing glosses on his earlier glosses. These glosses make up a complete kabbalistic composition, written by a senior kabbalist, proficient in Kabbalah and the hidden realms of Torah (many glosses state: "and it appears to me that the meaning…"; "and it seems to me that the reason…"; "according to what is known to kabbalists…"). In his glosses, the author adds new commentaries, occasionally substantiates the words of the author, and discusses them. Different forms of allusion are employed extensively in his glosses: acronyms, numerical values and full spellings of the alphabet. He quotes teachings from various kabbalistic works, including books printed in the 17th century, ca. 1637-1687: Chessed LeAvraham (on p. 102a); R. Shimshon of Ostropoli (on p. 208b); the Megaleh Amukot (on p. 238a); Shulchan Aruch HaAri – "the Shulchan Aruch of R. Y." (on p. 213a) and others.
Various early signatures: "Shlomo HaKohen of Brody"; "Shlomo son of R. Yehuda Katz" (perhaps the above-mentioned R. Shlomo of Brody); "Avraham Dreznitz"; "Avraham son of R. Shimshon head of the Dreznitz community"; "I thank G-d very much… that I had the merit of acquiring the book… Shimshon son of R. Avraham of Dreznitz"; "I received this as a gift from my father-in-law… R. Shimshon Dreznitz, when I was appointed rabbi of [----] Prera (presumably Přerov, Moravia)"; "Avraham son of R. Beirach Shatz of Dreznitz, residing here ---".
Signatures of R. "Yaakov Tzvi of Pressburg", "Yaakov Tzvi son of R. Binyamin Wolf Rabbi of Pressburg" appear in several places. R. Yaakov Tzvi was the son of R. Binyamin Wolf Jakerles, first rabbi of Pressburg in the early 18th century (d. ca. 1730), and brother-in-law of R. Avraham Broda (both were sons-in-law of R. Eliezer Lipman Grätz Rabbi of Bumsla, d. 1694).
Handwritten inscriptions on p. 3a, recording births from 1728-1735, presumably handwritten by this R. Yaakov Tzvi. His second son, born in Tishrei 1732, was named "Binyamin Wolf" (presumably after his father, rabbi of Pressburg), and his third son born in 1735, was named Avraham (possibly after his renowned uncle, R. Avraham Broda who passed away in 1717).
Shenei Luchot HaBrit contains many Halachic novellae, foundations in Kabbalah, homily and ethics, and incorporates all realms of the Torah. The book was received with awe throughout the Jewish world, and its teachings are quoted in the books of leading poskim and kabbalists. Many renowned Chassidic leaders were extremely attached to the study of the books of the Shelah.
The Bach – R. Yoel Sirkis, notably acclaimed the author and his works, in his approbation to the Shaar HaShamayim siddur: "R. Yeshaya HaLevi… he left behind blessing in his holy compositions, as we have seen that when we read them, we sensed the outpouring of holiness in all our limbs, and this is the sign that his works were composed for the sake of heaven, to elevate future generations…". The Tosafot Yom Tov in his approbation to the siddur writes: "He is a holy, awesome man… no doubt he was invested with a heavenly spirit…".
The Rayatz of Lubavitch brings a wondrous tradition from R. Mendel of Vitebsk regarding this edition of the Shelah: "When the Shelah was being printed, before it was completed, it was purchased as booklets, and this holy book enthused and inspired the hearts of the Jewish people, and the evil eye dominated it, and the infamous Chmielnicki massacres ensued" (Likutei Diburim HaMeturgam, I, p. 50). The Rayatz writes there about the second edition of Shelah as well, which was published in 1698 (see next item): "In the year the Baal Shem Tov was born, the second edition of Shelah was printed in Amsterdam, and then as well there was an accusation in heaven against the Jewish people in Poland, similar to the first accusation upon the initial publication of the Shelah, yet ultimately, it was a year of serenity".
[1], 44 leaves; [3], 2-421 leaves. 30 cm. The title page border and the ornaments surrounding the headings throughout the book were painted in various colors. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Tears to first title page and several other leaves, repaired. Some glosses slightly trimmed. New, elegant leather binding.