Bidspirit auction | ELIJAH, GAON OF VILNA. Mishlei

ELIJAH, GAON OF VILNA. Mishlei [Book of Proverbs]. With commentary by the Vilna Gaon. First edition. Edited by Menachem Mendel of Shklov. A fine, wide-margined copy. ff. 61,15,1. Few light stains, opening three leaves with marginal repairs. Elaborate blind-tooled calf. Lg. 4to. Vinograd, Gr’a 88; Vinograd, Shklow 104. Shklov: Shabse ben Bentzion 1798 The first edition of the Gaon of Vilna’s first published commentary. This was as per the specific instruction of the Gaon and subsequently followed just a few short months after his death on Sukkoth, 1797. The Book of Proverbs was well know to be of particular importance to the Gaon and he instructed all - male as well as female - to study it in depth. This is a particularly striking copy of this significant text.