Bidspirit auction | The First Jewish Magic Book!

The First Jewish Magic Book! Orchot Chaim - Shoshanat Yaakov. Venice, [1623]. Single Edition. - Interesting and fascinating booklet titled Shoshanat Yaakov by the Gaon Rabbi Yehoshua Yaakov Heilpron of Padova, the author of Shut Nachalat Yaakov. Printed with Orchot Chaim, the last will of Rabbi Eliezer Hagadol. The wonderous Kuntres Shoshanat Yaakov contains words of wisdom and magic, such as how to guess a number chosen by another or an object he had taken in his hand, how to fly an egg to heaven without touching it, how to write a secret code and how to use hand-language!    The author, who was one of the leading rabbis of Padova, the author of Shut Nachalat Yaakov, writes in his introduction that he printed these two booklets in honor of the three grandsons of Rabbi Yitzchak Luzzatto, one of the leaders of the Venice community - the two cousins who were named Yitzchak Luzzatto after their grandfather, and Yitzchak Klimani. He printed Orchot Chaim, the last will of Rabbi Eliezer Hagadol, to be read on school holidays and the booklet Shoshanat Yaakov to make the book attractive to boys and to keep the brain sharp . Printed on the last page is a poem by the author's disciple, David ben Rabbi Shemarya Marburg, beginning with the words: דודי אמת שמעו בינו ראו ודעו. Beneath the poem, its author wrote that it should have been printed in the book Nachalat Yaakov by his Rav, yet the printer deceived him and did not print it there. Therefore, he added to this book by his Rav! On his way to Eretz Yisrael, the Shelah Hakadosh passed through Venice, Italy and met with the author, approbating his book Nachalat Yaakov (Padova, 1623), writing among others: ”זה ספר תולדות אדם גדול החכם השלם.... ראה ראיתי בו והנה חכמת אלוקים בקרבו...”. Venice, [1623]. Single edition.  12 leaves. 15.5 cm. Very good condition. Especially fine copy - bright quality paper. Wide margins. New binding.  The first Jewish magic book!