Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts

Ir David (Rabbi David HaKohen of Vilna) – Jerusalem, 1880 / 1881 – Handwritten Dedications by Author

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Ir David, ethics and proper conduct, and survey of graves of tzaddikim in Eretz Israel, by R. David HaKohen of Vilna. Jerusalem: Yoel Moshe Salomon, 1880. Bound with: Ir David (Part II), by R. David HaKohen of Vilna. Jerusalem: Yitzchak Gościnny and partners, 1881.


In addition to the above topics, both books contain a special chapter with sentences with chronograms for the dates of printing (1880-1881).
On endpaper at the beginning of the volume, 13-line handwritten dedication by author, first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar 1880.
On the verso of the title pages of both parts, printed dedications, filled in by hand by the author, to "Dr. Levisohn", apparently R. Yehudah Leib Levisohn of Stockholm, who wrote book reviews for periodicals, with words added to the second dedication by the author.
Apparently, the lengthy dedication at the beginning of the volume, asking for a favorable review, is also addressed to him.
At the end of Part I appears a leaf with an estimate of the Ashkenazi Jewish population in Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias and Hebron.
The book's purpose is clarified in the approbation of R. Yechiel Michel Pines to the 1886 part (not in the present volume). Sick and unable to work, the author would make a living from his book with chronograms for the current year, which he was able to produce effortlessly.


[1], 36 leaves; 40 leaves. 16 cm. Dry, somewhat brittle paper. Overall good condition. Stains. Small marginal tears to several leaves. New binding.


Sh. Halevy, no. 350, 376.

Early Hebrew Books and Broadsides Printed in Jerusalem
Early Hebrew Books and Broadsides Printed in Jerusalem