Responsa Chatam Sofer, parts I, II and III. Orach Chaim, Yoreh De'ah and Choshen Mishpat, by R. Moshe Sofer Rabbi of Pressburg. Vienna, 1895.
At the top of the first title page, signature of R. Reuven Chaim Klein, son-in-law of R. Yeshayale of Kerestir: "Reuven Chaim Klein son of R. Tz.D.", and his stamp from the time he was being supported by his father-in-law in Kerestir: "Reuven Chaim Klein - Bodrogkeresztúr".
The book contains dozens of lengthy handwritten glosses (mostly in ink, several in pencil). In some of the glosses, he mentions cases he was asked to rule on (see for instance Yoreh De'ah p. 10b: "…in the case which I was asked to rule on several times…"). The glosses were written over the course of many years, and the style of writing varies in accordance with the age (they were presumably all written by R. Reuven Chaim himself).
R. Reuven Chaim Klein (1884-perished in the Holocaust 1942), son-in-law of the renowned Tzaddik Rebbe Yeshaya Steiner of Kerestir, and son of R. Tzvi Dov Klein of Munkacs (a prominent Munkacs Chassid). He was a disciple of the Darchei Teshuva of Munkacs and of R. Netanel Fried author of Penei Mevin. In 1902, R. Yeshayale of Kerestir selected him as a groom for his eldest daughter, Rebbetzin Rivka Feiga, and he supported him generously for ten years. In 1912, he was appointed rabbi of Snina, eastern Slovakia, a position he held for over thirty years. He also headed the yeshiva there, and edified many disciples. In 1938, he published his book Responsa Mateh Reuven on Yoreh De'ah. At the beginning of his book, he dedicates several lines in memory of his father-in-law: "…in memory of the prominent Tzaddik… pillar of kindness… R. Yeshaya son of R. Moshe of Kerestir, and my mother-in-law, the pious rebbetzin… whose home was open to all like the home of Avraham our forefather, they supported me in their home for many years with great honor… words will not suffice to describe the great kindness they bestowed upon me over the course of their life…". During the Holocaust, when the Nazis deported all the resident of Snina to an extermination camp, one of the town's Christian governors offered to shelter him, yet R. Reuven Chaim refused, stating that he preferred to remain with his disciples and members of his community. In 1942, he was murdered in a camp close to Lublin.
[3], 2-78 leaves; [5], 2-146, [1] leaves; [2], 2-82 leaves. (A handwritten inscription on the endpaper indicates that leaves 43-44 of Yoreh De'ah are lacking, thought these leaves were presumably replaced from another copy). 39 cm. Dry, brittle paper. Fair-poor condition. Worming. Wear and tears. Detached leaves. Binding detached and very damaged.