Five Books of the Torah, with Targum Onkelos, the Rashi and Baal HaTurim commentaries, and the Five Megillot. Vienna: Joseph Hraschanzky, 1794. Complete set in five volumes.
Signatures on the title pages: "Yosef Dov Schlesinger". Signatures in German of the same owner on other leaves, in which he notes that he comes from Kirchenberg (presumably Kirchberg. He appears to be a relative of R. Mordechai Yoffe-Schlesinger author of Sheal Lecha Ot, who served as rabbi there).
On the endpapers of the volumes, numerous interesting inscriptions, including familial inscriptions, documentation of difficult weather conditions, illnesses and epidemics, and more. The cities mentioned in the inscriptions are from the area of the Czech Republic (North Bohemia).
On the endpapers of Shemot, various inscriptions, including a report of the weather conditions during the winter of 1852, a description of the fire in the tower of Reschwitz (Radošov) caused by lightning; and an inscription recording the passing of R. Yaakov Ze'ev son of R. Meir of Prague.
At the end of Vayikra, several blank leaves were bound, containing 8 handwritten pages, with a detailed report of the extreme weather conditions during the autumn and winter of the following years: 1839, 1842, 1844, 1847, 1850, 1852, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1860 and 1861. The writer mentions various facts, including the increase in food prices, the state of the roads, and more. In the inscription about 1849-1850, the writer describes the outbreak of a cholera morbus epidemic and other illnesses in various cities: "In autumn 1849, it was also very cold, and snow… and nevertheless, several illnesses were spreading amongst the people, especially amongst the Jews. In Weitentrebitsch (Saaz district; today: Široké Třebčice), the cholera morbus illness struck, and several Jews perished…".
The back endpaper of Bamidbar contains a report of the tragic death of the beloved grandson of the writer, who was struck by lightning before his eyes: "With a broken heart and eyes full of tears, the child Avraham, my daughter's son, was taken from me, when G-d took him within a split second before my eyes with a bolt of lightning, on Monday 14th Tammuz 1857. As I sat teaching him and another four young children, and he was the youngest of them, aged 4 years and 4 months only, full of grace and knowledge, and he knew all the letters and vocalization, and could translate by heart over a hundred and fifty words from the Holy Tongue to Yiddish. May his soul be bound in the bond of eternal life, and every man and women, young and elderly from our people, as well as from the non-Jews who knew this child, cried copious tears over the conflagration that G-d has burnt".
On the endpapers of Devarim, various inscriptions, including a familial inscription: "My uncle R. Itzek Leib Segal…, born on 18th Iyar 1763, my mother Sarel, his sister, born on 10th Adar 1761. A signature extends over the title page and two subsequent leaves: "Yosef Ber Schlesinger".
Five volumes: [2], 102; 112; 84; 88; 12, 12-104 leaves. 21.5 cm. Overall fair condition. Numerous stains and extensive wear. Signs of use. Damage and tears to several leaves, affecting text, some repaired with paper. Old bindings, worn and damaged, with tears to spines. One volume without binding.