Rare: Sefer Emek HaMelech - First Printed Book of Kabbalas HaArizal, Amsterdam 1648. First Edition.

Rare: Sefer Emek HaMelech - First Printed Book of Kabbalas HaArizal, Amsterdam 1648. First Edition.

Presented here is the rare first edition of Sefer Emek HaMelech, a fundamental Kabbalistic book authored by R. Naftali Hertz Bachrach of Frankfurt. This is the very first book containing the “Kabbalas HaArizal” – Kabbalistic ideas of R. Issac Luria (Arizal) to be brought to print. Although originally from Frankfurt, the author made the trip to Safed, acquired these Kabbalistic concepts, only to return to Germany where he was amongst the first to spread these concepts in Ashkenaz. 

This work is considered a classic in the world of Kabbalah, although it was met with sharp criticism from leading Kabbalists of the time, among them R. Moshe Chagiz, who was very displeased by this work. R. Yom Tov Lipmann Heller - Tosfos Yom Tov - on the other hand, gave his approbation to this work and was pleased with it. 

Exceptionally rare. Bibliophile and collector Israel Mehlman notes this edition as “Yekar Hametziut” - exceedingly rare. 

In overall very good condition. Title page and first 3 leaves partially restored with loss of text to several words at bottom corner of pp. 2. Small marginal repairs to final 5 pp. Otherwise in very good condition. Ancient ownership inscriptions seen on some leaves. 

176 pp. (mispaginated). 

Vinograd, Amsterdam 149. 

Stefansky Hebrew Classics 362.