Artzot Ha'Chaim - The Only Book of Rabbi Chaim Palachi that was Printed in the Land of Israel "and therefore it ...

Artzot Ha'Chaim - The Only Book of Rabbi Chaim Palachi that was Printed in the Land of Israel "and therefore it will be considered as if I live on the Holy Land" - Jerusalem, 1872 - the First Book Printed by the Printing Press of Shama and Giustiniani
Artzot Ha'Chaim - a special composition by Rabbi Chaim Palachi, about "the virtues and laws of the Land of Israel" and the rights of its citizens. Due to its subject, Rabbi Palachi chose to print the book specifically in Jerusalem, although it was very far from Izmir, his hometown.
In his introduction, the author writes: "This composition survived a fire, the merit of the Land of Israel protecting it". He also writes that thanks to this book "…it will be considered as if I live on the Holy Land".
The book was printed by "the new printing press of Shmelke Yosef Shama and his brother-in-law Yitzchak [Giustiniani] and Reb Ya'akov David Slatki". The printing press was founded that same year and before us is one of the first five books that it had printed - most likely, the first of them (in some of them, Slatki is not mentioned as a partner of the printing press).
Rabbi Chaim Palachi (1788-1868), the rabbi of Izmir and one of the most illustrious rabbis of his generation. He authored 95 books of Halacha, Novellae and Mussar. On the title pages of some of his books, a serial number was printed. The number on the title page of the book before us is 33.
The writing of the book ended already in 1851, yet various obstacles prevented its printing.
The book is divided into two sections. The first section (until leaf 44) contains ten chapters on the virtues of the Land of Israel. On leaf 42, the author notes: "Now we have merited that the great minister Sir Moses Montefiore … has bought lands throughout the length and breadth of the country to build and plant … and so should all the rich people of Israel do buy fields of the Holy Land…"
The second section of the book is dedicated to eulogies by the author for the rabbis of the Land of Israel (some of whom were his relatives). A total of ten eulogies, two of them by the author's sons: eulogy 8 (leaves 81-90): eulogy by Rabbi Yosef Palachi, the author's son, for Rabbi Avraham Ben Yakar. 1853. Eulogy 9 (leaf 90): eulogy by Rabbi Avraham Palachi for Rabbi Chaim David Chazan, his relative. The long eulogy includes wonderful, surprising stories and fascinating memories regarding the image of Rabbi Chazan.

[2], 100, [2] leaves. 20 cm.
Condition: Very Good. Original binding.