Tefillat Yisrael siddur – year-round prayers, with Derech HaChaim – anthology of laws and customs, by R. Yaakov of Lissa (author of Netivot HaMishpat). Including Pirkei Avot with the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna. Altona, 1831. Third edition, with the addition of several new sections from the author.
The Derech HaChaim siddur by R. Yaakov of Lissa was greatly cherished and widely distributed. Already in the author's lifetime, it was printed in several editions. The first edition of this siddur was printed in Zhovkva, 1828, and then again in 1829. In 1831, this siddur was published, followed by another edition in Zhovkva the same year. This edition contains new laws and additions which the author sent to the publisher. In his approbation to this siddur, R. Akiva Eger refers to the author as "my dear friend, the outstanding and true Torah scholar, the renowned Tzaddik, may the likes of him increase amongst the Jewish people, R. Yaakov, rabbi and dean of Lissa…", adding that this edition includes additions which R. Yaakov sent to the publisher together with his permission to reprint the siddur.
This is the first siddur edition to include the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna to Tractate Avot (the commentary was previously printed in Tractate Avot, Shklow 1804).
On the title page of the siddur, the publisher lists the advantages of this edition: "1. Correction of all errors which crept into earlier editions. 2. Addition of passages from the author, omitted in previous editions. 3. Laws of muktzeh and blessings, compiled by the author. 4. Commentary to Hallel by the author. 5. Wonderful commentary to Pirkei Avot by R. Eliyahu of Vilna…". The laws of Rosh Chodesh Adar and Pidyon HaBen were also added by the author to this edition for the first time (see: R. Pinchas Menachem Lifshitz, Regarding the Identity of the Author of the Laws of Rosh Chodesh Adar and Pidyon HaBen in the Derech HaChaim Siddur, Beit Aharon VeYisrael, IV (94), Nisan-Iyar 2001, pp. 136-138).
Owner's signature of R. Yaakov Posen on the title page: "Yaakov son of R. Zalman Pozna".
R. Yaakov Posen (or Pozna, 1772-1849), a dayan in Frankfurt am Main, who served in the Beit Din of the Haflaa and the latter's son, the Machaneh Levi. He was the son of R. Yekutiel Zalman Posen, dayan in Offenbach and rabbi of Friedberg (d. 1793). His son was R. Eliezer Posen, rabbi of the Chevrat Kloiz in Frankfurt am Main (1803-1866), and his grandson was R. Gershon Posen, who served as dayan in Frankfurt for fifty years. The rabbinical dynasty of the Posen family, which stemmed from leading German rabbis, continues until this day with its descendants serving as rabbis in Eretz Israel, the United States and Europe.
At R. Yaakov Posen's funeral, the Frankfurt community board intervened, and barred rabbis who battled the Reform movement from eulogizing him at the cemetery. The Posen family consequently initiated the establishment of R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch's independent Orthodox community.
[2], 3-285, [1] leaf. [1] leaf of the approbations was bound at the end of the book instead of at the beginning. Without the [2] leaves of prenumeranten, which were originally bound at the beginning of the book, after the leaf of approbations. 20 cm. Good condition. Stains. Dark dampstains to some leaves. Light worming. Stamps. Old, worn binding, without spine.

Kehillot Moshe, Mikraot Gedolot – Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim, with all the commentaries. Amsterdam: R. Moses Frankfurter the dayan, [1724-1728].
Complete, elegant set. Four parts in four, particularly large-format volumes. With a decorated handwritten leaf presenting a study program of the Bible and the Mishna, divided into weekly portions.
This edition includes many compositions and commentaries from leading Torah scholars, some of which are published here for the first time. This edition also includes Masorah Gedola and Masorah Ketana, copied from earlier editions of Mikraot Gedolot printed in Venice, with the correction of some of the errors which had crept into the Masorah texts. The publisher, editor and printer of this edition was R. Moshe Frankfurter (1678-1868), a dayan in Amsterdam, who authored and published many books in his own and in other printing presses in Amsterdam (Nefesh Yehuda on Menorat HaMaor; Shiva Petilot – a summary of Menorat HaMaor; Zeh Yenachamenu on Mechilta; Kometz HaMincha, Mincha Ketana and Mincha Gedola – printed in this edition; and more). He is especially celebrated for his new edition of Be'er HaGolah on Shulchan Aruch.
Many signatures and ownership inscriptions on each of the title pages and on other leaves (especially on the title page of the first volume), including: "Eliyah Yitzchak Madai", "Yaakov Yonah Yitzchak" (a notable of the Calcutta community, India, see: Avraham Ben-Yaakov, Yehudei Bavel BaTefutzot, p. 137), "Binyamin Shlomo Atzlan", "I purchased it in Surat from R. Binyamin Shlomo Atzlan… Cheshvan 1806, Suleiman Yosef Nissim Suleiman", "I gave it as a gift to R. Moshe Rachamim… Suleiman Yosef Nissim… Roch Chodesh Menachem [Av] 1811", "Moshe Rachamim Yaakov Yitzchak David, today, Monday Rosh Chodesh Menachem 1811", "I acquired this, Chaim David Chaim Shlomo David, purchased from… Rachamim Yaakov Yitzchak David, here Surat… Tevet 1812…", "The honor of the second buyer is greater than that of the first… and here is my name in the signature, Chaim David Chaim" (a notable of Surat, India, see Ben-Yaakov, ibid, p. 45), "I sold it to R. Moshe Ch. Shaul, from all my possessions, today Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 1848… David Chaim David Chaim".
A complete handwritten leaf (square and semi-cursive Oriental script; Iraq or India) was bound into vol. II – Neviim Rishonim, after the Book of Shmuel, between leaves 248-249. At the center of the leaf is a table presenting the order of study of the Bible and the Six Orders of the Mishnah divided into weekly portions, set on a background of geometric designs. The table is topped with a beautiful, decorated heading – "Seder HaLimud" (on a floral black and white background, reminiscent of a papercut), followed by (in smaller writing): "This is the order of study for one who wishes the merit of completing every year all Five Books of the Torah, as well as Neviim and Ketuvim, and the Six Orders of the Mishnah, he should divide them as follows in portions for every week, and the tractates are divided according to the topic of that week's Torah portion".
The name of the writer is inscribed on both sides of the table, in hollow letters on a black background: "And I, with my quill, Chaim David Chaim Sh.". A closeup look of the inscription on the left side of the leaf shows that a different name was originally inscribed – "Suleiman Yosef Nissim" (one of the early owners of the book, whose signature appears on the title pages), and it was filled with ink to create the name currently appearing – "Chaim David Chaim" (a later owner, also featured amongst the signatures on the title pages).
Four volumes: Vol I: [10], 293, [2] leaves. Vol. II: [2], 46, [4], 47-378 leaves. Vol. III: [2], 322 leaves. Vol. IV: [5], 413 [i.e. 415]; 65 leaves. Leaves 263-264 bound out of sequence. 43 cm. Some particularly darkened leaves. Overall good-fair condition. Stains. Dampstains. Singeing in many places (possibly from study by candlelight), slightly affecting text. New, matching bindings.

Sive totius Hebraeorum juris, rituum, antiquitatum ac legum oralium systema cum Rabbinorum Maimonidis et Bartenoral commentariis [Six Orders of the Mishnah, with the commentaries of the Rambam and R. Ovadia of Bartenura, translated to Latin], by Willem Surenhuis. Amsterdam, 1698-1703. Six orders in three volumes. Hebrew and Latin.
First edition containing the complete translation to the Six Orders of the Mishnah. The commentaries of the Rambam and R. Ovadia of Bartenura were also translated.
Willem Surenhuis (1664-1729), a Dutch Christian scholar, studied in the Groningen university and later taught in Amsterdam. He was primarily renowned for this comprehensive translation of the Mishnah.
Each of the six orders opens with a fine, engraved title page, featuring the names of all the tractates of that order, and vignettes illustrating the principal content of each tractate. Apart from these engravings, the volumes contain nine fine engraved plates (including one double-page and four folding plates), which illustrate various laws discussed in the Mishnah. Two of the engravings are signed in the plate in Hebrew: "By Yitzchak Sofer" (presumably made by R. Isaac Coenraads, scribe of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam, mentioned in the foreword to part V. R. Isaac Coenraads is recorded as having played a central role in the creation of the engravings accompanying the first three orders. See enclosed material).
Several other in-text engravings. Title pages printed in red and black.
Vol. I: [49], 332, [20] pages + [5] engraved plates (including engraved title page) and [14] pages of accompanying explanations; [21], 424, [16] pages + [4] engraved plates (including engraved title page) and [8] pages of accompanying explanations. Vol. II: [33], 384, [15] pages + [2] engraved plates (including engraved title page) and [2] pages of accompanying explanations; [39], 503, [12] pages + [1] engraved title page. Vol. III: [45], 394, [10] pages + [2] engraved plates (including engraved title page); [43], 504, [12] pages + [1] engraved title page. Pp. 186-190 in first part of vol. III bound in wrong order. Approx. 36 cm. High-quality paper. Good condition. Stains. Minor damage in a few places. Left margin of engraved title page of part I trimmed, repaired with paper. Marginal tears to one folding plate (affecting engraving). Fine, matching old half-leather bindings. Wear and damage to bindings, tears to spines. Front cover of vol. I detached. Bookplates. Placed in matching clamshell boxes.

Shenei Luchot HaBrit (the holy Shelah), words of ethics and fear of G-d, Kabbalah and Halacha, by R. Yeshaya HaLevi Horowitz; with Vavei HaAmudim by his son R. Sheftel Segal. Amsterdam: Immanuel Benveniste, 1648. First edition.
Shenei Luchot HaBrit contains many halachic novellae, Kabbalistic principles, 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, and upon seeing or reading 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, awe-inspiring man… no doubt he was invested with a heavenly spirit".
The book Vavei HaAmudim is printed on the final 44 leaves, with a separate title page.
Several handwritten glosses.
Two volumes. Vol. I: [2], 263 leaves. Vol. II: 264-421, [1]; 44 leaves. Leaves 325-328 bound upside-down. 28.5-29 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Dark stains to some leaves of vol. I. Worming to many leaves in both volumes, affecting text, professionally restored with paper. Significant worming to Vavei HaAmudim part, affecting text of divisional title page and other leaves. Damage and tears in other places, repaired. New leather bindings.