SHIMON B”R YOCHAI (Attributed to). Sepher haZohar [The Book of Splendor]. With glosses by R. Chaim Vital, R. Moshe Cordovero, R. Moshe Zacuto, R. Yitzchak Luria and R. Chaim Joseph David Azulai (Chid”a), Devash LePhi

(KABBALAH)

Israel Bak

Jerusalem

1844-46

Three volumes: I. Genesis. II. Exodus. III: Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Three titles with period woodcut of Temple Mount. First volume with additional title. Interesting, lengthy owner’s inscription and signature dated 1887, (Yoseph ibn Seliman Seadi) on first leaf at the introduction, other signatures on back flyleaf

Vinograd, Jerusalem 28, 43, 56; Halevy 22, 27, 35

The First Edition of the Zohar Printed in the Land of Israel. The title states that the text was compared to the personal copy of the Zohar that had belonged R. Chaim Vital. The introduction by the printer lists eleven virtues this Jerusalem edition has above all previous editions: "Has a Zohar of such typographic beauty existed prior to this Jerusalem edition? - indeed it far surpasses that of Amsterdam and earlier..." (see printers comments at end of Vol. III)