(Traditionally Attributed to). Tikunei Hazohar [Kabbalah]

SHIMON B”R YOCHAI

Meir b. Ephraim of Padua & Jakob b. Naphtali Hakohen of Gazolo

Mantua

1558

FIRST EDITION. Title within architectural arch. Signed by censors on recto of final leaf. Extensive marginalia in an old hand

Vinograd, Mantua 59; Mehlman 1119; not in Adams

A classical Kabbalistic text, Tikkunei Hazohar was designed to expound 70 novellae, each beginning with a new interpretation of the word Bereishith, conforming to the Seventy Aspects of the Torah. The expositions in the book digress widely and deal with topics not included in the main body of the Zohar - the mysteries of the vowel point and accents and the esoteric wisdom underlying prayer and Halachah. Two widely divergent textual arrangments are found in manuscripts, which are reflected in turn in the present edition and the later, Orta Koj editions. Previous owners’ signature on title, “Yoav bar Baruch.” With extensive scholarly marginal notes and corrections in a number of Sephardic hands as well as a few notes in Latin. Verso of the final leaf contains Kabbalistic comments and confidences the scribe received from a Polish mystic. Many of the corrections evidence the fact the scribe had access to variant readings