De auro dialogi tres, In quibus non solum de auri in re medica facultate [three dialogues on the medical uses of gold], by R. Avraham HaRofe Portaleone. Venice: Io. Baptistam à Porta, 1584. Latin. First edition.

The work contains three dialogues, in which one of the characters represents the author. The dialogues discuss the curative properties that ancient physicians attributed to gold. According to the author's testimony (at the end of his book Shiltei HaGiborim), the present book was written at the request of Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga of Mantua, and a printed dedication to him does in fact appear at the beginning of the book.
R. Avraham HaRofe Portaleone (Shaar Aryeh; 1542-1612), an Italian rabbi and physician, born in Mantua, a disciple of R. Avraham Provenzalo. Studied medicine and graduated from the University of Pavia.

On page 12 is a fine engraving with the emblem of the author, with a lion in the center surrounded by a cartouche, next to a banner bearing the caption: "Adivtor Non Timebo".
The last leaf in the present copy, with the corrigenda, was added after the printing only to some copies.

[8], 178, [24], [2] pages. Approx. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark dampstains. Ownership inscriptions on title page. Original parchment binding, with damage.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Mishpetei Shevuot and Sefer HaMekach VeHaMemkar, by R. Hai Gaon, with Shitah Chadashah LiBereshit Rabbah and Baraita DiMelechet HaMishkan. Venice: Daniel Zanetti, [1602]. First edition.

Many handwritten glosses in early Ashkenazic script (ca. the date of printing), by an unidentified writer. Most glosses written on Baraita DiMelechet HaMishkan.
Handwritten glosses (later) to endpapers and title page, relating to content of book.

55 leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Open tears to title page and several other leaves, affecting title frame, repaired with paper. Many handwritten notations to margins of leaves, and inside the text to some leaves. Stamps. Early leather and wood binding with remains of clasps, worn and damaged, partially disconnected (torn spine).

Provenance: Estate of Prof. Ephraim Elimelech Urbach.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Torat HaBayit HaAroch by the Rashba, laws of Isur VeHeter and Nidah, with Mishmeret HaBayit by the Rashba and Bedek HaBayit by R. Aharon HaLevi. Venice: Zuan di Gara, [1607]. First edition.

On the title page is the signature of R. Gur Aryeh HaLevi (the beginning of the signature is deleted with ink, but the words can still be discerned). On the upper corner of the title page is his calligraphic signature in Sephardic style: "Gur Aryeh HaLevi". On p. 11a is a gloss in his handwriting, signed with his initials.

The kabbalist R. Gur Aryeh HaLevi Finzi, known as HaRav Ga'al (died 1697), a renowned rabbi in Mantua, where he was appointed dayan in 1665. He corresponded with R. Shmuel Aboav, R. Moshe Zacuto and his disciple R. Binyamin HaKohen Vitale; and reputedly heard the heavenly messenger who taught Torah to R. Moshe Zacuto.
Ownership inscriptions in Ashkenazic script on title page and several places (some deleted). Inscriptions also appear on the parchment's binding. Short gloss in Ashkenazic script on p. 181b.
Censor's signature on p. 191b.
On the bottom margins of the title page is mounted a piece of printed paper (printed elsewhere, later), with a note on the mentions of gentiles in the book.

191, [1] leaf. 29 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of past dampness. Wear. Worming, affecting text (heavy worming on title page and last leaves). Small marginal open tears to several leaves. Stamps. Early parchment binding, worn and damaged.

Provenance: Estate of Prof. Ephraim Elimelech Urbach.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Tumat Yesharim, anthology of works edited by R. Binyamin Mutal. Venice: Pietro and Lorenzo Bragadin, press of Giovanni Cajon, 1622.

The present book is an anthology comprising four central works and several additional smaller works, printed here for the first time: “Ohalei Tam” – responsa by R. Tam ibn Yachya; Derech Tamim, glosses on the Rif and his commentators by R. Tam ibn Yachya and his son R. Gedaliah ibn Yachya (including glosses by R. Betzalel Ashkenazi, R. Yitzchak Luria, and R. Avraham Treves Tzarfati); Temim De’im, rulings, commentaries and Hasagot on the Rif by R. Avraham ben David of Posquières (the Raavad); Klalei Shmuel by R. Shmuel Sirilio; and Hagahot Sifra copied by the editor R. Binyamin Mutal; and several additional small works.

The editor of the book, R. Binyamin Mutal, was a Torah scholar in Constantinople. He edited and published several additional works.
Ownership inscriptions to front endpaper and verso of title page belonging to R. Avraham Tiktin, signed by his disciple Shmuel HaLevi.
It is not clear whether this R. Avraham Tiktin (referred to by the inscription as “the Gaon Av Beit Din”) is the famous R. Avraham son of Gedaliah Tiktin, Rabbi of Breslau, author of Petach HaBayit and companion of R. Akiva Eiger and R. Yaakov of Lisa, since we do not know of a stay of his in Gröningen, which is mentioned in the ownership inscription, nor do we have information on the author of the inscription, his disciple “Shmuel HaLevi”.

114; 120; 94; 66 leaves. Leaf 88 (misnumbered 47) of the second sequence bound out of place, after leaf 79. 18.5 cm. Most leaves in good-fair condition, four leaves in the middle of the book and the last leaves in fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Heavy traces of past dampness with mold stains on leaves 117-120 of the second sequence (these leaves appear to have been supplied from another copy). The margins of the title page are trimmed on all sides, and the title frame is mounted on other paper. Worming. Worming and small open tears to last leaves, affecting text. Original leather binding, damaged, with a small open tear to spine.

Provenance: Estate of Prof. Ephraim Elimelech Urbach.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Commentary on the Masorah, by R. Yaakov son of Yitzchak of Sandomierz. Amsterdam: Yehudah son of Mordechai and Shmuel son of Moshe HaLevi, [Chanukkah 1649].

This book was first printed in Lublin, 1616, and later with additions by the author's son in Lublin, 1644. Most copies of the Lublin edition were destroyed in the Chmielnicki massacres of 1648-1649. The present item is the third edition, with additions printed by the author in Amsterdam.

The mnemonics for the date of publication in the title page, introduction of the author's son and colophon allude to the Messianic hopes of those days.

12 leaves. Approx. 18 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Marginal tears (pieces of paper mounted across the outer margins of the title page and other leaves). New binding.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.