(Toldoth Adam) Sirtutei Hayad [kabbalistic palmistry]

AUCTION 70 | Thursday, September 22nd, 2016 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autographed Letters, Graphic and Ceremonial Art

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Lot 119

GALLINA, MOSES BEN ELIJAH.

(Toldoth Adam) Sirtutei Hayad [kabbalistic palmistry]

Manuscript in Hebrew, written on paper in a neat cursive Aschkenazic hand by Moshe ben Eliyahu of Tomashov. Three chiromantic illustrations of the palm of the hand on final three leaves. ff. 28 (of 29), lacking first leaf. Margins slightly frayed. Unbound, housed in folding-case. 4to.

Tomazsow, Poland: Late 17th - early 18th century

Est: $1,200 - $1,800

PRICE REALIZED $1,100

A highly influential treatise on palmistry, published in many editions with various titles from Constantinople, 1515 to Bombay, 1886. The author (Gallina) was a 15th-century Jewish scholar from Crete, his name is recorded on the third line of f. 8a. (See St. Cat. Bod. 4951). According to Prof. Moshe Idel there are very few manuscripts of this work extant. On kabbalistic chiromancy (palmistry) in general, see the learned article by G. Scholem in EJ Vol. V, cols. 477-79.