Sha'ar HaMelech - Brünn, 1801 - Signature of the Shevet Sofer

Sha'ar HaMelech, on the Rambam. Three parts. By Rabbi Yitzchak Nunez Belmonte. With Ta'am HaMelech by Rabbi Baruch Jeitteles the physician of Prague. Brünn, [1801-1803]. Second edition of Sha'ar HaMelech and first edition of Ta'am HaMelech.
On the title page: "I have purchased from R. Leib --- of Pressburg. Simcha Sofer" - signature of Rabbi Simcha [Bunam] Sofer, author of Shevet Sofer (1843-1907), son of the Ktav Sofer, from 1872 his successor in the Pressburg rabbinate and head of the yeshivah. A prominent rabbi in his times, he stood at the helm of Hungarian Charedi Jewry. Most of the Hungarian rabbis of that generation were his disciples. Among his works are the Shevet Sofer responsa on the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch, Shevet Sofer novellae on the Talmud and Sha'arei Simcha on the Torah.
[4], 88 leaves; [1], 137 leaves; 104 leaves. 35.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Heavy wear, with minor worming. Old, very worn binding.
Ta'am HaMelech has drawn much criticism and opposition due to the [partial] affiliation of its author, Rabbi Baruch Jeitteles to the Enlightenment Movement in Prague and in Berlin. Among other allegations, the author was accused of stealing novellae from other books. Reputedly, studying his books was banned in Hungarian yeshivas. However, this book has the signature of the greatest of the yeshiva heads in Hungary, who stood at the helm of the illustrious Pressburg Yeshiva for more than 30 years.