Responsa of the Maharshach – Salonika-Venice, 1586-1594 – First Edition – Handwritten Notes

Responsa of the Maharshach – Salonika-Venice, 1586-1594 – First Edition – Handwritten Notes
Responsa of the Maharshach, by R. Shlomo HaKohen of Salonika. Salonika-Venice, [1586-1594]. First edition.
The three parts that were printed in the lifetime of the author, R. Shlomo HaKohen, known as the Maharshach (ca. 1520-1602), a leading Sephardi posek in the generation following the Beit Yosef, rabbi of the Castilian exiles in Salonika and one of the prominent rabbis of the town:
Part I – Salonika: David ben Abraham Azubib, 1586-1587. Part II – mostly printed in Venice: Zuan (Giovanni) di Gara, 1592; with the addition of 29 leaves at the end printed concurrently by the author in Salonika, the same year. Part III – Salonika, 1594-1595. Parts I and III were originally printed without title pages. (Part IV of the responsa was printed after the author's passing, over a hundred years later).
The second volume contains lengthy notes (slightly trimmed) in Sephardic-Oriental script, by an anonymous writer. Three of the notes end with the acronym of: "By the rabbi, my master and father-in-law". More notes by other writers, one particularly lengthy (slightly trimmed). The title page of the second volume was replaced from another copy, and contains signatures of "the young Refael Piciotto" (a rabbi in Tiberias). A deleted signature appears at the end of the indexes of the first volume: "The young Refael son of R. Shlomo Fellous".
Three volumes. Part I: 244 leaves. 27 cm. Condition varies, most leaves in good condition. Stains. Worming to several leaves, repaired. Large tears, dampness damage and mold stains to approx. 10 first leaves, affecting text. Part II: 181; 28, [1] leaves. 28 cm. Condition varies, most leaves in good condition. Stains. Worming. Wear and damage to several leaves, repaired. Title page and several leaves at the end apparently replaced from other copies. Tear to title page affecting the title border. Tear to last leaf affecting text (replaced with photocopy). Part III: 2-126 leaves. Lacking first leaf (replaced with photocopy). 28 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, signs of past dampness. New bindings.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman.