Neveh Shalom, philosophical work on the topics of faith, Kabbalah and nature, Torah attributes, prophecy and sacrifices, by R. Avraham Shalom. Constantinople: Eliezer ben Gershom Soncino, 1538-[1539]. First edition.
The author, R. Avraham son of R. Yitzchak Shalom, was a Spanish Torah scholar. He passed away in Spain in 1492, the year of the expulsion.
Colophon on the final page: "Completed on Friday 13th Sivan 5299 [1539]".
Ownership inscription on the title page: "Acquisition of my money, Avraham Yehuda Fontanella". Signature on final page (beneath the colophon): "Yosef Yekutiel Font.". Several (trimmed) glosses. Signatures and glosses in Italian script.
[196] leaves. 19 cm. Good condition. Stains, including minor dampstains. Worming, slightly affecting text. Tears to several leaves (including title page), affecting text, without loss. Title page trimmed with damage to engraved border. Censorship deletion on one leaf. Censor's signatures and inscriptions on final leaf. Old binding, damaged.
The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book records (presumably erroneously) only [194] leaves.

Three books by the Chassid R. Yosef Yaavetz; first editions brought to print concurrently by R. Yitzchak Alhakim:
• Maamar HaAchdut. Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque, 1553.
• Yesod HaEmunah. Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque, 1553.
• Or HaChaim. Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque, 1553.
Fine engraved title pages. Usque's printer's device appears in the center of the title page (and in two of the books, on the final leaf as well) – an astrolabe set within a frame, with the verses: "Those who hope in G-d will renew their vigor…", "I hoped in G-d, my soul hoped…".
The author, known as the Chassid Yaavetz, was a leading rabbi in the time of the Spanish expulsion. His book Or HaChaim was reprinted in many editions, and was renowned for its censure of philosophy and its call to return to Emunah Temimah (unquestioning faith) – see below.
Signatures (slightly trimmed) on the title pages of Maamar HaAchdut and Or HaChaim (in Italian script): "Mine, Refael Uri Treves".
Handwritten emendations in Yesod HaEmunah. A brief paragraph from the Zohar was inscribed on leaf [15] of Yesod HaEmunah.
Three books (originally bound together, later separated): Maamar HaAchdut: [16] leaves; Yesod HaEmunah: [16] leaves; Or HaChaim: [28] leaves. 20 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Open tear to title page of Yesod HaEmunah, affecting engraving, repaired with paper. Marginal tears to one leaf in Yesod HaEmunah, repaired with paper close to text. Several leaves reinforced with paper. Abrasions to title pages and colophon leaves from removal of stamps. Without bindings.

The Chassid Yaavetz, Spanish Expulsion and War Against Philosophy
R. Yosef Yaavetz, known as the Chassid Yaavetz (ca. 1440 – 1508), was a leading rabbi at the time of the Spanish expulsion. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, he studied under Don Yitzchak Abarbanel. After the expulsion, he reached Italy and travelled the country together with his son R. Yitzchak. He came to the aid of his fellow Spanish exiles, preaching to them, encouraging them and strengthening their faith. The principles of faith and Divine Providence are topics stressed repeatedly in his works.
Or HaChaim, his most celebrated work, was reprinted in many editions. The book contains fierce censure of the rationalistic philosophy of the Middle Ages, which was widespread in Spain before the expulsion. The Chassid Yaavetz blames the preoccupation with philosophy over Torah study, for the eventual demise of Spanish Jewry. His famously wrote about the importance of Emunah Temimah (unquestioning faith) in face of coerced conversions, that while scholars and philosophers succumbed to the pressure to convert, the simple people remained steadfast in their faith.

Commentary on Tractate Avot – Lechem Yehuda, with the text of Avot, by R. Yehuda son of Shmuel Lerma Sephardi. Sabbioneta: Tobias Foa, [1554].
The first edition of this work was printed in Venice, in 1553, in 1500 copies, which were destroyed during the burning of the Talmud that year; very few copies of that edition are extant.
In his preface to the present edition, the author relates that he already printed the book once in Venice, but in Cheshvan 1553, all 1500 copies he printed were destroyed during the burning of the Talmud. He was compelled to try to reconstruct his commentary from memory, and after he had written three chapters, he managed to obtain a single surviving copy. He then proceeded to compare the two versions, and came to the conclusion that the second was more complete than the first, as it contained many added homilies (see: A. Yaari, Mechkarei sefer, Jerusalem 1958, pp. 208, 360).
Author's colophon on p. 163b: "The commentary to Tractate Avot was completed… by me, Yehuda son of R. Shmuel Lerma the Sephardi, on 27th Cheshvan 1552".
Printer's colophon at the foot of the same page: "Printed by Cornelio Adelkind and proofread by Yosef son of R. Yaakov Shalit of Padua, in the house of R. Tobias Foa".
Ownership inscription at foot of title page: "Belongs to R. Yaakov son of R. Shimshon"; and on p. 2a: "Belongs to the distinguished R. Wolf Oppenheim".
163, [1] leaves. 20.5 cm. Overall good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Minor marginal open tears and wear to title page. Dark inked stamps to title page, on engraving. Abrasions to title page (from removal of stamp). Inscriptions. Early leather binding, damaged.
Printer's device of Tobias Foa on final leaf: two rampant lions flanking a palm tree with a Star of David in the center, all within a Renaissance-style cartouche. The cartouche is set in a rectangular frame; the verse "The righteous shall flourish like a palm" is inscribed above it, with the initials of Tobias Foa on the other three sides. See: A. Yaari, Diglei HaMadpisim HaIvriim, image 20-21; p. 133 (the present device is slightly different).
The printer Tobias son of Eliezer Foa established a Hebrew printing press in Sabbioneta in 1551, where he printed some 25 titles until 1559.

Igeret Orchot Olam, on "the seven climate zones and the three continents – Asia, Africa and Europe" – geographic work, including accounts of America, by R. Avraham Farissol. Venice: Zuan di Gara, Tishrei 1586. First edition.
Igeret Orchot Olam is the first Hebrew work discussing the discovery of the New World, including a description of America and of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. The work, authored by R. Farissol in 1524, includes two parts. The first part is a general description of the globe, its climate zones, continents and countries. The second part focuses on the discoveries of Spanish and Portuguese explorers, with a detailed account of the travels of Vasco da Gama around the Cape of the Good Hope on his way to India. The work also discusses the location of Gan Eden, the Sambatyon river and the Ten Lost Tribes.
One chapter (chapter 29) is dedicated to America, and describes its inhabitants and geography – with descriptions of the Indian tribes, their habits, way of life, and wars; and descriptions of its tall mountains and vast forests swarming with ferocious animals and reptiles.
In chapter 14, the author speaks of the fate of the Ten Lost Tribes.
P. 33b features a diagram illustrating the shape of the new continent.
Table of contents at the beginning of the book, after the author's preface.
Signatures on the title page, final leaf and several other places: "Ish Ger" – acronym of R. Avraham Yosef Shlomo Graziano, Jewish-Italian scholar and maskil in the 17th century; renowned collector of books and manuscripts.
The book contains many glosses in his handwriting, including some lengthy ones, comprising explanations, additions and emendations.
Inscriptions on the front endpaper (the Ten Sefirot).
R. Avraham Farissol (ca. 1452 – ca. 1526), Italian Torah scholar and Renaissance man. Born in Avignon in the south of France, he immigrated to Italy at a young age. After a brief period in Mantua, he settled in Ferrara, where he lived most his life. He was involved in the community, serving as cantor and teacher. He was renowned as a meticulous copyist of manuscripts, and copied many books. Due to his familiarity with both Jewish and secular texts, he was chosen by the Jewish community of Ferrara to represent them in the disputation with Dominican monks (this influenced him to write Magen Avraham, a polemical work in part against Christianity and Islam). R. Farissol's great interest in the Age of Discovery led him to compose the present book – Igeret Orchot Olam – which became his most famous work. Igeret Orchot Olam is the first Hebrew geographic work, and the first Hebrew work reporting the discovery of America and other findings.
36 leaves. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, some leaves with many stains. Marginal open tear to title page. Small hole to title page from ink erosion, slightly affecting border. Marginal worming to title page and two other leaves. Title page partially detached. Early parchment binding, damaged and loose.

Likutei Amarim Tanya, by HaAdmor HaZaken Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Baal HaTanya. Zhovkva: Mordechai Rubinstein, [1798].
The title page states: "Tanya, which is a book of collected writings… and we have added a touch… from the outstanding Torah scholar, the author, to explain the essence and topic of Teshuva, and this is a third part which was not included in the first edition printed in Slavita…" (the word Slavita is emphasized on the title page).
This edition is the second printing of the Tanya in the author's lifetime, and was presumably printed without his knowledge. This is the first edition to be printed outside Russia, and to contain chapters of Igeret HaTeshuva – Mahadura Kama at the end of the book (in Shklow 1806, the author published Igeret HaTeshuva Mahadura Batra).
This is the first time the book was titled Tanya, a title used ever since. In the first edition, the book was named only Likutei Amarim.
The publisher R. Yaakov of Brody writes at the end of the book that he was repeatedly asked to undertake the printing of a new edition of this book, since the book was not available in his country (Galicia-Poland), due to the prohibition to export the book from Russia, where it was originally published.
The following statement appears before Igeret HaTeshuva (p. 67a): "Says the publisher: A precious gem was in my possession from the scholarly author, a manuscript booklet pertaining to repentance, and for the benefit of the public I have brought it to print".
This edition earned two important approbations from prominent rabbis. The first one from R. Moshe Tzvi Hirsh Meisels Rabbi of Zhovkva, and the second from R. Yitzchak HaLevi of Lviv, rabbi of Kraków (an elder rabbi of his generation, son-in-law of R. Aryeh Leib Rabbi of Amsterdam, and brother-in-law of R. Shaul Rabbi of Amsterdam).
R. Yitzchak Shimshon Meisels Rabbi of Czernowitz (Chernivtsi), grandson of R. Moshe Tzvi Hirsh, relates in his approbation to the siddur of the Baal HaTanya that he was present when his grandfather accorded his approbation to the Tanya.
The second approbation was given by R. Yitzchak HaLevi of Lviv, rabbi of Kraków, a foremost opponent of Chassidism. He was a leading signatory on the ban against Chassidim in Kraków in 1786, and the book Tzavaat HaRivash was burnt at his behest, while this book earned his effusive approbation, with profuse praise of the author and his book.
[2], 74 leaves. 17 cm. Fair condition. Dark stains and wear. Marginal tears and open tears, not affecting text, minor repairs to title page and final two leaves. Stamp. New leather binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 623.