Sefer Pnei Moshe on the Even HaEzer—first edition, rare, Koritz 1818.

Sefer Pnei Moshe on the Even HaEzer—first edition, rare, Koritz 1818.
An important work on the Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer (with the language of the Shulchan Aruch), by Rabbi Moshe ben Pinchas, Av Beit Din of Pașcani and then Klewań.

First edition, Koritz 1818 (that is how it appears on the title page but the true year of printing is 1823 based on the author’s tshuva which appears on leaf 199b). 3, 5-99, 101-204 leaves. Catalogued in the National Library’s Rare Books section. Approbations from his brother-in-law Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margaliyot of Brod and his brother Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Margaliyot of Dubnow, as well as the author’s brother Rabbi Mordechai of Koritz of Luzk, and more.

The author writes in his introduction that he prepared 150 sheets for the edition but because of the cost of publication “I was unable…and only gave 42”, until leaf 85. An additional reason for the stoppage of printing, writes the author (and in so doing shines a light at the rare humility with which he acted) was because he was asked to bring to print the work Tiv Gittin from his cousin the gaon Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margaliyot (printed in 1819) “because it is a present need” and so his book’s printing was paused. So there are indeed copies of this work which end on leaf 85. Later the author continued the printing, seemingly after 1823 (as that date appears on leaf 199). The second phase continued the printing until “sheet” 102, leaf 204. This copy, therefore, is the complete work.

New binding, leaf 94 has a repair hiding some text at the edge of the leaf, stains and a few bits of moth, overall good condition.

The title page has stamps: “Moshe Halperin”. Last leaves have emphases and notes in a foreign language.