Sefer Shivchei Ha'Ari - Rare Izmir Edition with Ladino
Description
Author:
Historically based on the letters of Shlomo Shlumil of Dreznitz (שלמה שלומיל מדריזניץ). While the author’s name is often omitted from titles of this period, the text consists of the famous 17th-century letters sent from Safed that serve as the primary historical source for the life of the Arizal (האר"י הקדוש).
Description:
This work is a classic hagiography detailing the miraculous life, deeds, and conduct of the Arizal (האר"י הקדוש), the father of modern Kabbalah.
Printed in Izmir (אזמיר) by the renowned brothers Isaac and Samuel de Segura (יצחק ושמואל די שיגורה).
The printing date, as shown in the images, is indicated by the chronogram for the year תרכ"ה (1865).
A distinctive feature of this Sephardic edition is the inclusion of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) text in Rashi script, appearing at the base of the pages to summarize the Hebrew accounts for the local community, as shown in the images.
The title page features a classic Ottoman-style decorative border, as shown in the images.
Notable Connection:
The Arizal (האר"י הקדוש) revolutionized Jewish mysticism, and Shivchei Ha’Ari (שבחי האר"י) was the vehicle through which his legendary persona reached the masses. This specific Izmir (אזמיר) printing is particularly significant for collectors of Ladino (לאדינו) literature and Ottoman Judaica, as it demonstrates how Kabbalistic traditions were adapted and translated for the Sephardic Diaspora.
Condition report:
Includes a period leather-backed spine with the title Shivchei Ha\'Ari (שבחי האר"י) stamped in gold, as shown in the images.
The binding shows significant age-related wear, and the internal pages exhibit heavy foxing and staining consistent with 19th-century liturgical use, as shown in the images.
An owner’s signature, "Alberto Za...", and Oriental-style cursive notations are present on the inner cover and title page, as shown in the images.
