Collection of [10] of the Gr"a's Sefarim Published by Rabbi Eliyahu Landau and his Son. Discovery: Last Will and ...

Collection of [10] of the Gr"a's Sefarim Published by Rabbi Eliyahu Landau and his Son. Discovery: Last Will and Testament in One of the Sefarim

Collection of ten sefarim by the Gr"a, his descendants and disciples, published by his great-great grandson, Rabbi Eliyahu Landau and the latter's son, Rabbi Ya'akov Elazar. Jerusalem -Tel Aviv, 1928-1955. Some are rare editions. A draft of a will was found from Gr"a's grandson, Rabbi Eliyahu Landau, between the leaves of one of the sefarim. 

Specifications of the sefarim:

* Aderet Eliyahu - the Gr"a's commentary on Nevi'im and Ketuvim, with Sefer Masa'ot Yisrael by Rabbi Ya'akov Moshe Landau, the Gr"a's grandson. Jerusalem, 1938-1941. Incomplete copy. Including the map of the division of the Land of Israel by boundaries.

51, [1]; 18, 31-38; [3]-33, [1]; 27; 15, [1] pp + [1] folded chart (detached), lacking pp 19-30 in the second pagination.

Fine condition. The map is restored.

* Meggilat Ruth with the Gr"a's commentary. Jerusalem-Tel Aviv, [1930-1955]. With the special leaf featuring the Gr"a's portrait.

The body of the booklet was printed in 1930, and the jacket cover was added in 1955 (as were those for other booklets). Vinograd (no. 167) recorded this edition per this very copy.

[3] 14, [1] leaf + front and back jacket covers.

Fine condition. Aging stains.

* Orchot Chayim, known as Keter Rosh - Torah thoughts and stories by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, edited by his disciple Rabbi Asher HaKohen. Jerusalem, c. 1935.

Rare edition. Vinograd, (no. 1482) listed this edition according to Dinstag's list, without actually seeing the sefer.

[12] leaf.

Fine condition. Aging stains. Few worming perforations.

* Minchat Eliyahu - compilations and elucidations on prayer, by the Gr"a, with a booklet on the life and works of the Gr"a and his family. Jerusalem, 1927.

[11], 40 leaf.

Fine condition. Aging stains. Few worming perforations.

* Toldot HaGr"a - a short biography[!] Jerusalem, [post-1928].

[8] leaf. Some of the copies include a facsimile leaf of a manuscript by the Gaon. This leaf does not appear here.

Fine condition. Scribbles. Aging stains. Light tears in the blank back cover.

* Seder Haggadah L'Fesach according to the old version and the Ramba"m's text with the "Besorat Eliyahu" commentary by the Gr"a and the "Geulat Ephraim" commentary by Avraham son of the Gr"a. Tel-Aviv, c. 1935.

[29] leaf, 20, 20 pp. With a drawing of the Ramba"m's portrait and a facsimile of his signature. Otzar HaHagadot 3560.

Fine condition. Characteristic wine stains.

* Ma'aseh Rav - the Gr"a's conduct. Jerusalem, 1935.

The body of the work is from the Ishei Yisrael siddur, with a new title page.

[2] pp, 14-22 leaf.

Moderate-fine condition. Aging stains. Very light tears with neither damage nor lack.

* Machazeh Avraham about shaving on chol hamoed by Rabbi Avraham Wolfensohn, one of the Gr"a's leading disciples. Tel Aviv, published by Rabbi Ya'akov bar Eliyahu Landau. 1947-1955.

The body of the booklet was printed in 1947 and the jacket cover was added in 1955 (as were those for other booklets).

[4] 15 leaf + back and front jacket covers. Stamps: Rabbi Avraham Reichlin, rabbi in the Bronx."

Fine condition. Adhesion in the margins of the title page.

* Tractate Avot with the Gr"'a's commentary. Tel Aviv, published by Rabbi Ya'akov b"r Eliyahu Landau, 1948-1955.

The body of the booklet was printed in 1948 and the jacket cover was added in 1955 (as were those for other booklets).

[16] leaf + front and back jacket cover.

Fine condition. Aging stains. Tear in the margins of the title page, far from the text.

* Sha'ar Kriyat HaTorah according to the Gr"a, by Rabbi Dov Krasik, Tel Aviv, published by Rabbi Ya'akov b"r Eliyahu Landau, 1951-1955.

The body of the booklet was printed in 1951 and the jacket cover was added in 1955 (as were those for other booklets).

[1], 29, [1] pp +  front and back jacket cover.

Very fine condition. Aging stains.

Amongst the leaves of one of the sefarim is a draft of a will by Rabbi Eliyahu Landau, the Gr"a's grandson. Stationery leaf handwritten by Rabbi Eliyahu, with various instructions for dealing with [his body] and his assets after his passing. Rabbi Eliyahu writes, in his humility, "Do not use excessive praise, because it would be lies upon falsehood ..."

An interesting paragraph in the will is dedicated to his private library which consisted of rare printed sefarim and uncommon manuscripts. "My sefarim - according to this itemized list: Some to the Gr"a synagogue here in Tel Aviv, and some to the Gr"a synagogue in Sha'arei Chessed."

Rabbi Eliyahu valued the manuscripts in his library very much, and he instructs that they be preserved very well: "The manuscripts I have - some, as listed, to the University [!] library, and some, as listed - make a metal box and give some of them to the Gr"a synagogue here, to be kept under the most careful supervision ..."

Total of [10] sefarim and booklets + one handwritten leaf, official stationery from Rabbi Eliyahu's bookshop.

Overall moderate-very fine condition. Aging stains, adhesions and minimal wear. Individual worming perforations in some of the booklets. New bindings (except for one booklet, which is bound in a soft plastic binding).