(Saks da Castellazzo) (Editor). Heichal Hashem [collected essays by early Kabbalists]

AUCTION 47 | Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 52

ASCHKENAZI, YECHIEL

(Saks da Castellazzo) (Editor). Heichal Hashem [collected essays by early Kabbalists]

FIRST EDITION. Title within woodcut decorative cartouche. On title, signature of former owner ff. 47. Light stains, underscoring in red pencil, some marginal wear. Recent vellum-backed marbled boards. Sm. 4to Vinograd, Venice 793; St. Cat. Bodl. 5654 (libri rari)

Venice: Daniel Zanetti (1594)

Est: $500 - $700

PRICE REALIZED $500

A compilation of various Kabbalistic works, including a treatise on reincarnation according to the views of R. Shimon b. Yochai and Pythagoras (f. 36r.), and writings of R. Joseph Gikatilla (f. 38r.), Shem Tov Gaon (f. 41r.) and R. Isaac Luria (ff. 44r., 46v.-47r.). The 16th-century Kabbalistic author was a member of the Castellazzo family, who were of German origin and settled in Castellazzo Bormida, near Alessandria in Northern Italy. Steinschneider, followed by Jellinek and Weiner (no. 3099) ascribe the first essay, Sepher HaShem, to Moses de Leon since a poem with the acrostic "Moshe" appears on p. 34b. Gershom Scholem however, in one of his early articles (Kiryat Sepher, Vol. I [1924], pp. 45-52) asserts that it is a later work. Also contains one of the earliest printed versions of the hymn Bar-Yochai by the Tripolitan Kabbalist R. Simeon Labi (ff.44v.-45r.)