Teshuvot R. Akiva Eiger, Sefer HaPsakim [book of halachic rulings; responses to Halachic questions] and the first part of Sefer HaKetavim [responses with explanations of Talmudic treatises]. Warsaw, 1834. Two title pages.
First edition printed during the author's lifetime, following his request to his sons to print it "on beautiful paper in black ink and fine lettering, because, in my opinion, the soul reacts 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 greenish paper. Good condition. First title page detached. Small open tear at the top of the second title page. Foxing on several pages. Slight worming to last pages. Fine antique leather binding.

Shulchan Aruch, with Be'er HaGola. Complete set, Orach Chaim, Yoreh De'ah, Even Ha'Ezer and Choshen Mishpat. Amsterdam 1697-1699. Printed by Emanuel Athias.
Two title pages per volume. The first title page has copper-engraved illustrations, with angelic figures. The second title page of Even HaEzer is dated "נח"ת"i [1698, like the date that appears on the title page of the Shelah (Shnei Luchot HaBrit) printed that year in Amsterdam in the same printing press].
4 volumes. Vol. 1: [24], 266, [1] leaves. Lacking last leaf. Vol. 2: [1], 302, [1] leaves. Vol. 3: [1], 178, 178-180, [1] leaves. Vol. 4: [1], 432, [1] leaves. Overall good-fair condition. Stains. Worming. Few tears. Handwritten Signatures in all volumes: "Akiva Porush". Partially reconstructed old leather bindings. Damages and worming to bindings.

Rabbinische Gutachten über die Beschneidung [Rabbinical opinions on circumcision], by Salomon Abraham Trier. Frankfurt am Main, 1844. Most in German, many parts in Hebrew.
On the front free endpaper is a handwritten self-dedication (combination of German and Hebrew) by the owner Dr. Wormser in which he relates that he received the book in 1845 from his teacher the author R. Zalman Trier [who ordained Dr. Wormser for the rabbinate in 1834]. He writes that his teacher severely rebuked him because he did not write an article on this subject to publicize in this book: "Why did you not respond with 'your eloquent language' to the call of your Torah companion R. Shmuel Bondy of Mainz to be zealous on behalf of G-d['s mitzvoth]? A young man with knowledge such as yours, is forbidden to keep quiet at 'such a time'… to my anguish, I was disappointed! So said the Rebbe…who for over 90 years… and his strength has not waned…".
This was written by R. Shlomo Wormser (1814-1887), son of R. Shmuel Wormser Rabbi of Langen-Schwalbach and grandson of R. Shlomo Zalman Wirmash Rabbi of Fulda. Apparently, as we can glean from this dedication, he too was asked by R. Bondy of Mainz, to send a letter protesting the abolition of circumcision, however, he did not send a letter.
In 1843, in a Frankfurt daily, an article was published by the "Friends of the Reform" in which they called for the complete abolition of the mitzvah of circumcision. A Reform teacher in Frankfurt named Yosef Yahelson (1777-1851) even wrote a propaganda booklet in which he declares that every Jewish institution is entitled to exchange circumcision with a different ritual. "Friends of the Reform" blamed circumcision as a cause for several crib-deaths at that time. The Frankfurt municipality buckled under this attack and conceded to list also uncircumcised children as Jews in the population registrars.
The elderly Rabbi of Franfurt, R. Shlomo Zalman Trier (1758-1847) fought this trend with all his might and submitted several applications to the city council to retreat from its intention, since by Jewish law an uncircumcised boy is not considered Jewish. To prevail upon Jewish and Christian public opinion, R. Zalman Trier together with Frankfurt Torah leaders, R. Yissachar Ber Adler and R. Aharon Fuld, author of Beit Aharon began to amass opinions of Jewish Torah scholars and of Jewish intellectuals regarding the essentiality of circumcision. In this book, R. Shlomo Zalman Trier gathered 28 written opinions and published them in a comprehensive book on the subject.
Writings of famous Torah scholars are included in this compilation: R. Yitzchak Dov HaLevi Würzburg, R. Shimshon Refael Hirsh (at the time he served as Rabbi of Emden), R. Ya'akov Ettlinger, the "Aruch LaNer" of Altona, R. Ya'akov Zvi of Kollnburg, author of Ktav V'Hakabbalah, and many more rabbis alongside non-Orthodox intellectuals such as: Yom Tov Lipman Tzunz of Berlin, Yitzchak Noach Manheimer of Vienna and Shmuel David Luzzatto (Shadal) of Padua.
XXIV, 240 pages, 19.5 cm. Good condition. Contemporary binding.
On the title page: Als manuskript gedruckt [printed as a manuscript]. According to the researcher R. B.S. Hamburger (HaYeshiva HaRama B'Furth, Part 3, p. 521), this book was defined as a manuscript to avoid opening a public controversy on the topic. He contends that the book was printed in a very limited number of copies to be given to those involved in the issue and was never sold at bookstores. Hamburger also wrote that "at present, this book is one of the scarcest [books]", despite the extensive coverage its content received in the papers of those days.

Letter by R. Reuven Grozovsky, head of the Kamenets Yeshiva. Raseiniai (Lithuania), 18th of Iyar [May, 1940].
Official (rare) stationery of the yeshiva while located in the city of Raseiniai, with a photo of the yeshiva head, R. Baruch Ber Leibowitz [who died in the winter of 1940 in Lithuanian exile]. Most of the letter is typewritten, with four handwritten lines added by R. Reuven. In the long interesting letter, R. Reuven relates the state of the yeshiva in its exile to Vilna in independent Lithuania, and from there to Raseiniai. "…The yeshiva continues its past glory, same as in Kamenets… and its spirits have not fallen, even a bit… The yeshiva students study in depth and with comprehension following the path laid by my illustrious teacher and father-in-law, R. Baruch Ber Leibowitz. We continue his tradition to penetrate the words of the Rishonim and Achronim and to comprehend their meanings…". Further in the letter, R. Reuven tells of the dire material circumstances of the yeshiva: "Terrified, we abruptly fled Kamenets and did not have time to take even our most basic possessions… Besides, we do not have the means necessary for maintaining the yeshiva. How great is the mitzvah of assisting these heroes in these trying times… saving these dear souls who are completely devoted to Torah study and have surpassed all limits in their dedication to Torah study".
At the end of the letter, R. Reuven added in his handwriting and with his signature: "You should know that our escape was accompanied by great miracles and our survival here during these turbulent world-shaking events is also miraculous, with the valiant spirit of these Torah students… Reuven Grozovsky, Head of the Knesset Beit Yitzchak Yeshiva of Kamenets, now in Raseiniai".
Rabbi Reuven Grozovsky (1886-1958), son of Rabbi Shimshon Grozovsky Rabbi in Minsk and illustrious son-in-law of Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz, head of the Kamenets Yeshiva. In his youth he was a foremost disciple of the Saba of Slabodka and later developed into an outstanding Torah scholar, prominent leader of Lithuanian and US yeshivas. Assistant to his eminent father-in-law in managing the Kamenets Yeshiva. During the Holocaust, he escaped to the US, headed the Beit Midrash Elyon of the Torah VeDa'at Yeshiva and was one of the heads of Mo'etzet Gedolei HaTorah in the US. Known for his articles which trenchantly oppose Nationalism and Zionism, later printed in the book Ba'ayot HaZman. His profound discourses were printed in the four parts of Chiddushei Rabbi Reuven and in other books featuring his Torah teachings.
Official stationery, approximately 29 cm. Good condition. Wear damages to upper margin and file holes.