Reishith Chochmah [Kabbalistic ethics]

Estimate: $1,500–$2,000
Hammer price: $2,750

Historical auction record. Hammer prices exclude buyer’s premium and taxes.

author

DE VIDAS, ELIJAH

printer

Y. Prostitz

Place

Cracow

Publication

1593-94

Description

Inscriptions of former owners including: Shmuel Bak, who recounts his diligence in studying this work in order to overcome his evil inclination; also an inscription dated 1776 by the son of HaGaon HaGadol Tzvi Hirsch of Worms.

references

Vinograd, Cracow 162; Mehlman 1002

summary

Elijah de Vidas was a disciple of R. Moses Cordovero, doyen of Safed kabbalists. Despite its mystical overtones, Reshith Chochmah has become a popular classic within ethical literature. It discusses all ethical aspects of Jewish life linking the motifs of aggadic and mussar literature with that of Kabbalah, thus broadly disseminating mystical ideas.

ff. 10, 418, 32. Variously stained, margins of few leaves trace wormed, title-page frayed. Contemporary vellum, heavily rubbed and worn. Thick 4to

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