Two (incomplete) books printed in Venice in 1589-1600 with glosses in Sephardic script (typical of Greece and the Balkans, ca. 18th and early 19th century].
• Tur Orach Chaim, with Beit Yosef. Venice: [Zuan de Gara, 1589]. Scholarly glosses in Sephardic script. Most glosses open with the writer's signature: "A.A." (Amar Avraham - So said Avraham) - the distinctive signature of R. Avraham Alkalai, author of Zechor LeAvraham (1749-1811), an outstanding Torah scholar renowned for his diligence. Born in Salonika, he was a disciple of R. Yosef ibn Ya'ish. In 1780, he was invited to serve as dayan and posek in Dupnitsa (Bulgaria), and following the passing of the rabbi of the city, R. Avraham Sid, he succeeded him. In 1810, he immigrated to Eretz Israel, to the holy city of Safed. He authored: Responsa Chesed LeAvraham, and his renowned composition Zechor LeAvraham, which became a basic book for study of Halacha, and is mentioned extensively in Halachic literature.
Most of the book lacking. [1], 2-24, 96 leaves (originally: [1], 2-24, 460 leaves). 35.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Marginal creases. Damage. Detached leaves and gatherings. Worming. Signatures and ownership inscriptions of "Chacham… Yitzchak Liggi" and of "Yosef Chananel Liggi". Front board detached.
• Midrash Shmuel, commentary to Tractate Avot, by R. Shmuel di Uceda. [Venice: Daniel Zanetti, 1600. Fourth edition. The title page states "Third printing", and this is indeed the third edition printed in Venice, not accounting for the third edition printed earlier in Krakow, 1594].
With many brief and lengthy glosses in Oriental script, from various writers.
Lacking title page. 2-251, [1] leaves. 20 cm. Fair-poor condition. Stains and wear. Severe dampstains to many leaves. Tears affecting text, with some loss. Leaf 2 torn and partially lacking. Without binding.