Rare: Ecclesiastes with the commentary Chemdat Yisrael (chassidut). First edition, Livorno 1820, with chiddushim ...

Rare: Ecclesiastes with the commentary Chemdat Yisrael (chassidut). First edition, Livorno 1820, with chiddushim handwritten in Sefardi script
By Rabbi Yisrael Nachman of Drohovitch, son of Rabbi Yosef a student of the Baal Shem Tov. On the last page he references chiddushim that he heard when he was travelling from place to place, including one “in the name of the Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna” and more—which testifies to the author’s having served as rabbi of several cities before moving to Israel. After settling in Tzfat he returned to Livorno, where he printed this book and three additional books, which are in practice the only Chassidic books ever printed in Livorno, and among the only ones printed in any Mizrahi or Balkan countries. Printed by Saadon in 1820. First edition from the author’s lifetime. At the end is a pamphlet Kahal Yisrael, exegeses on language of the Maharsha by the same author, also with the bakashot Elef Alfin and Elef Beitin. 3, [1], 4-62 leaves. Stefanski Chassidut 215. Many endorsements: Rabbis of Livorno, Rabbi Haim Nissim Abulafya of Tiberias and more. Includes the last pages which don’t appear in many copies. Last pages have been professionally filled in via facsimile. Repaired title page. Stains, new binding, overall good condition. The copy is decorated with chiddushim and notes in Sefardi handwriting, which fill the margins of the volume and are signed at the end: “Yitzhak Cohen.” Title page has a Sefardi handwritten dedication, additional notes are on the blank first page with the names “Pinto” and “Yosef Uziel” and more.