Likutei Shik’chah U’peah [“Gleanings” - kabbalistic commentary on aggadic portions of the Talmud]

AUCTION 17 | Tuesday, November 12th, 2002 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts and Works of Graphic and Ceremonial Art From Various Owners

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Lot 131
ELIMELECH, ABRAHAM BEN JUDAH (ALMALEK/ELMALEH)

Likutei Shik’chah U’peah [“Gleanings” - kabbalistic commentary on aggadic portions of the Talmud]

FIRST EDITION. Title set within woodcut architectural arch with the printer’s device of an armillary sphere resting on a scroll with a verse from Psalm 130:5 (Yaari no. 22; illustrated EJ, XIII col.1094 no. 7) ff. (2), 40. Few light stains in places, trace marginal worming repaired, last few leaves expertly remargined. Modern cloth-backed marbled boards. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Ferrara 41; Mehlman 1049; not in Adams

Ferrara: Abraham ibn Usque 1556

Est: $3,000 - $5,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,000
Abraham ben Judah Almalek lived in Pesaro, Italy in the later half of the fifteenth century and was probably a Spanish exile. Little biographical information is known, though he provides a few autobiographical details in the preface to the present work. This compedium of kabbalistic writings includes the (non-attributed) commentary of Spanish medieval kabbalist Ezra ben Solomon of Gerona on selected aggadic portions; Joseph ben Chaim's commentary on the Ten Sefiroth; and Joseph Gikiatilla's treatise on kabalistic subjects. It is unclear why Almalek concealed R. Ezra ben Solomon’s identity as the author of parts of the commentary in this work. For a detailed analysis of the fragments attributed to R. Ezra, see: I Tishby, Perush Ha’agadoth Le’rav Azriel (1945). p.12.