Bidspirit auction | A Diverse Collection of Rare

A Diverse Collection of Rare Antique Seforim, 1696–1771 . - 1. Sefer Yesod: Tiferet Shmuel. First Edition. Frankfurt am Main, 1696. Tiferet Shmuel, containing novellae on the Talmud, the Four Turim, and glosses on the Rosh, by the holy gaon Rabbi Aharon Shmuel Kaidanover (the Maharshak), author of Birkat HaZevach, one of the foremost later rabbinic authorities and the son of the author of Kav HaYashar. This is a foundational work that was incorporated into all subsequent editions of the Talmud. At the beginning of the volume appear approbations from leading rabbis, including Rabbi Yosef Shmuel of Kraków, author of Masoret HaShas, Rabbi David Oppenheim, and others. Rabbi Aharon Shmuel Kaidanover (1614–1676), known as the Maharshak, was among the greatest rabbinic authorities of the Acharonim. He authored Birkat HaZevach on the tractates of Kodashim, the responsa Emunat Shmuel, and other important works. He served as rabbi and head of the rabbinical court in several prominent communities, including Głogów, Rzeszów, Brest, Kraków, and Fürth. During the Khmelnytsky massacres (1648–1649), he was forced to flee and found refuge in Vilna, where he served as a judge on the rabbinical court of Rabbi Moshe Lima, author of Chelkat Mechokek, alongside the renowned Shach (Rabbi Shabbetai HaKohen). ”Beyond his mastery of the Talmud and halakhic authorities and his extraordinary breadth of knowledge, as is evident from his books, he also possessed mystical insight, and the transmigrations of souls were revealed to him.” (Chida, Shem HaGedolim) Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 110. 2. Responsa of the Rema. Hanau, 1710. Includes the famous responsum concerning ”Stam Yeinam” (ordinary wine handled by non-Jews), which was omitted from later editions. Questions and Responsa composed by the great and renowned Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Kraków—the preeminent halakhic authority of the later generations, whose rulings became authoritative throughout Ashkenazic Jewry, inspiring the saying: ”The Children of Israel go forth according to the Rema.” Printed by Heinrich Jacob Basshausen, Hanau, 1710. (The colophon and approbations bear the date 1711.) Second edition. Includes the printer's attractive woodcut device. In Responsum no. 124 appears the lenient ruling regarding Stam Yeinam, which was omitted from all subsequent editions, including the Amsterdam edition printed that same year. Ancient ownership signature: ”Yosef, son of Rabbi Yisrael Segal...” (partially illegible). 3. Ma'amar HaTorah VeHaChokhmah Concerning the natural sciences: ”To demonstrate to you that all the foundations of the sciences are complete within our tradition, and that there is nothing in them which contradicts the Torah...” By Rabbi Mordechai Gumpel Schnaber Levison of Berlin. First Edition. London, 1771. 4. Responsa of the Maharshal Incomplete copy. Antique ownership signature: ”The humble Elyakim HaKohen.” Also contains additional early handwritten manuscript notes.