Sha’arei Orah [an exposition of Kabbalistic symbolism and the designations of the Sephiroth]

AUCTION 17 | Tuesday, November 12th, 2002 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts and Works of Graphic and Ceremonial Art From Various Owners

Back to Catalogue

<Previous Lot

/631

Next Lot>

Lot 154

GIKATILLA, JOSEPH

Sha’arei Orah [an exposition of Kabbalistic symbolism and the designations of the Sephiroth]

FIRST EDITION. Initial letters of title within decorative vigniettes,initial word of text within historiated woodcut frame. Kabbalistic manuscript text in an old-hand pertaining to the Ten Sefiroth on front paste-down. Owners signature reads Aaron b.Hari Leibush ish Margoliouth of Zolkva now in Lida ff. 84. Lightly browned, stained in places, marginal repairs to first few leaves, scattered old-hand marginalia, censored in places, f. 84 supplied from another copy with manuscript version bound in, signed by censors on verso. Later brown calf, rubbed at extremities. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Riva di Trento 34; Mehlman 1057; Adams G-609

Riva di Trento: (Jacob Marcaria the Physician) 1561

Est: $400 - $600

PRICE REALIZED $650

Joseph Gikatilla, a Spanish-born Kabbalist sought in this original work to provide a detailed yet lucid and systematic exposition of Kabbalism. He was the originator of the doctrine equating the infinate Ein Sof with the first of the Ten Sephiroth. A second edition of the Sha’arei Orah was produced in Mantua in the same year as the first. The manuscript text of f.84 is integral at least to the year 1601, the year this volume was approved and signed by the Papal censor