(TRADITIONALLY ATTRIBUTED TO. Publicized by R. Moses b. Shem Tov de Leon). Sepher HaZohar [“The Book of Splendor”]

SHIMON B”R YOCHAI

Vincenzo Conti

Cremona

1559-1560

FIRST EDITION. Three parts in one volume. Title within elaborate woodcut architectural arch. First word of each of three volumes richly historiated. Numerous old Kabbalistic marginalia in various hands (see eg. Vol. I, beg. Chayye Sarah, and Vol. III, ff.140v.-141r.)

Vinograd, Cremona 24; Benayahu, Cremona 21

The Zohar, the most classic of Jewish mystical texts, was printed amidst fierce controversy. Many Rabbis feared the printing of such an esoteric work - its meaning might be distorted by Christians in support of their faith, and the majority of Jews themselves would be confused by the implications of the Zohar’s mystical teachings. The first two editions of the Zohar were simultaneously produced by competing printers in the neighboring towns of Mantua and Cremona. The Mantua Zohar was printed in three volumes in Rashi script, while the Cremona Zohar was printed in one large volume in square script. Consequently, these editions became known as the Zohar Katan (“Small Zohar”) and Zohar Gadol (“Large Zohar”) respectively. The Cremona format was favored by the Polish and German Kabbalists. See G. Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (1941) pp.156-243; EJ, Vol. XVI, cols.1194-1212; D. Amram, The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy (1963) pp. 325-27; Carmilly-Weinberger, pp. 53-55; Pierpont Morgan Library Catalogue, Hebraica from the Valmadonna Trust (1989), no. 38.