Mishlei with the Commentary of the Gaon of Vilna – First Edition – Shklow, 1798 – First Book of the Gaon of Vilna ...

Mishlei with the Commentary of the Gaon of Vilna – First Edition – Shklow, 1798 – First Book of the Gaon of Vilna to be Published – Wide-Margined Copy
The Book of Mishlei with Rashi and the commentary of the Gaon of Vilna. Shklow, [1798]. First edition.
First composition by the Gaon of Vilna to be published.
Brought to print by the close disciple of the Gaon, the kabbalist R. Menachem Mendel of Shklow. The book begins with an interesting foreword by R. Menachem Mendel, where he relates that he published the book upon the express request of the Gaon of Vilna (see Hebrew description).
61, 15, [1] leaves. 27.5 cm. Particularly wide margins. Thick, high-quality bluish paper. Title page supplied from a different copy (detached), smaller than other leaves. Good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Many stains to title page. Several leaves partially detached. Marginal creases. Worming. Large marginal open tear to final leaf and open tears to several others leaves, not affecting text. Inscriptions. Stamps on title page. Original leather binding. Damage and significant worming to binding. Spine restored.
Variant copy. Differs in typography of final leaf; three lines omitted at the end of p. 2. This variant is listed in Vinograd, Thesaurus of the Books of the Vilna Gaon, no. 88, p. 20.
Provenance: The Yeshayahu Vinograd Collection, Jerusalem.