Zichron L'Acharonim SheYihyu - Handwritten leaf, containing a detailed report of the cholera outbreak in Italy, 1835, and of the prayers service of the Vercelli community during the High Holidays of 1835. Vercelli (Italy), Hoshana Rabbah [1835].
Neat Italian script. Inscribed on a printed stationery leaf produced by one of the Italian printing presses. The leaf is decorated with a woodcut floral border, topped with two putti blowing trumpets and holding wreaths, and two putti bearing a large crown.
The writer, Yosef Asher Pugliesi, whose signature appears at the foot of the leaf, first describes the spread of the plague throughout the world, and the many lives it claimed. He then reports how the plague reached Italy in 1835, and of the control measures taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic, as well as the medical directives which were issued, including: not leaving the house on an empty stomach, maintaining high standards of hygiene, and others. The writer relates of an extraordinary phenomenon - how the plague did not spread amongst the Jews. He reports that many non-Jews succumbed to the plague in Nizza, Cuneo and Genoa, while amongst the Jews, only a few individuals perished. The writer depicts the non-Jews' amazement at this phenomenon, how they praised the laws of the Torah, and even began buying kosher meat from the Jews. He then records that a special supplication was added to the prayer service by R. Pinchas Ashkenazi, rabbi of Vercelli, and the changes which were made to the prayer services for the High Holidays of 1835, following doctors' warnings and the government's decision to limit public gatherings: The prayer time was postponed, breaks were instituted between the prayers, and the number of piyyutim was greatly reduced. At the foot of the leaf, the writer lists the selichot which were recited for each prayer (Shacharit, Mussaf and Mincha).
Ownership inscriptions on the upper part of the leaf (inscribed while the leaf was still blank): "This became part of my possessions… Shimshon Pugliesi", "Was apportioned to Yosef Asher Pugliesi when he divided up with his brother Shimon Chaim in 1825".
[1] leaf. Approx. 40 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, tears (repaired). Leaf trimmed on left side, affecting printed border.

Manuscript, blessings and prayers from the siddur, translated to Italian. [Italy], 1750.
Hebrew headings, with prayers in Italian. Includes: morning blessings, Korbanot, MeEimatai (customarily recited in Italian communities as part of the morning prayers), Adon Olam, Yigdal, Vidui - Hatavat Chalom (service for one who experienced a bad dream), beginning of the Pesukei DeZimra for weekdays and Shabbat, and more.
Inscription inside the front cover (in Italian and Hebrew), dating the beginning of the writing of this manuscript in 1750.
Owner's signature inside the back cover (in Italian): "Simon ditta Franchetti…".
[38] leaves. 24 cm. Overall fair condition. Stains, traces of past dampness and mold. Ink erosion affecting text in several places. Some detached leaves. Tears to several leaves. Original card cover, damaged.

Manuscript, prayers to be recited at cemeteries. [Italy, 18th/19th century].
Italian square script in black ink, with titles and initial words in red ink.
The manuscript includes: "Blessing to be recited at the cemetery" and "Supplications customarily recited at cemeteries". It ends with a piyyut (following the style of the "Et Shaarei Ratzon LeHipatach" piyyut).
[16] leaves (30 written pages). 17 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Worming. Original paper cover, stained and slightly damaged.

Manuscript, "Tikkun instituted for Rosh Hashanah night", by R. Avraham Anau. [Rome, 1782].
Special service (tikkun) to be recited on Rosh Hashanah night, containing kabbalistic prayers, passages of the Bible, Mishnah, Midrash, piyyutim, and more. Square Italian script, with headings and instructions in semi-cursive Italian script. Title page with decorative border bearing the name of the author, R. Avraham Anau.
The year 1782 is indicated on the title page. In the preface on verso of the title page: "…the Chevra Kaddisha of Chonen Dalim…". The manuscript was presumably written in Rome.
This service is unknown from other sources and was never printed. There are two extant copies of this tikkun, written a short while later, one located at the Israel Museum, MS 12/180 (from 1814?) and the other in the Bar-Ilan University, MS 89 (from 1822).
Original leather binding with gilt tooling on the front and back boards. The front board bears a floral ornamental shield, topped by a crown, surrounded by the inscription: "MOISE ISACHE ESDRA". The back board bears a similar shield and the inscription: "SEFER TACUFAD ASCIANA". Inside the shield are the Hebrew letters Chet and Dalet (apparently, initials of the words Chonen Dalim).
[36] leaves. 21 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Worming to some leaves and to binding. Detached leaves. Deleted signatures. Bookplate. Binding damaged and partially detached, with defects to gilt tooling.