Auction 51 Part I - Books Chassidism Manuscripts Rabbinical Letters
Jul 11, 2016 (Your local time)
Israel
 8 Ramban St, Jerusalem.
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LOT 44:

Sefer Yetzira - Mantua, 1562 - First Edition

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Sold for: $6,000
Start price:
$ 1,200
Auction house commission: 23%
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Sefer Yetzira attributed to Avraham Avinu, with four commentaries: Rabbi Se'adya Gaon, Rabbi Eliezer of Worms, Ramban and Ra'avad. Kabalistic charts and diagrams. [Mantua, 1562]. Printed by Ya'akov Cohen of Gazzuolo. First edition.
Some of the sketches in Sefer HaYetzira are circles for calculating combination of Names. This is done by creating a large circle encompassing one or two smaller circles. These circles turn causing various combinations to appear. This copy includes [1] leaf - an illustrated plate with printed hands and small circles for cutting and pasting in their appropriate places. The leaf is partially lacking. This leaf does not appear in most copies.
Ownership inscription on leaf 2: "Chizkiyahu Ya'akov Suri—". On leaves 78-79 are censor erasures, probably by a Jew who wanted to prevent inappropriate use of the practical Kabbalah which appears there. On the margin of leaf 79 is a gloss regarding prohibition of using Holy Names.
108 [should be: 105] leaves; [1] plate. 21 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Worming. New half-leather binding.

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