Mishneh LaMelech, novellae according to the order of the Rambam, by R. Yehudah Rosanes. Constantinople: Yonah son of Yaakov [Ashkenazi], [1731]. First edition.

First edition of Mishneh LaMelech, printed as a standalone book (it was later included in standard Rambam editions). The book was edited by the author's disciple, R. Yaakov Culi, author of MeAm Loez and a dayan in R. Yehudah Rosanes' Beit Din, who added his own notes and additions.

Copy of R. Chaim Abulafia (the third), Rishon LeTzion and Rabbi of Izmir, author of Nishmat Chaim, with his handwritten glosses. The book later passed into the possession of R. Refael Elazar Nachmias, author of Hon Rav, who also added his own glosses.

At the top of the title page – stamp of R. Chaim son of R. David Abulafia. Many glosses on margins, including lengthy glosses, handwritten by R. Chaim Abulafia.

At the top of the title page, additional ownership inscription handwritten by R. Eliezer Nachmias, attesting that the glosses in the book are handwritten by R. Chaim Abulafia: "I purchased this book from the perfect scholar R. David Vilna for 14 groschen, Elazar Nachmias. And know that the holy writing inside this book is by R. Ch[aim] A[bulafia]". On p. 74b of the last sequence, he writes at the end of a gloss: "…But this is astonishing, as I wrote in a responsum I sent to Trikala in 1749".

In several places in the book appear lengthy glosses handwritten by R. Elazar Nachmias, one signed "Elazar" (p. 45a of third sequence), and some beginning with his name (p. 22b of fourth sequence) or initial (p. 44b of last sequence).

Glosses by several other writers, one signed "Avraham Eli" (p. 89a of third sequence).

Additional signatures and ownership inscriptions on title page: "Yitzchak son of R. Moshe HaLevi" – apparently R. Yitzchak HaLevi, a rabbi in Sofia, where R. Elazar Nachmias also served as dayan for some time; "Purchased by Shem Tov Yarchi"; "Purchased by me in Sofia, Refael…"; When I was in Sofia I purchased this book with the four parts of the Rambam for 72 groschen, Refael…"; "I purchased this book from the perfect scholar R. Shlomo Chason for 63 groschen, 1836, Meir Benveniste".

Inscription on second leaf: "On loan from the lofty scholar Shmuel Don Abravanel".

R. Chaim son of R. David Abulafia (the third; d. 1775), Rabbi of Izmir and leading halachic authority in his times. Nephew of R. Chaim Abulafia, founder of the Jewish settlement in Tiberias. Born in Jerusalem, he studied under R. Yitzchak HaKohen Rappaport, author of Batei Kehunah. At a young age he was appointed dayan in Safed, and ca. 1740 he was appointed rabbi in Larissa, Greece. In 1755, the Larissa community suffered various persecutions, and R. Chaim Abulafia was compelled to leave the city together with some of his community members. He settled in Salonika, where he remained until his appointment as chief rabbi (Chacham Bashi) of Izmir in 1761. R. Chaim was a prominent posek in his times. R. Elyakim Gattegno, a dayan in his Beit Din, attested that he was its leader. Some of his responsa and rulings are recorded in the books of his contemporaries. His comprehensive and important work on the Smag was destroyed in the great fire in Izmir, 1772. A small part of his rulings, sermons and remnants of his book on the Smag were published in his Nishmat Chaim, Salonika, 1806. Additional remnants of his writings were published at the end of Ashdot HaPisgah by his disciple R. Yosef Nachmoli (Salonika, 1790), including some halachic responsa, homilies and commentary on the Passover Haggadah.

R. Refael Elazar Nachmias (d. 1778), head of the Salonika Beit Din. Near the end of his life, he immigrated to Jerusalem, where he passed away. His responsa and novellae are printed in his two-part Hon Rav (Salonika, 1777-1784). R. Yosef Nachmoli was his disciple, and his Ashdot HaPisgah (Salonika, 1790) includes several of his halachic rulings (see ibid., Orach Chaim 2, Choshen Mishpat 7-8; R. Yosef Nachmoli was also a disciple of R. Chaim Abulafia; see above).

[3], 2-27; 80; 112; 46; 89 leaves. 31.5 cm. Some leaves browned. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear. Tears and open tears to title page and other leaves, slightly affecting title frame and text in several places, partially repaired with paper (margins of title page repaired with paper). Glosses on several leaves slightly affected, apparently by trimming of margins. Worming, affecting text. New binding.