Heh Lachem Zera LiTzedaka - responsa and rulings from R. Yehuda Minz and R. Meir of Padua. Venice: Alvise Bragadin, 1553. First edition.
This is the first edition which was printed in the lifetime of the author, R. Meir Katzenellenbogen of Padua, grandson and disciple of R. Yehuda Minz, who personally brought to print and published this book. In his preface at the beginning of the book, R. Meir relates of the manuscripts of his teacher R. Yehuda Minz (father of his father-in-law), and signs: "So says Meir son of R. Yitzchak Katznellenbogen of Padua".
Maharam Padua was a rabbi of Padua and the Veneto region, and one of the leading Torah scholars of his time in Germany and Italy. He was the grandson of R. Yechiel Luria Rabbi of Brisk D'Lita. He exchanged halachic correspondence with his two illustrious cousins, R. Shlomo Luria (the Maharshal) and R. Moshe Isserles (the Rema), and these responsa were printed in this book, in Responsa of the Maharshal and in Responsa of the Rema.
Signatures and inscriptions: Ownership inscriptions in several places (some deleted), in which the writer "Moshe son of the late R. Yitzchak Aggio ---" attests that he purchased the book (R. Yitzchak Aggio, "the pious Sefardi" of Ferrara, is mentioned in the writings of R. Azaria dei Rossi, who relates that R. Yitzchak immigrated to Eretz Israel, and that his widow, following his passing, returned to Ferrara to the home of her eldest son R. Yom Tov Aggio, and showed R. Azaria an original early coin of Shekel HaKodesh from Eretz Israel - see enclosed material); another signature on title page: "This is my book Shlomo de Busal" (the de Busal family was a renowned family of rabbis in Salonika); inscriptions in Yiddish on the endpaper.
Censorship inscription on the final page.
134 leaves. 20 cm. High-quality paper. Good condition. Stains. Dampstains. Two detached leaves. Minor damage. Marginal traces of tape to a few leaves. Early parchment binding (reinforced). Damage to binding.

Midrash Rabba, on the Five Books of the Torah and the Five Megillot. [Krakow]: Isaac son of Aaron Prostitz, [1587-1588].
A few handwritten glosses. Ownership inscriptions on the divisional title page of Midrash Chamesh Megillot: "…Yehuda Leib Segal of Fürth, son of R. Shlomo Tzvi Segal". Additional ownership inscriptions from the same owner: "…Yehuda Leib son of R. Tzvi Hirsh Shlomo Segal of Fürth"; "Yehuda Leib Segal of Fürth"; "…Yosef Josbel son of R. Tzvi Hirsh Shlomo Segal of Fürth" (R. Yosef Josbel Segal of Fürth - author of Emek HaShaveh printed in Emek Yehoshua, Offenbach, 1722. Son-in- law of R. Shimon Segal Rabbi of Heidingsfeld and Würzburg).
Incomplete copy. 45-282, 284-299, 301-303; 130 leaves. Lacking 46 leaves: 1-44, 283, 300. 28.5 cm. Slightly darkened paper. Fair-poor condition. Stains and extensive wear. Dampstains. Tears affecting text with some loss (in a few places, missing text completed by hand). Leaves trimmed close to text, affecting text (affecting border of divisional title page of the Five Megillot, and opening ornament on subsequent leaf, with some loss). Marginal creases. Detached leaves and gatherings. Without binding.

Sefer HaKuzari, based on the debate of R. Yitzchak HaSangri, composed in Arabic by R. Yehuda HaLevi, with the Kol Yehuda commentary, by R. Yehuda Moscato. Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) de Gara, 1594. First edition of the Kol Yehuda commentary.
Signature of R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi on the title page: "Came into my possession, Yitzchak Refael son of R. Elisha Michael Finzi, here Moncalvo, 1765". Another signature (trimmed) at the foot of the title page: "Yitzchak Ref—Finzi -". Another inscription (starts above the title and ends at the bottom of the title page): "Acquired with my money, Yitzchak Faradji, for the sum of 2 ducats, [1648 or 1643]".
A trimmed inscription at the top of the title page: "[Acquired with my money… I earned it through] lots from R. Eliya Lattes".
R. Yitzchak Refael Finzi (d. 1813), a leading Italian Torah scholar, rabbi of Padua. He was one of the rabbis invited to serve as members of Napoleon's Sanhedrin in Paris, 1806. A disciple of R. Yitzchak Lampronti, author of Pachad Yitzchak, he later served as rabbi and Torah disseminator in many Italian communities. He was appointed rabbi of Padua in 1786. His disciple, R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi, portrays him at length in his book Toldot Gedolei Yisrael UGeonei Italia (pp. 126-132). He describes how he edified close to one hundred disciples in the years he served as rabbi of Padua, and his fame spread far and wide, to the extent that the leading Torah scholars of the generation considered him a Rishon. In regard to R. Yitzchak Refael's exceptional oratory skills, he attests that even non-Jewish scholars, priests and ministers would come to hear his lengthy and profound discourses. R. Ghirondi also records that he was invited to join Napoleon's Sanhedrin, where he was received with great honor and seated beside the president of the Sanhedrin, R. Yosef David Sinzheim. His works remained in manuscript form, yet teachings in his name were printed in Ikrei HaDat by his colleague, R. Daniel Tirani.
299 leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains and dampstains. Dark stains to several leaves. Old binding.