Handwritten leaf, table of halachic times "for Berlin, Hanover and Amsterdam", written and decorated by Yaakov de Pinto. [Amsterdam?], "Thursday, 19th day of the Omer, 1829".
Neat, calligraphic script, with a decorative border. The leaf contains tables for the (Gregorian) months, featuring the halachic times of day break, sunrise, sunset and nightfall. The writer signed his name at the foot of the leaf: "Yaakov de Pinto".
[1] leaf. 24 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, dampstains. Folding marks.

Three handwritten booklets of poetry, by Moses Mathias Levin. Lautenburg (Lidzbark), Inowrocław and Hamburg, 1838.
Neat calligraphic writing, in cursive and square Ashkenazic script. Headings in ornamented square script, some in color. Several fine decorations and illustrations.
The booklets contain a collection of poems and compositions, some from Hebrew sources, and others translated from German poetry and literature (Schiller, Lessing, Kleist, and others).
Two of the booklets contain many compositions in both Hebrew and Yiddish, on facing pages; the third booklet is in Hebrew only. The writer's name in German, Moses Mathias Levin, appears on the title page of each of the three booklets. Levin wrote these books during the course of 1838, in several Prussian cities. On each title page, the writer mentions his birthplace - Warsaw (the word Warschau is enlarged on the title pages); two of them state that he is a rabbinical student and all three indicate the month, year and place of writing.
The three booklets are:
1. "Duda'im or Likutei Shirim". Lautenburg (present day: Lidzbark, Poland), April 1838.
2. "A Guide Book to Religion and Morals in Hebrew and German Devoted to the Israelite Youth". Inowrocław (present day: Poland), July 1838.
3. "Fragments of Poetry - Including Pleasing and Precious Poems and Epigrams… - Partly Translations, and Partly my Own Ideas". Hamburg, August 1838.
At the beginning of the first booklet, a dedication leaf in German to R. Shlomo Hirshel, rabbi of London. The second booklet is an adaptation of Herz Homburg's book - Imrei Shefer, Vienna 1808.
3 booklets. Booklet 1: [15] leaves. Booklet 2: [28] leaves. Booklet 3: [40] leaves (and several additional blank leaves). Condition varies: Good-fair. Stains and wear. Tears to several leaves. Worming in several places. Dedication leaf to R. Shlomo Hirschel detached, with tears and wear. Original bindings, detached and damaged. Booklet 1 missing back cover.

Manuscript, Masechet Shikorim - humorous composition imitating the style of the Talmud and its commentaries. [Europe, ca. 19th century].
Cursive Ashkenazi script on bluish paper.
The composition Masechet Shikorim or Masechet Purim (sometimes called Masechet Purim of the Shikorim Talmud) is a satiric composition for Purim, written in imitation of the Talmud, with the text of the "Talmud" in the center, flanked by the Rashi and Tosafot commentaries. The tractate contains four chapters related to Purim. This composition was reprinted several times.
Inscription on card cover: "This Gemilla Megara (intentional mispronunciation of Gemara Megilla) belongs to me, Moshe Jastrow", and other inscriptions.
[12] pages. 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains, tears and wear. Bound with the original paper cover, worn and damaged. New binding.

Manuscript, halachic composition on Yoreh De'ah (laws of vows and oaths, Terumot and Maaserot, gifts to the Kohanim and poor, Milah and Pidyon HaBen, mourning, kashrut, Niddah, Tevilah and Mikvaot). By an unidentified author - an Italian rabbi, apparently a Torah scholar of Vercelli. [Italy, early 19th century]. Unpublished composition.
Italian cursive script. A summary of the contents of each section is presented in the margins. Words and terms in Italian were integrated in several places.
This composition offers an interesting glimpse into the rabbinic world in Italy of the early 19th century. The author records rulings issued by his teachers, Italian Torah scholars, and describes the customs observed in his place and period (including a report of folk beliefs which were prevalent at that time in Italy). He portrays his manner of leading the community and mentions rulings he issued for practical application. The content of the book indicates that the author served as rabbi and leader of a community, who issued rulings and provided answers to questions which arose in the community. He also mentions how his halachic rulings were regarded by leading halachic authorities. For instance, in the laws of mourning, he writes: "…and it appears to me that there is no prohibition involved, and I permitted it numerous times in similar circumstances, and when I related this to leading halachic authorities, they never contested my decision…" (p. [6a]).
In several places, the author mentions his teachers and colleagues, whose counsel he sought and whom he relied upon for his rulings, and he testifies that he ruled following the opinion of his illustrious teachers, Torah scholars of Italy: "…and this also must be known, that according to the opinion of the leading halachic authorities of Piedmont and Italy who were alive at the time, in their lifetime, I ruled…" (p. [28b]); "…and this is how my holy teachers, previous rabbis of these regions, ruled…" (p. [7a]).
In the laws of Niddah (p. [28b]), the author discusses the topic of "a stain the size of a gris", and mentions the traditions of Italian Torah scholars regarding sizes and measurements: "And in Casale, I saw an illustration of a measurement, received from R. Ilan(?), who received it from R. Yitzchak HaLevi and he transmitted it to his disciples, and I copied it and saved it. Though in my opinion, one cannot rely on this copying, since surely the size of the illustration changed and grew from one copying to the next…". Further in the discussion regarding the size of the gris, the author quotes the opinion of two Italian Torah scholars, with whom he discussed the topic, and they determined the size of the gris in relation to the size of coins which they had at that time: "…and then I discussed it with R. Shlomo Yonah, posek in Turin, together with R. Yechiel Treves, posek here in Vercelli, and both gave me a clear ruling as I requested, and told me to take for this measurement a coin of one copper Soldo, and not the silver coins named Soldino, rather Soldono, and based on this I ruled and measured my entire life…" (the first rabbi mentioned is R. Yeshaya Chizkiya Shlomo Michael Yonah, rabbi of Turin in the late 18th/early 19th century. The second rabbi is R. Yechiel Chaim Treves, rabbi of Vercelli in the late 18th/early 19th century, brother-in-law of R. Shlomo Yonah, d. Tevet 1812. The author writes "Here, Vercelli", indicating that the book was composed in Vercelli).
For more examples and quotations from the manuscript (including documentation of folk beliefs prevalent amongst Italian women), see Hebrew description.
[34] leaves. 20.5 cm. Very good condition. A few stains. Ink smudging in several places. On first leaf, remnants of adhesive tape over several words. New binding.