Responsa Bar Sheshet – Responsa of the Rivash. Riva di Trento: Antonio Bruin, 1559. Second edition.

Signature of R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai, the Chida, on title page (inside the woodcut of the word "Sefer"): "Chaim Yosef David Azulai".

Additional signature on title page: "Eliyahu Chai son of Moshe Nachamu" – apparently R. Eliyah Chai Nachamu, a Torah scholar of Ancona and a relative of R. Daniel Terni who quotes his novellae, and whom the Chida mentions in one of his letters (from 1787).

Additional signatures on title page of the Darmon family: "Masud Darmon"; "Amram Darmon". R. Masud Darmon (d. 1866), head of the Beit Din and disseminator of Torah in Oran (Algeria). His brother R. Amram Darmon (d. 1867) also served as rabbi and dayan in their city, with no expectation of compensation, as he was a rich Torah scholar (for more details on them see: Malchei Yeshurun, pp. 104-105).

Glosses in several places by various writers, some trimmed, two signed with initials (apparently those of R. Yehudah son of R. Masud Darmon, Rabbi of Oran, Algeria).

Lengthy handwritten inscriptions on front endpaper, one with the abovementioned initials, dated 1851.

Inscription on second leaf: "Etz Chaim yeshiva of Saïda" (Algeria).

On one of the leaves, all mentions of "gentiles" are erased with ink and replaced with "Cutheans".

The Chida – R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806) was a leading halachic authority, kabbalist, outstanding Torah scholar, prolific author and famous emissary. Born in Jerusalem to R. Refael Yitzchak Zerachiah Azulai, a Jerusalem scholar and great-grandson of the kabbalist R. Avraham Azulai author of Chesed LeAvraham. From his early years, he was a disciple of leading Jerusalem Torah scholars and kabbalists, including R. Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim. He began studying kabbalah at the Beit El kabbalistic yeshiva headed by R. Shalom Mizrachi Sharabi – the Rashash, alongside his colleague R. Yom Tov (Maharit) Algazi. In 1753 and 1773, he embarked on missions on behalf of the Hebron community, whereupon he settled in Livorno, Italy, where he went on to serve as rabbi and publish most of his books. The Chida was one of the greatest authors of all times and composed more than 80 works in all facets of Torah. His books were accepted and highly regarded throughout the Jewish people.

318, [2], 319-415, [9] leaves. Misfoliation of leaves 97-100. 18.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text. Tears and open tears, including open tear slightly affecting text of one leaf, and an open tear to title page, partially repaired with paper. New binding.

CB, no. 5427,2; Zedner, p. 377.