Teshuvot R. Akiva Eger, Sefer HaPsakim [responsa to halachic questions] and part I of Sefer HaKetavim [responsa to Talmudic topics]. Warsaw, 1834. Two title pages. First edition, printed in the author's lifetime.
Copy of R. Gershon Tanchum of Minsk, author of Ilana D'Chayei. Ownership inscriptions attesting that book belonged to R. Gershon Tanchum posek in Minsk. Chapter 66 (p. 47b) bears three scholarly glosses in his handwriting, signed by him – "G.T." His glosses refer to responsa in his manuscript work Etz HaDaat on Yoreh Deah (never printed), and to two responsa he wrote in the month of Tishrei 1872.
R. Gerson Tanchum Pozniak (1802-1881), a leading Torah scholar in his generation, was a posek and yeshiva dean in Minsk and was considered the supreme rabbinic authority in the city (a large city replete with Torah scholars which for many years did not appoint an official chief rabbi). He served for many years as yeshiva dean of Blumke's Kloiz in Minsk and many rabbis in Lithuania and Belarus were his disciples, including the kabbalist R. Shlomo Elyashiv, author of the Leshem. In his youth, R. Shlomo Elyashiv left his hometown to study in R. Gershon Tanchum's yeshiva in Minsk, where he stayed for six years. A beloved student of R. Gershon Tanchum, he became his study partner; together the studied the entire Talmud and the Rambam. R. Gerson Tanchum was a renowned Torah scholar who issued responsa to queries he received from all over the world. His works on Orach Chaim were printed in the three-part book Ilana D'Chayei (Halberstadt, 1860 – Vilna, 1865). However, his work Etz HaDaat on Yoreh Deah and the rest of his responsa are still in manuscript form (mentioned in these glosses).
Stamps of R. Mordechai Yehonatan Katzenelbogen‎‏: "Mordechai Yehonatan Katzenelbogen, son of R. Shaul HaLevi, rabbi of Kobryn, formerly of Kosava". Ownership inscriptions of R. "Binyamin Benzion son of R. Moshe Leib – Kosava".
R. Mordechai Yehonatan HaLevi Katzenelbogen, brother of the mother of the Chazon Ish. In 1892, he printed the book Givat Shaul with the lamentation of his brother-in-law R. Shemaryahu Yosef Karelitz rabbi of Kosava, for the passing of their father R. Shaul HaLevi Katzenelbogen rabbi of Kobryn. His brother R. Avraham Meir HaLevi Katzenelbogen, author of Mincha Belula, was the son-in-law of R. Gershon Tanchum of Minsk.
The first edition printed in the lifetime of the author, R. Akiva Eger, who requested his sons to print the book "on beautiful paper in black ink and fine lettering, because, in my opinion, the soul responds and the mind and concentration are awakened when studying from a fine high-quality book" (from the introduction). This book was indeed printed on thick, high-quality paper, manufactured especially for this printing (the watermarks of the paper bear the name of the manufacturer and the name of the person who ordered the print: "Eiger").
[2], 222 leaves. 33 cm. Thick high-quality paper. Wide margins. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Wear and a few tears. Worming to the margins of many leaves, not affecting text. Many stamps. New leather binding.
Stefansky Classics, no. 310.