Bidspirit auction | The First Ever Hebrew Magician's

The First Ever Hebrew Magician's Guide! Sefer Orchot Chaim Shoshanat Yaakov - Venice, 1623 - Single and Rare Edition - Orchot Chaim - Shoshanat Yaakov, a wonderous and fascinating Kuntres by the Gaon Rabbi Yehoshua Yaakov Heilpron of Padova, author of Shut Nachalat Yaakov. Venice, 1623. Single edition. Printed with the last will of Rabbi Elizer Hagadol Orchot Chaim.  Rare and special Kuntres. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever Hebrew quide for magic and tricks of the mind!! The work contains Ways to discover which number another person is thinking of, How to identify an object someone has picked up without seeing it, How to make an egg float in mid-air without touch, How to write invisible text (secret writing), and more.  The author emphasizes that the goal of his work is to ”sharpen one's mind” and to encourage his students to study.  In his introduction, Rabbi Yaakov Heilpron recounts that he printed both Kuntresim in honor of the grandsons of Rabbi Yitzchak Luzzatto, one of the leaders of the Venice community.  Printed on the last page is a poem by the author's disciple, Rabbi David ben Shemaryah of Warburg. Beneath the poem, its writer noted that the poem was meant to be printed in the book Nachalat Yaakov; yet, since the printer failed to print it there, it was added to this Kuntres.  A rare and intersting Kuntres. 12 leaves. 15.5 cm. Quality paper.  Good condition. Italian and Hebrew notations from the time of printing or close to it. Stamps. Aging stains. Some moth perforations. Other minor blemishes. Most of the title page is missing and was completed with a professional photocopy.  ***  The author the Gaon Rabbi Yehoshua Yaakov Heilpron a leading sage of Padova and the Rav of the community. Famed for his Shut book Nachalat Yaakov.  On his way to Eretz Yisrael, the Shelah Hakadosh travelled through Padova and met with him, writing an enthusiastic approbation for his book, praising its author: ”זה ספר תולדות אדם גדול החכם השלם... ראה ראיתי בו והנה חכמת אלוקים בקרבו...”.