(Traditionally attributed to). Zohar [Chadash]…Umedrash Hane’elam [kabbalah]

AUCTION 10 | Tuesday, June 27th, 2000 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art

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Lot 199
SHIMON B”R YOCHAI.

(Traditionally attributed to). Zohar [Chadash]…Umedrash Hane’elam [kabbalah]

First Edition. Title within decorative floral border. Divisional title. Two parts in one volume. ff. 6,112, 48, 36. Lightly browned and stained, several leaves expertly remargined with loss of few letters, clean tear on f.47, scattered marginalia. Modern blind-tooled chestnut morocco. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Salonika 144; not in Adams; JNUL copy incomplete

Salonika: Joseph Abraham Bat-Sheva 1597

Est: $4,000 - $6,000
PRICE REALIZED $4,250
There is evidence of some competition between the two sons of Mattathias Bat-Sheva who inherited his Press following his death. Indeed, a number of the thirty books printed by the Bat-Sheva Printing House, of which this work is one, bears the name of Joseph Abraham alone as the printer. See Y. Mehlman, Genuzoth Sefarim pp. 74 and 81. This edition contains an insightful introduction contributing to the debate surrounding the identity of the compiler of the Zohar Chadash and providing an historically significant account of how the text was prepared. The compiler of the Zohar Chadsh is identified as Abraham Halevi Beruchim (author of Tikunei Shabbath), a disciple of Moses Cordovero and Isaac Luria. The introduction also recounts how the caves in and around Safed.were combed, seeking “missing” parts of the Zohar. Also includes an account of the failed attempts to publish the Zohar Chadash until it met with fruition in the present edition.