Sefer Charedim, First Edition - Venice, 1601 / Yesha-Ya - Venice, 1637

Sefer Charedim, on the 613 mitzvot and on topics pertaining to mitzvoth and to repentance, by the Kabbalist Rabbi Elazar Azikri of Safed. Venice, 1601. Printed by Daniel Zanetti. On the verso of the title page are indexes in early handwriting (cursive Italian Hebrew).
Bound with: Yesha-Ya, glossary for the Zohar, and Kabbalistic customs. Venice, 1637. Printed by Giovanni Vendramin. Only edition.
Author of Sefer Charedim, Rabbi Elazar Azikri, was a leading rabbi and preacher in the city of Safed, from the time of the Beit Yosef and the Ari, author of the well-known piyyut, "Yedid Nefesh Av Harachaman". Studied Torah under Rabbi Yosef Sagis and was ordained by Rabbi Ya'akov Berab. The
Chida, in his book Shem HaGedolim, writes: "...and he wrote a holy book, Sefer HaCharedim on the mitzvoth… and words of mussar and wrote at length of the mitzvoth which are fulfilled in Eretz Israel… We have heard of his holiness and the wonders which befell him in Constantinople". Since its first printing, Sefer Charedim has been published in dozens of editions, [in some, sections found in this first edition have been omitted], and it is one of the basic mussar books, much treasured by Chassidic tsaddikim and leaders.
81, [1] leaves; 9 leaves. 19 cm. Good-fair condition. Wear and stains. Worn cardboard binding, with leather spine.