Bidspirit auction | Magnificent Copy! Tikunei HaZohar, Shapira

Magnificent Copy! Tikunei HaZohar, Shapira Press – Exceptionally Preserved, in Its Original Red Leather Binding – Zhitomir, 1863 * The seventy “tikunim” on the opening word of the Torah, “Bereishis, ” authored by the Tanna HaEloki, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. It includes the Derech Emes glosses of the Ramaz and references. An important edition printed with the approbation of Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl, who praises the press in glowing terms: “The splendor of the printing house of my esteemed mechutanim, descendants of holy ancestors, is well known; they have merited exceptionally beautiful and clear typefaces that are pleasing to the eye...” Printed by the “Grandsons of the Rav of Slavita” –Rabbi Chanina Lipa Shapira and Rabbi Yehoshua Heshel Shapira. An exceptionally magnificent copy, a true delight to the eye! The body of the sefer is printed on clean, bright white paper, and aside from a few typical light stains, appears almost as though it has just emerged from the printing press. The volume is bound in an extraordinarily rare original leather binding, in a striking deep red color (rather than the more common brown). The binding features attractive and vibrant gilt decorations. Identical decorations appear on copies of the Zohar printed in Zhitomir during the same year. The endpapers are made of glossy paper, reminiscent of chromo paper. The page edges are gilt. A copy preserved in such condition is exceptionally rare! Copies of this type were generally specially prepared for distinguished tzaddikim and wealthy patrons. The spine bears the stamped title “Tikunei Zohar Tov.” (The word “Tov” may perhaps indicate that this was considered a superior or deluxe copy.) Zhitomir, 1863. Page Count: [2], 182 leaves. Height: 21.4 cm. Condition: Good. A few typical light stains. Several small holes in the endpapers only (not in the body of the sefer). Minor loss at the head of the first endpaper. Slight rubbing to the binding and a small defect at the lower edges of the spine. The words “Tikunei HaZohar” and “BeZhitomir” on the title page were printed in red ink.