Manoth Halevi [Kabbalistic commentary to the Book of Esther, with text]

ALKABETZ, SOLOMON HALEVI

Giovanni di Gara

Venice

1585

FIRST EDITION. Title within architectural arch. On title, former owner’s inscription in Hebrew, “Chaim Segré…Casale.” Hebrew Inscriptions in an Italian hand on final blank and on verso in Italian, “Casale Monferrato.” (See below.)Hebrew marginalium in Italian hand on f. 38v.

Vinograd, Venice 680; Habermann, di Gara 73; Adams B-1337

Rivkind notes four variant issues of this edition. This copy is similar to variant no.1, containing three unumbered leaves at the beginning, with material from the author’s son, Moshe and a commentary by R. Yoseph Yaavetz on the story of Achav. See Y. Rivkind, Dikdukei Sofrim, Kiryat Sefer, Vol. X pp.493-96. The former owner of this book, Chaim Segré of Casale was a supporter of Shabbetai Tzvi and one of the three delegates sent from Italy to the East in 1666 to study the Shabbatean movement. Of the three emissaries, R. Chaim Segré remained a steadfast believer. See G. Scholem, Sabbatai Sevi: The Mystical Messiah (1975), p. 376, 101; M. Benayahu, The Shabbatean Movement in Greece (1973), p. 142