“Book of Creation (Sefer Yetzira)” Attributed to the Patriarch Abraham

Première Edition; Mantua ...

“Book of Creation (Sefer Yetzira)” Attributed to the Patriarch Abraham

Première Edition; Mantua, 1562

Including Rare Illustrated Folding Leaf at the End of the Sefer

Book of Creation, known as “Sefer Yetzira, ” is the title of the earliest existent book of Jewish mysticism. It conceals the hidden code with which the Almighty G-d created the world. Over the course of the millennium, Sefer Yetzira enormously influenced Kabbalistic thought and development, and many important commentaries were written on it.

At the end of the sefer there is an inserted folded leaf containing circular diagrams which are meant to be cut out and attached in their due designated locations in the pages. While this page is missing in most existing copies, it remains completely intact in the present copy, thus rendering it very rare.

Sefer Yetzira was written anonymously in antiquity, yet is traditionally attributed to the Patriarch Abraham as is stated on the title page.

This first edition of the Book of Creation was printed in Mantua by the same publisher who had printed the first edition of Zohar just a few years earlier.

Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod – Classics No. 333

 105 leaves | [1] Folded diagram | New blue leather binding | Professionally restored title page, reinforced margin of 'tarshim' | Otherwise good condition | Rare