Aliyot Eliyahu – Biography of the Gaon of Vilna – First Edition – Vilna, 1856

Aliyot Eliyahu – Biography of the Gaon of Vilna – First Edition – Vilna, 1856
Aliyot Eliyahu, biography of the Gaon of Vilna, his accomplishments and holy practices, by R. Yehoshua Heschel Levin. Vilna, 1856. First edition. Two title pages.
The most important and comprehensive book on the biography of the Gaon of Vilna, which serves as basis for all books and essays about the Gaon of Vilna and his school of thought printed thereafter. The book includes a section entitled Aliyat Kir – first bibliography of the books of the Gaon of Vilna, containing much valuable material on the history of the writings of the Gaon of Vilna in print and manuscript.
The author, R. Yehoshua Heschel Levin (1818-1884), son-in-law of the grandson of R. Chaim of Volozhin (R. Eliyahu Shlomo Zalman son of R. Itzele of Volozhin), leading Torah scholar in Vilna. He delt extensively with the Jerusalem Talmud, and tried to publish a new, emended edition. His composition Tziyun Yehoshua (Vilna 1869) on the Babylonian Talmud indicates parallel topics in the Jerusalem Talmud. R. Yehoshua Heschel was also the editor of Ruach Chaim, commentary on Tractate Avot by R. Chaim of Volozhin, and authored other compositions.
The book contains the glosses of R. David Luria – the Radal, who reviewed R. Yehoshua Heschel Levin's work and added various anecdotes and comments. The book also includes glosses by R. Avraham Simcha Berlin and R. Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg author of HaKetav VehaKabbalah. The final leaf contains praises and blessings for Alexander II, Czar of Russia.
Printed (yellow) wrappers. Owner's signature on back wrapper: "Yitzchak Tuviah son of R. ---".
[2], 3-60, [1] leaves. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Tears and minor worming to back cover. Stamps. New binding.
Vinograd, Thesaurus of the Books of the Vilna Gaon, no. 993.
Provenance: The Yeshayahu Vinograd Collection, Jerusalem.