5 9 ANAV, YECHIEL BEN YEKUTHIEL. Ma’aloth HaMidoth. Second edition, first with this title. Few words censored and subsequently replaced in an early hand. ff. 83. Stained and soiled in places with occasional loss of a word or two, few paper repairs, two small tears on title. Bound in Valmadonna-custom full calf with blind-tooled central elements on upper and lower covers, spine with gilt-tooled morocco title labels. Sm. 4to. [Vinograd, Cremona 1; Mehlman 977. Cremona, Vicenzo Conti, 1556. $1000 - $1500 ❧ THE FIRST HEBREW BOOK PRINTED IN CREMONA. Anav’s Ma’aloth HaMidoth is renowned for its ethical insights and enumeration of the twenty-four steps necessary for character development. Later Rabbinic luminaries such as R. Ya’akov Emden highly regarded the work - evident from the fact that he included entire chapters of it in his own Migdal Oz. Ma’aloth HaMidoth was particularly venerated by the adherents of the Mussar movement of Novardok and it was republished many times. It should be noted that when it first appeared (Constantinople, 1511) the work was known as Beith Midoth. There are many significant textual changes between the first and second editions. As Weiner’s Koheleth Moshe notes (no. 1332), the author’s introduction first appeared in the second edition and it seems apparent, each printer worked from a different manuscript. See S.H. Kook, Iyunim U’Mechkarim Vol. II, pp. 268-9. Lot 9 10 ARIPUL, SAMUEL. Mizmor LeThodah [commentary to selected Psalms, with vocalized text]. FIRST EDITION. Title within wreathed columns. Opening letters within decorative woodcut vignettes. Wider margins. Marginal notations. ff. 184. Trace dampstained. Bound in Valmadonna-custom chestnut calf, blind-tooled central panels with elegant gilt piping. 4to. [Vinograd, Venice 614.] Venice, Giovanni di Gara, 1576. $1000 - $1500 ❧ The author (c. 1540-post 1586) interprets the esoteric verses of selected Psalms in many differing styles, from Peshat to Zoharic. Lot 10