Halichot Eli - Izmir, 1658 - Signature of Rabbi Chaim Sagri during his Stay in Izmir, on his Journey to Sabbatai Zevi

Halichot Eli, Talmudical rules, arranged in alphabetical order. Rabbi Shlomo Elgazi. Izmir, [1658]. Printed by Avraham ben Yedidya Gabai Kaf Nachat.
At the top of the title page appears an inscription in cursive Italian Hebrew writing: "I, Chaim Sagri have purchased this in Izmir on the banks of the sea, during my visit in Adar 1667—". Rabbi Chaim Sagri purchased this book and inscribed his name while staying in Izmir on his way to meet the false Messiah Sabbatai Zevi.
Rabbi Chaim Sagri (Otzar HaRabbanim 6088), was a prominent Italian rabbi, Rabbi of Vercelli and Padua. Predecessor of the Sagri line of rabbis and bankers. A Torah scholar and Kabbalist, he was one of the first disciples of the Rabach [Rabbi Binyamin HaCohen of Regio]. In the summer of 1666, Rabbi Chaim Sagri headed a delegation of Italian rabbis on their famous journey to Izmir to investigate the ways of the false Messiah Sabbatai Zevi (Ghirondi, Toldot Gedolei Yisrael BeItalia, page 107). According to the opinion of Shulvass (Rome and Jerusalem p. 120), at that time Rabbi Chaim was still an admirer of Sabbatai Zevi.
80 leaves. 19.5 cm. Very good condition. High-quality paper. New binding.
One of the first Hebrew printings in Izmir - see article by Y.S. Speigel [Alei Sefer, 4, 1977, pp. 126-127], concerning the date of printing.