Ben Sira with Talmudic tales - anthology of various compositions and selections. [Constantinople: Astruc de Toulon, 1519].
The anthology (when complete) comprises the following works: Alpha Beta of Ben Sira; Tale about R. Yehoshua ben Levi; Twenty-four things which preclude repentance; Signs of the Messiah; Fast days; Midrash Megillat Esther; Seven things which preclude prayer; Maaseh Torah by Rabbenu HaKadosh (R. Yehuda HaNasi); Letter sent by Prester John to the Pope in Rome; Tale about Avraham Avinu; Book of Eldad HaDani; Tales of the Talmud; Sefer Zerubavel; Midrash VaYosha; Tobias (Jewish apocrypha), and Orchot Chaim by R. Eliezer HaGadol.
This copy features several leaves from an unknown variant (in comparison with other copies known to us: the Mehlman copy and the Valmadonna copy, currently in NLI, the JTS copy in New York and the copy of the Bavarian State Library). These leaves feature typographic variations, omission of lines, a different heading and more. The variant leaves are: [19-20], [22] and [24] (original pagination).
Incomplete copy. [54] leaves. Originally: [80] leaves. Lacking: title page; leaves [2]-[13] and [15]-[18] of Ben Sira; leaves [21], [23], [25]-[30], [32]. Altogether lacking: [26] leaves (the missing leaves were replaced with photocopies, apart from the title page and Ben Sira). Large amounts of text lacking from leaves [22], [31] and [33], replaced with photocopies. Leaf [14] of Ben Sira detached. Leaf [31] bound back to front. Approx. 18 cm. Condition varies, fair to fair-poor. Stains. Worming. Damage and tears affecting text. Entire book professionally restored. Stamp. New leather binding.
The title page of this book is extant in only a few copies, and bibliographers who saw the book without its title page gave it various names (A. Yaari, HaDefus HaIvri BeKushta, no. 60, lists a copy comprising only [62] leaves, and named it "Likutim VeChiburim"). In 1997, the Valmadonna Trust Library in London published a limited facsimile edition of the complete book, including the title page, based on the library's copy.

Binyamin Ze'ev, halachic responsa and rulings, Parts I-II, by R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of R. Matitya. [Venice]: Daniel Bomberg, [1538].
This copy contains handwritten corrections of the author, R. Binyamin Ze'ev: on pp. 73b, 210b, 260a, 298b, 337b, 405b and 501b. On p. 456b, a lengthy addition in his handwriting, signed with the following words: "So it seems to me, the layman" (as R. Binyamin Ze'ev commonly refers to himself in his book).
Inscription in Italian script on the title page: "Corrected", presumably in reference to the author's corrections. Another inscription in Italian script: "This was allocated to Yehoshua of Modena, when he shared his books with his brothers in November 1556" (the name "Yehoshua of Modena" was deleted and is difficult to decipher). A third inscription (in Sephardic-Turkish script, from the 18th/19th century): "From the wealthy R. Chaim Yehoshua Soncino" (a gloss in the same handwriting on p. 276a). Censor deletions on some leaves. Handwritten censorship inscriptions on the last page.
This book was brought to print by its author, R. Binyamin Ze'ev son of Matitya of Arta, Greece, one of the greatest halachic authorities of his generation, and was the first book of halachic responsa to be published by its author. The book aroused great controversy due to several halachic decisions it contains which some leading Italian rabbis strongly contested, and R. Binyamin was dismissed from his position as rabbi of Arta in its wake. Some changes were made during the course of the printing, including the omission of sections 255-256 (at the end of part I) "in order to maintain peace", and their replacement with two leaves of new text. The book was proofread solely by R. Binyamin Ze'ev, as he writes in the colophon at the end of the book, and the great trouble entailed caused mistakes to creep into the printing. After the initial printing, R. Binyamin Ze'ev proofread and corrected some of the copies by hand. Great importance has been ascribed to this book in halachic literature, though some halachic authorities banned it following the opposition it aroused. It is interesting to quote the words of the Maharshal, his contemporary, who opposed relying on the halachic decisions in the book, and relates to the errors which in his opinion crept into it: "If he is righteous, why did G-d allow an error to come about through him? Was he not the writer, who brought the book to print in person?". The Rema, however, lists the author among the greatest halachic authorities and relies upon his decisions. (About the book, the controversy it aroused and the differences between the copies, see: Meir Benayahu, Introduction to Sefer Binyamin Ze'ev, Jerusalem, 1989). The last three leaves contain: a poem by Matityahu, son of the author (Thesaurus of Mediaeval Hebrew Poetry, III, p. 80, no. 245), and a eulogy by the author for his son R. Matityahu; the words of Yaakov son of Matityahu Foa in praise of those who assisted in the printing of the book.
367, [2], 376-399, 399-529, 531-575. Lacking leaf 530. 21 cm. High-quality paper. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Traces of past dampness and dampstains to first gatherings and final leaves. Worming to final leaves. Early leather binding. Damage to binding, worming to back board.

Or Hashem, by R. Chasdai Crescas (R. Chasdai ibn Crescas). Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque, [1555]. First edition.
This book is the second part of his book Ner Elokim; the first part, intended to supplement the Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvot and to be entitled Ner Mitzva, did not materialize. In his preface, the author writes: "And since this part is the foundation and pillar for the other part (Ner Mitzva), it is fitting for it to precede it". He concludes the book: "The (fourth) essay of this first part named Or Hashem has been completed".
R. Chasdai Crescas, a disciple of the Ran (R. Nissim son of R. Reuven), and colleague of the Rivash (R. Yitzchak bar Sheshet), was a leading Jewish philosopher, who challenged Greek philosophy and especially that of Aristotle. He was a rabbi and Jewish leader, and halachic questions were addressed to him from throughout Spain. Or Hashem is one of the only three surviving works of R. Chasdai.
Signature on the front endpaper: "Yosef Sasson". A (trimmed) signature on leaf [2]: "Acquired with my money, Yichye son of ---".
Incomplete copy. [128] leaves. Lacking [4] leaves of gathering 19. 20 cm. Fair-poor condition. Some leaves in fair condition. Stains. Severe dampstains and traces of past dampness, with mold. Worming, mostly to margins, slightly affecting text. Tears. Stains, extensive wear, damage and tears to title page, affecting text and border. Tears to final leaf, affecting text, printer's device and colophon on final page, repaired with paper. Old binding, damaged and detached, without spine.

Sefer Chizkuni, commentary on the Five Book of the Torah by R. Chizkiyah ben Manoach. Cremona: Vincenzo Conti, 1559.
Censorship signatures and inscriptions (some deleted). Censor deletions in several places. On p. 7b, handwritten text replacement beside the censor deletion.
157, [1] leaves. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Most leaves in good condition. Damage and tears to title page and four subsequent leaves, repaired with paper (the leaves were professionally restored). Stains. Minor worming to some leaves. New leather binding, with light damage.