Judaica and Hasidic Books and Manuscripts

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Mesillat Yesharim - 1927 Berlin "Olive Wood" Pocket Edition

Lot 63: Mesillat Yesharim - 1927 Berlin "Olive Wood" Pocket Edition

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Start price: £150

Estimated price: $200 - $300

Buyer's premium:

Author: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto – The Ramchal (רבי משה חיים לוצאטו – רמח"ל)


Notable Connection: This edition, published in Berlin (ברלין) in 1927 (תרפ"ז) by B. Cohen, is a rare example of German Jewish printing combined with Eretz Yisrael craftsmanship. The book is housed in a magnificent, authentic Olive Wood binding originating from the Bezalel (בצלאל) tradition in Jerusalem. The front cover features a hand-painted depiction of Migdal David (מגדל דוד – The Tower of David), and the back is stamped with the "Bezalel Yerushalaim" (בצלאל ירושלם) insignia.
Collector’s Note: Mesillat Yesharim (מסילת ישרים) is considered the most influential work of Musar (ethics) ever written. Finding a pre-war European printing paired with the iconic Zionist artistry of the early 20th-century Bezalel school makes this a unique "East-meets-West" cross-collectible for enthusiasts of both Rabbinic literature and Jewish art.

Condition report:

A charming "Pocket Edition." While exact measurements depend on a physical ruler, this format typically measures approximately 10 x 15 cm (approx. 4 x 6 inches).


Binding: Genuine olive wood boards with a leather or faux-leather spine. The wood grain is prominent and well-preserved.

Internal: The title page is clean and includes the additional work Derech Etz Chaim (דרך עץ החיים).