Pe'at HaShulchan, laws pertaining to Eretz Israel, by R. Yisrael of Shklow, disciple of the Vilna Gaon. Safed: R. Yisrael Bak, 1836. First edition.
The author, R. Yisrael of Shklow (1770-1839), a close disciple of the Vilna Gaon (who studied with him during his final days), published the books of the Vilna Gaon and disseminated his teachings, and was a leader of the immigration of the Vilna Gaon's disciples to Eretz Israel.
In a lengthy and important introduction at the beginning of the book, the author relates his trials and tribulations after his immigration to Eretz Israel, including a plague that broke out in the Galilee in 1813, the passing of his wife when they fled to Jerusalem, the passing of their children from the plague which also spread to Jerusalem, and the passing of his parents in the Galilee. He goes on to recount his subsequent return to the Galilee, his imprisonment during the Siege of Acre, his miraculous rescue from a collapse of houses during winter in Safed, and more.
The rest of his introduction is a highly important biographical source for the Vilna Gaon. R. Yisrael of Shklow describes at length the greatness of his teacher, his method and practices, his outstanding expertise in Torah and sciences and more.

[5], 2-109, [1] leaves. 30.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming and tears to margins of title page and several other leaves. Parts of the text are blurred in several places. Stamp and handwritten inscriptions. Original binding worn, front side loose, with many open tears and worming to spine and endpapers.

One of the last books published in Safed before the 1837 earthquake, after which the author and printer, R. Yisrael Bak, moved to Jerusalem.
The present copy includes final leaf of errata.

Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra, no. 1543.

"And may the merit of our great and holy rabbi stand at my right side… All my aspiration and hope is his great merit, as G-d granted me the merit of seeing the light of the face of the king while still alive, half a year before he was recalled to the heavenly yeshiva, and I merited to attend to him and be like a servant to the king twenty days before his passing. Many times I recited Scripture and Mishnah before him, and my hand did not leave him until our glorious crown was removed from our head" (introduction of R. Yisrael of Shklow to Beur HaGra on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, Shklow 1803).

Divrei Shalom, commentary on Etz Chaim and Shemonah Shearim, with homilies by R. Refael Avraham Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi, grandson of the Rashash, published by the author's son-in-law R. Chaim Avraham Gagin (Rav Agan). Jerusalem: Yisrael Bak, [1843].
On title page, dedication handwritten and signed by R. Shalom Moshe Chai (Samach) Gagin, son of the publisher Rav Agan, to R. Yosef Nisim Burla. Below, ownership inscription of the recipient.
After the approbations appears an introduction by Rav Agan describing his controversial appointment as Rishon LeTzion. After the introduction are printed kabbalistic responsa.

R. Shalom Moshe Chai [Samach] Gagin (1833-1883), leading Jerusalem Torah Scholar, son of the Rishon LeTzion R. Chaim Avraham Gagin, Rav Agan. Studied in the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva and served as its emissary, and later succeeded his father as its dean.

R. Yosef Nisim Burla (1828-1903), leading Jerusalem Torah scholar, served as emissary for Eretz Israel in North Africa and later appointed head of the Jerusalem Beit Din.

[6], 154 leaves. 29 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and creases. Tears, including open tears to several leaves, affecting text in a few places. Worming, affecting text of last leaves. Large stamp on title page. New leather binding.

Sh. Halevy, no. 11.

Keter Shem Tov – Kenaf Renanim, poems in honor of Sir Moses Montefiore, by R. Yaakov HaLevi Sapir. Jerusalem: Yisrael Bak, [1849].
The book includes four poems in honor of Sir Moses Montefiore, for two of his visits in Eretz Israel and for his efforts in the Damascus blood libel and for Russian Jewry.
On the last page of the book, R. Yaakov Sapir gives a poetic summary of his life in the 17 years since he immigrated to Eretz Israel.

R. Yaakov HaLevi Sapir (1822-1885), traveler, emissary and scholar. Born in Russia, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, where he served as a schoolteacher, secretary of the Perushim community and occasionally a poet. On voyages as an emissary, he kept a detailed travelogue, and his writings comprise the first ethnography of Yemenite Jewry as well as a philological study of their manuscripts.

26, [1] pages. 21.5 cm. Light-colored paper, with fine margins. Good condition. Light stains and traces of former dampness. New binding.

Sh. Halevy, no. 45.

Printed leaf, Shemirah (protection) for home and childbed. Jerusalem: [Yisrael Bak, 1863].

At the center of the leaf appears Psalm 121. On its right is a prayer from Avodat HaKodesh by the Chida, and on its left an invocation against the evil eye by the Chida. At the bottom of the leaf are verses, invocations and Holy Names. Chronogram for year in margins.
Printed dedication by R. Avraham Charosh with blank space, filled out by hand in square letters: "Benin Menachem" [Menachem Benin, apparently of the Yemenite community in Eretz Israel].

[1] leaf, approx. 17.5x30 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains. Much worming and open tears, affecting text, repaired with tape and paper filling (tape mounted around entire margins of leaf). Newly bound.

Rare. Undocumented by Sh. Halevy, and documented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book based on a photocopy (the NLI website contains a photocopy of the present copy).
Formerly of the collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman, with inscriptions in his handwriting on endpaper.

Dimat HaAshukim, polemical work of the Sephardi rabbis in Hebron against R. Avraham Chaim Penso, following his support for the Chief Rabbi of the city, R. Eliyahu Mani. Jerusalem: [Yitzchak Gościnny and Yitzchak Gagin, 1879].

Booklet of Hebron residents against R. Avraham Chaim Penso and his work Minchat Kenaot, a work defending R. Eliyahu Suleiman Mani, the Chief Rabbi of Hebron, whom some Sephardi rabbis attempted to remove from office and appoint R. Rachamim Yosef Franco instead. The book includes an "approbation" signed by 66 residents of Hebron as well as approbations from Jerusalem rabbis. According to Sh. Halevy, the author of the work is R. Shalom Chai Gagin.

[1] title cover, [1[, 55 pages. 17.5 cm. Dry paper. Fair-good condition. Open tears to title cover and additional leaves, repaired with paper filling, and minute open tears to several leaves, slightly affecting text. New binding.

Sh. Halevy, no. 326.