Eitz Chaim [Kabbalistic treatise]

AUCTION 68 | Thursday, April 07th, 2016 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Ceremonial Objects and Graphic Art

Back to Catalogue Download Catalogue

<Previous Lot

/349

Next Lot>

Lot 162

VITAL, CHAIM.

Eitz Chaim [Kabbalistic treatise]

Hebrew manuscript, written in a very fine cursive hand on paper. Title within finely historiated border. Several mystical illustrations through the text. Wide margins. Illustrations include: Several ornamented frames with animals and plants in great detail throughout the volume; an interesting figure of a human face with kabbalistic connotations; a pair of hands with their kabbalistic connotations; several Ilanoth of the Ten Sefiroth; an additional Ilan at the end with the ‘Holy Names’ according to the Ariza”l, allowing for clarity in the World of Atziluth. ff. (3), 208, (1), 209-219, (3). Each leaf expertly silked due to oxidization, resulting in deep browning in places and occasional loss of text, previous owner’s signatures on title-page. Modern blind-tooled calf. Thick folio.

(Altona): 1729

Est: $5,000 - $7,000

PRICE REALIZED $6,500

<<A beautifully written manuscript of the central text of Lurianic Kabbalah.>> The skilled copyist was Israel son-in-law of Juspe of Altona. This assumption can be verified by comparing this manuscript with another copy extant in the Bodleian Library, Oxford (Neubauer no. 1673). The text of this copy is based on the original arrangement by R. Meir Poppers, which is unlike the version of the first printed edition printed in Koretz in 1742. The text is followed by four leaves of notations derived from the School of R. Moshe Zacut.