Pekudat HaMelech, two parts, on the Rambam, the Torah portions and various selections, by R. Yisrael Nachman of Drohobych. Livorno, [1804]. First edition.
The author, R. Yisrael Nachman of Drohobych, was the son of R. Yosef of Drohobych (disciple of the Baal Shem Tov). On his way to Eretz Israel, he stopped in Livorno, where he published his books and made acquaintance with the Chida, giving over to him much information about the Baal Shem Tov and Chassidut.
Inscription (partially trimmed) on the title page (presumably supplied from a different copy), in which R. Chaim Farhi attests that he received the book as a gift from the author, R. Yisrael Nachman Ashkenazi, on Monday 10th Cheshvan 1804.
R. Chaim Farhi (1760-1819), leader of the Jewish community in Damascus, and later advisor of Ahmad al-Jazzar – Ottoman governor of the Galilee, who cruelly blinded him, cut off the tip of his nose, and severed his left ear. He continued serving as advisor of Suleiman Pasha, al-Jazzar's successor, and finally of Abdullah Pasha, who had him murdered. R. Chaim is remembered for saving Acre from Napoleon's conquest, and for his activities on behalf of the Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel, as well as his assistance in the immigrations of the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, the Gaon of Vilna and North African Jewry.
R. Chaim Farhi's signature is followed by a later signature (slightly trimmed), of R. Yaakov Antebi (1787-1846), a Torah scholar of Aleppo and leader of his generation, chief rabbi of Damascus and the surroundings for some 30 years. He was imprisoned and cruelly tortured during the Damascus libel, and later immigrated to Jerusalem.
[7], 36; [1], 52 leaves (misfoliation). Title page presumably supplied from a different copy. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Worming, affecting text in several places. Open tears to title page and final leaves, affecting text, repaired with paper and photocopy replacement (title page mounted on thin paper). Inner margins and other places reinforced with paper. Stamps. New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 476.
One of the few Chassidic books published in Livorno.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.