Bidspirit auction | (KABBALAH). Shimon b’r Yochai. Sepher

(KABBALAH). Shimon b’r Yochai. Sepher HaZohar [“The Book of Splendor.”] FIRST EDITION. Five parts in three volumes. Complete with four titles each within architectural arch. *  Vol. I - Bereishith: ff. (8), 251. *  Vol. II - Shemoth: ff. 269. *  Vol. III - Vayikra: ff. 115; Bamidbar-Devarim: ff. (2), 118-300. Extensive marginalia in various hands. The Mehlman copy (with his pencilled attributions.) Few leaves supplied from another copy, variously stained in places, some light worming, occasional taped repairs, rounded corners. Modern uniform maroon morocco. Housed in slip-case. 4to. Vinograd, Mantua 51, 61 and 69; Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod 324. Mantua, Meir b. Ephraim of Padua and Jacob Hakohen of Gazolo, 1558-60. FIRST EDITION OF THIS SUPREMELY SEMINAL TEXT.  The most sacred and influential of all Kabbalistic works, the Zohar is the pre-eminent classic of world mystical literature, a quest for Divine Unity and a search for insight into the mysteries of God’s Torah. Concomitant with the production of this first edition, there were some who feared the printing of such an esoteric work - its meaning might be distorted, others could become confused by the implications of the Zohar’s mystical teachings. Nonetheless the Ar’i za’l himself, along with his most devoted disciples, used this present edition for the study of the Zohar. Whenever the Ari zal’s circle made specific reference to the Zohar text, they utilized the collation of this Mantua first edition. The Bible of Jewish Mysticism.