Urim Ve'Tumim - Dubno, 1806 - Signature of the "Ketav Sofer" - Glosses, Most Likely in his Handwriting

Urim Ve'Tumim - Dubno, 1806 - Signature of the "Ketav Sofer" - Glosses, Most Likely in his Handwriting
Urim Ve'Tumim, by Rabbi Yehonatan Eibschitz. Dubno, 1806.
The copy which Rabi Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, author of the "Ketav Sofer", had studied from. At the head of the title page, his handwritten signature: "belongs to me Avraham Shmuel Binyamin ben … Rabbi Moshe Sofer". Under his signature, two signatures of his son, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, from 1906.

Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (1815-1872), the eldest son of the "Chatam Sofer" and his replacer as rabbi and head of yeshiva of Pressburg. One of leading abbis of his generation. His disciples were the greatest rabbis of Hungary. His responsa, Talmud and Torah novellae were called "Ketav Sofer".
Even before his birth, his father foresaw that a soul of a Tzaddik is about to come to the world. And indeed, since childhood, he was outstanding in his devotion to the study of the Torah. As a 17-year-old youth, he corresponded with the leading disciples of his father.
With the death of his father in Tishrei 1839, he replaced him as the rabbi of Pressburg and as head of the yeshiva of Pressburg, although he was only 24 years old. He was the leader of the struggle against Reform Judaism and according to his instructions, the communities of Hungary became separate orthodox communities. The Pressburg Yeshiva which he headed was the most important yeshiva in Hungary with 300-400 students.

Before us is the signature of the "Ketav Sofer" on an important religious book.
Among the leaves, several scholarly glosses by two writers. According to the shape of the letters, the ink and time of writing, it is most likely that two of the glosses are in the handwriting of the "Ketav Sofer". (The glosses are slightly cut off due to the work of the binder).
An additional, ancient signature, from an earlier period: "I have bought the Urim Ve'Tumim for … Isaac Berger of Beit Levi". This name also appears at the head of the pages. We do not known the identity of the writer,
An additional signature on the title page: "Yehuda Leib", with a Yiddish inscription.

There are typographic changes between the various copies of this edition. See the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. In this copy, on the title page it is printed in large letters: "As was printed in Karlsruhe". On the title page, the place of printing is omitted and instead a lengthy decoration was printed across the title page. Printed on blue paper.

[1], 86, 88-116, 115-213, 186, [5] leaves. 32 cm.
Condition: Excellent. Flaws on the title page, unprofessionally restored. Several flaws on additional leaves. Two volumes.