Sefer Pnei Yitzchak by R. Yitzchak Chajes, rabbi of Lviv, Krakow and Prague. Krakow: Isaac Prostitz, [1591]. First edition, printed during the lifetime of the author.
The book contains halachot written in rhyme, with surrounding commentaries labeled "Apei zutrei" and "Apei ravrevei". The end of the introduction contains a long illustrated poem by the author's son regarding the contents of the work. The poem is written such that the initial or final words of each line are the same. The author, the gaon R. Yitzchak Chajes (1538-1617) was among the earliest Acharonim. He was brother-in-law of the Maharal of Prague. First edition, published during the lifetime of the author, who is referred to as "the gaon R. Yitachak She"n, known as R. Yitzchak Chajes". This book is quoted often by the greatest Halachic decisors.
On the title page is an ancient signature: "Moshe ben R. Yitzchak Zussman". The following page contains another signature: "Avraham ben R. Yisrael [Isserlis?]". An additional signature appears in the center of the title page: "The world and all its contents belong to G-d. [This volume belongs to] David Deutsch". The book contains six glosses with short corrections in the distinctive handwriting of R. David Deutsch.
R. David Deutsch, rabbi of Nowe Miasto (Ir Chadash-Neistadt) (1757-1831, Ishim B'Teshuvot Chatam Sofer, p. 113), author of Ohel David, was a disciple of the Nodah B'Yehuda in Prague and of the Maharam Barabi in Pressburg. He was a renowned Torah scholar and served as rabbi of Jamnitz, Frauenkirchen and Dunajská Streda. From 1810 until his passing, he served as Rabbi of Nowe Miasto. Some of his Talmudic novellae were printed in his Ohel David books. He exchanged a prolific halachic correspondence with the leading Torah figures of his times, including the Nodah B'Yehuda, the Chatam Sofer and the author of Yismach Moshe. The Chatam Sofer wrote in his approbation to this volume: "That tsaddik, holy Jew, genius… I have seen wonderful things in his book… We are privileged to merit his words and his light… his merit should protect us from all harm".
17, [1], 1-65, 70-108 leaves (missing [4] leaves that were added to the end of the book after the final colophon). 19.5 cm. Fair condition; stains and wear. Tears to the margins of several pages without missing text. Worn and damaged leather binding, new adhesive fabric spine.
Missing [4] final pages containing a lamentation written by the author's son, R. Menachem Manish Chajes, over the fire that broke out in Poznan and over the passing of his brother, R. Shmuel Chajes.

Two books bound together - first editions of important responsa printed in the 17th century
*Responsa M as'at Binyamin by R. Binyamin Aharon Selnik. Krakow: Menachem Nachum Meisels, Cheshvan-Shevat 5393 [1632-1633]. First edition. Missing 7 leaves. Wear and damage, with damage to text. Some of the missing text has been added in handwriting [old Ashkenazic handwriting, 17th-18th centuries]. Page 129a contains a long scholarly handwritten gloss contemporary to the printing (17th century). Old ownership signatures from various periods: "I bought this from R. Eliezer -?- the small Yaakov Meir ---?" "Tzvi Hirsch ben R. Moshe Segal from --?- currently living in --?---?", and others.
* Responsa Emunat Shmuel, by R. Aharon Shmuel Kaidanover. Frankfurt-am-Main, 1683. Brought to print by his son, R. Tzvi Hirsch, author of "Kav Hayashar". First edition. Missing last leaf. Ownership signatures from various times. "The small Aryeh L."; "I bought this from R. Eliezer L--? The small Yaakov Meir---?" Page 2b contains the signature "the small Yosef Baruch". The back endpapers contain later date inscriptions: "from the estate of the great and famous rabbi…"; and a long inscription about R. Yehoshua Glikman, rabbi of Sosnowiec, the son-in-law of R. Yehoshua Heschel Horowitz of Checiny and Olkusz, a direct descendent of the Seer of Lublin. His brother-in-law was R. Yosef Baruch Horowitz, rabbi of Checiny (died 1938), evidently the signatory on page 2b in this volume.
Two books bound in one volume. Mas'at Binyamin: [4], 164 leaves (missing 7 leaves. Originally: [6], 168, [1] leaves). Emunat Shmuel: 63 leaves (Originally 64 leaves; last leaf is missing). 17 cm. Overall fair condition. Wear, tears and damage. Stains. Old binding, torn and worn, with leather spine.

Four volumes of the Yam Shel Shlomo series on the Talmud, by R. Shlomo Luria [the Maharshal]. Berlin and Furth, 1761-1766. With important signatures of R. Yehuda Leib of Dresden [apparently, son of R. Yehonatan Eybeschutz], of R. Avraham HaLevi of Chelm [Rabbi of Emden in the 1860s and leading rabbi of his times] and other signatures.
* Yam Shel Shlomo, on Tractate Gittin. Berlin, [1761]. At the top of the title page is a signed ownership inscription: "…I was graced with this book, Avraham HaLevi of Chelm".
* Yam Shel Shlomo, on Tractate Kiddushin. Berlin, [1766]. Signed: "Yechezkel Katz".
* Yam Shel Shlomo, On Tractate Beitza. Furth, [1766]. With Signature: "Yehuda Leib of Dresden". Ancient stamps: "Beit Midrash of the Obrzycko community".
* Yam Shel Shlomo, on Tractate Chulin. Furth, [1766]. With signed ownership inscription from 1769: "I have purchased this book in honor of my Creator, at a fair at Frankfurt an der Oder, Sunday the 12th of MarCheshvan 1770… Yehuda Leib son of R. Y. of Dresden". Ancient stamps: "Beit HaMidrash of the Obrzycko community".
R. Avraham HaLevi of Chelm, Rabbi of Emden, was a famous Torah scholar in his days. Successor of the Ya'avetz in the Emden rabbinate [ca. 1750s-1760s], mentioned in the Nodah B'Yehuda responsa, Yoreh Deah 141 Siman 1; in the book Zichron Ya'akov (Furth, 1770); a responsum he wrote in 1765 is mentioned in the She'elat Ya'akov response, Vol. 2, Simanim 24-25. In 1760, he served as Rabbi of Hildesheim and his rabbinic writ of appointment was printed in Kerem Shlomo (Year 4, Issue 1). Together with the Ya'avetz he fiercely battled Sabbateans in Germany. See articles by A. Brick: Shana Bashana, 1980, pp. 335-340; Shana Bashana, 1993, pp. 409-420.
R. Yehuda Leib Eybeschutz (died 1773), eldest son of R. Yehonatan Eybeschutz, was a famed Torah scholar. He lived in Prague until 1756, however, during the Seven-Years' War, he and his brother R. Natan Neta Eybeschutz fled to Dresden. There, the two brothers constructed a synagogue (which survived until 1829). Written in the Dresden Chevra Kadisha ledger: "…he set aside time for Torah study and conducted himself with austerity (Gedulat Yehonatan, p. 185).
4 books. 32-33 cm. Condition varies. Worming to some books affecting text. New uniform bindings.

Sefer Maleh Ratzon, "To answer all the difficulties in the Talmud" by R. Avraham Naftali Hirsch Halevi Spitz Segal, rabbi of Worms and the vicinity. Frankfurt-am-Main, [1710]. First edition. With the approbations of R. Naftali Katz of Frankfurt, author of "Semichat Chachamim", and R. Gavriel Eskeles, rabbi of Nikolsburg.
On the front endpaper is an inscription by the nephew of the author: "This volume was given to me as a gift by my esteemed uncle, the author, revered rabbi of Worms and the vicinity. These are my words as the grandson of his sister, Yitzchak Zekel, son of R. David Spitz Segal" [the inscription was evidently written between the publication on the volume in 1710 and the author's death in 1712, since the inscription refers to the author as among the living].
Further old signatures on the title page: "The small Yehuda Leib of Berlin", "The small Gershon Boskovitz".
Title page decorated with vegetal decorations with the words "The Almighty G-d is our crown". Further illustrations and decorations throughout the volume. Page 5a (Tractate Brachot 21) contains an illustration of the 400 chairs added to the Beit Medrash upon the appointment of R. Elazar ben Azariah as Nasi.
[2], 4, 97, [2]; 114; 7, 9-10; 1-13, [1] leaf. 31 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Small tears. Original leather covered wooden binding; damaged and detached.
Most copies of this book contain only the approbation of R. Naftali Katz, although the author mentions having received approbations from other rabbis who requested that their words not be printed "as they are unnecessary". In this copy, however, an extra paper was attached to the bottom half of the page of approbations. The page contains the approbation of R. Gershon Eskeles together with the original text of the page in smaller font so as to make room for the new approbation.