Sefer HaTakanot - Jerusalem, 1842 - Including Rare Page of Approbations - Handwritten Glosses and Signature

Sefer HaTakanot V'Haskamot, public regulations and halachic customs established by Jerusalem's rabbis throughout the generations, by R. Chaim Avraham Gagin. Jerusalem: R. Yisrael Bak, 1842.
Two title pages. The first title page is decorated with a woodcut. The second title page appears on leaf [5] after R. Gagin's introduction.
The second Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem, in the printing press established by R. Yisrael Bak of Berdichev and Safed, disciple of R. Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev and R. Yisrael of Ruzhyn.
This book is comprised of two parts: the first contains R. Gagin's introduction and a long responsum (dated 1824) by R. Shlomo Moshe Suzin regarding the ability of a religious court to establish public regulations. The second part includes a compilation of the regulations and customs of Eretz Israel organized according to the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch. At the end of the book are approbations of rabbis and community officials, who give the printing press of R. Yisrael Bak the exclusive rights to printing in Eretz Israel, dated 1841 and 1842. The approbations describe how R. Yisrael established a new printing press in Jerusalem after his press in Safed was destroyed by vandals. [There are some copies without the approbations from 1842. See the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book no. 123175, and S. Halevy, "Hebrew Books Printed in Jerusalem", no. 3].
The bibliographer A. Tauber, in his article "History of the Printing Press in Eretz Israel" (Mechkarim Bibliographim, pp. 10-11; Jerusalem Anthology - Lechakirat Eretz Israel, Jerusalem 1928, pp. 179-192), posits that the main purpose of this book was to strengthen several controversial public regulations (especially regulations regarding estate and ownership titles). R. Gagin and the Sephardic community officials encouraged the establishment of R. Yisrael Bak's printing press in order to print this book, which was intended to be the first book printed in that printing press. R. Gagin, who was persecuted by his opponents, initiated the printing of this book in order to answer their contentions. In order that this should not be obvious, R. Gagin instructed R. Yaakov Kapiluto and R. Avraham Ashkenazi, two Jerusalemite scholars, to research the customs and ordinance of Eretz Israel and organize them according to the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch. They then added the responsa opposing those who questioned the abovementioned ordinances.
This book was evidently printed in stages according to the progress of the abovementioned editors. According to Tauber, the first part of "Sefer HaTakanot" was already printed in 1841 (before the printing of "Avodat HaKodesh", which is recognized as the first Hebrew book printed in Jerusalem). The printing was only concluded after R. Kapiluto and R. Ashkenazi completed compiling and editing the second part of the book.
The first title page contains ownership inscriptions in Eastern handwriting: "Z.S. Chofni" (=This belongs to me, Ch--- P---, may my light shine). Several glosses in Eastern handwriting (especially in the section regarding the laws and customs of religious divorce). P. 67b contains a gloss from a different author, signed "S.Tz".
[16], 13-72, [4] leaves. Mispagination. 14.5 cm. High-quality paper. Good-fair condition. Worming damage (some professionally restored with paper). Stains. Old binding.
S. Halevy, no. 3 (in fact this is the second book printed in Jerusalem, as no. 2 in S. Halevy's listing is a broadside, not a book).