Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, with the commentaries of Rashi, Tosafot, the Rosh, the Maharsha and the Rambam's commentary to Mishnayot. Berditchev (Berdychiv), [1807]. The book opens with approbations by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the dayanim of his Beit Din in Berditchev, R. Betzalel Margolies of Ostroh, R. Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov, and the dayanim of the Ostroh Beit Din.
The printer, R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, founder of the first Hebrew printing firm in Berditchev (see below), wished to inaugurate his press with the publication of a complete Talmud edition. Ultimately, only the present Tractate Berachot was published.
In his approbation to this book, R. Betzalel Margolies indicates that the initiator and driving force behind the printing of this book was R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.
Medium format, each leaf corresponds with one page of the regular Talmud editions.
Ownership inscriptions of "Yosef Leib son of R. Yaakov".
[2], 5-194 leaves. 20.5 cm. Light-bluish paper. Good condition. Stains (including dampstains and dark stains) and wear. Open tears to title page, several subsequent leaves and final leaf, affecting text (also affecting words of approbation by R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev), repaired with paper. Worming, slightly affecting text, partially repaired with paper. New leather binding.
This is the first book printed in Berditchev, in the printing press established that year by R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, the industrious and migrant printer, who set up the first Hebrew printing firm in Korets. He worked as a printer in Oleksinets and Shklow, went on to establish the Hebrew printing press in Polonne, and later in Ostroh and Berditchev concurrently. See: A. Yaari, HaDfus HaIvri BeBerditchev, Kiryat Sefer 21, 1944-1945, p. 100 onwards. In his approbation to the present book, R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev writes about "R. Shmuel son of R. Yissachar Ber Segal, printer of Ostroh, who resolved to publish in the printing press which was reestablished here in our community of Berditchev…".

Birat Migdal Oz, Birkot Shamayim, Part III of R. Yaakov Emden's siddur. Berdychiv, 1836. Second edition.
Part III of the siddur Paltin Beit El, arranged by R. Yaakov Emden (first published in Altona, 1745-1747). The other parts were not printed in Berdychiv. This part contains Seder Brit Milah, laws and customs encompassing the human life cycle, methods of education, laws of kashrut, ethics, philosophy and more.
R. Yaakov Emden's siddur became widely accepted in the Chassidic world, and its second edition was printed in Korets in 1818, at the initiative and with the approbations of great Chassidic leaders – the rabbi of Apta and R. Mordechai of Chernobyl. The Korets edition included Parts I and II only. The third part (this part) was printed in Berdychiv in 1836 at the initiative and with the approbations of R. Mordechai of Chernobyl and R. Yisrael of Ruzhin (the latter praised the siddur in his approbation: "It was established and originates from golden foundations, in order to indicate the correct path with pure intellect on the topic of prayer").
The Imrei Yosef of Spinka wrote in the name of the sons of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, that they heard from their father that the Baal Shem Tov told R. Efraim, brother of the Yaavetz: "Your brother the Yaavetz is connected to the Upper spheres all day" (approbation of R. Moshe Halberstam to the Eshkol edition of the siddur, Jerusalem 1993). Tzror HaChaim (by R. Ch. Liebersohn, Biłgoraj 1913, p. 22) recounts: "The Chacham Tzvi had five sons. The Baal Shem Tov attested that all five sons merited Divine Inspiration, extensively praising one of them without disclosing his name. His close disciples later said that he was referring to the Yaavetz". The Yeshuot Moshe of Vizhnitz writes in his approbation to the Eshkol edition: "…this siddur did not leave the tables of our teachers and ancestors, who used it constantly, especially while leading the Seder on Passover night". Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch quoted precisions and practices from this siddur several times in his discourses, and once remarked that "R. Yaakov Emden exercised ultimate precision in every way, to the point of being meticulous even regarding the letters etc." (BeTzel HaChochma, p. 265)
[2], 4-34, 37-362 leaves. Lacking first title page and last [3] leaves (with errata). Approx. 17 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming to title page and several other leaves (mostly repaired), affecting text. Handwritten inscription on title page. New binding.

Ben Porat Yosef, homiletics on Bereshit, with responsa at the end, by R. Yaakov Yosef HaKohen Katz Rabbi of Polonne. The famous letter which the Baal Shem Tov sent to his brother-in-law R. Gershon of Kitov is printed for the first time, at the end of this book. Korets: Tzvi Hirsh son of Aryeh Leib [Margolies] and his son-in-law Shmuel son of Yissachar Ber Segal, [1781]. First edition.
This is the author's second book, published approximately one year after his first book Toldot Yaakov Yosef. In this book, like in the previous one, the author quotes extensively teachings from his prime teacher, R. Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, his books being the most important and authentic source of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings. The author repeatedly quotes teachings he personally heard from the Baal Shem Tov, emphasized throughout the book and beginning with the words "I heard from my master". R. Pinchas of Korets would customarily say that all new books do not totally conform with the truth, except for the books of the rabbi of Polonne which are "teachings from Paradise", and that with each quotation "heard from my master" one can resurrect the dead[!].
At the end of the book, the famous letter which the Baal Shem Tov sent to his brother-in-law R. Gershon of Kitov in Jerusalem, is printed for the first time. The Baal Shem Tov gave this letter to the author R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonne when the latter intended to immigrate to Eretz Israel, in the winter 1752, so that he could relay it to R. Gershon of Kitov, brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov. After his travel plans were cancelled, the letter remained in R. Yaakov Yosef's possession, and he published it "to benefit the Jewish people". In this letter, the Baal Shem Tov narrates of the "ascent of the soul" which he performed on Rosh Hashana of 1746 and 1749, and relates: "And I asked Mashiach, when will the Master come, and he responded… when your teachings will be publicized and revealed to the world, and your wellsprings will spread outwards".
R. Uri of Strelisk related that R. Mordechai of Neshchiz would study the letter every day: "The Tzaddik of Neshchiz resolved to study it every day, without fail, literally like laying Tefillin", he also said in his name that this letter contains allusions to three Holy names "through which one can find out the time of the Redemption" (Imrei Kadosh HaShalem, Jerusalem 1961, p. 47, 40).
[1], 100 leaves. 30 cm. Condition varies, good to fair. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Wear and worming. Extensive marginal wear and open tears to title page and first and final leaves, affecting border and edges of text (repaired with paper). Stamps. New, elegant leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 90.

Mayim Kedoshim, novellae on Order Kodashim of the Babylonian Talmud, by R. Avraham Moshe of Brahiłów (Brailiv). Mezhirov, [1790].
According to one source, the author was a disciple of the prominent maggid – R. Dov Ber of Mezeritch (see: Encyclopedia L'Chassidut, I, p. 127).
The book contains novellae on the entire Order Kodashim, apart from Tractates Tamid, Middot and Kinnim.
Signatures and inscriptions on title page and other leaves.
[10], 3-120, [1] leaves. Leaves 9-10 bound out of sequence. 32 cm. Fair condition. Stains (including significant dampstains) and wear. Open tears to title page, slightly affecting border and text on verso, repaired with paper. Open tears to first and final leaves (especially last leaf), affecting text, repaired. Worming to several leaves, slightly affecting text. New leather binding.
Variant. Most copies feature three approbations on verso of title page: Approbations by R. Naftali Hertz, R. Yosef son of R. Moshe of Berditchev and R. Yaakov Shimshon of Shepetivka. In this copy, the approbation by R. Naftali was printed in the same place, on the right, the approbation by R. Yosef son of R. Moshe was moved to the left, and the approbation by R. Yaakov Shimshon of Shepetivka was omitted (the center remains blank). See: N. Ben Menachem, Shibolim BiSedeh HaSefer, Kiryat Sefer, 37, 1962, p. 399 (he suggests that the approbation by R. Yaakov Shimshon of Shepetivka was omitted from some copies, due to his being Chassidic).
The [1] leaf at the end, with errata and glosses, was printed separately and included in some copies only.