Two Kabbalistic works bound together, with dozens of early Kabbalistic notes:
· Shefa Tal, introductions and fundamentals of Kabbalistic teachings, by R. Shabtai Sheftel Horowitz. [Hanau: Joannis Jacobi Hennei, 1612]. First edition. One of the renowned basic Kabbalistic works. The Chassidic leaders and Ashkenazi Kabbalists quote it in their books and build upon its foundations. The Noam Elimelech refers to it as a holy book.
Bound with:
· Ginat Egoz, introductions and fundamentals of Kabbalistic teachings, by R. Yosef Gikatilla. Hanau: Eliezer ben Chaim and Eliyahu ben Seligman Ullman, [1614]. First edition. An early, basic Kabbalistic work. This edition contains the approbation of the Shlah HaKadosh (approbations of the Shlah are rare and were given to very few books).
The book contains dozens of important Kabbalistic notes, in early Ashkenazic script (from the period close to the printing), some of them lengthy. The majority of the notes were written on Shefa Tal, four of them on Ginat Egoz.
The notes contain elaborations, additions, explanations and novellae, and sometimes also difficulties and objections to the words of the author, testifying that the writer was a great, profound and novel Kabbalist. Some of the notes seem to be from a different writer. One of the notes (on p. 25b) ends with: "N.L.Sh." [it seems to me Sh---?]. The notes do not contain any mention or reference to the teachings of the Ari, a fact attesting to how early these notes are.
Traces of early signatures are discernable on the binding remnants: "so says… son of Yosef Segal", "I, Shimo…", "…Yehuda Leib… from the community of…".
On the first leaf: "G-d granted me… Yosef Hil-[?] Bums[la]".
Two books bound together. Shefa Tal: [3], 87, 89-94 leaves. Missing seven leaves at the beginning of the book, including the title page. Ginat Egoz: 44, 43-58, 58-75 leaves. Mispaginated. Some of the letters on the title page are printed in red ink. 30 cm. Poor condition. Severe worming. Holes and tears affecting text. Significant loss to last leaves, affecting text. Stains and extensive wear. Remnants of binding, disintegrating.

"This is the book of Adam HaRishon given to him by Raziel HaMalach". Kabbalah and segulot. Amsterdam: Moses Mendes Coutinho, [1701]. First edition. Many kabbalistic illustrations.
This is the first edition, arranged and printed from manuscripts. This book is the source of many renowned segulot, for remembering what one has learnt, a protection amulet for parturients, etc. Just having this book in the house is a proven segulah for protection from harm and fire, as is written on the title page. Some say that it is a segula for the childless and women experiencing difficult labor.
Damaged and incomplete copy. 18, [1], 19-44 leaves; [2] handwritten leaves. (Originally: 18, [1], 19-45 leaves. Leaf 45 is completely lacking, and was replaced in handwriting over two leaves). Open tears affecting text, with handwritten replacements, to every leaf of the book. Size of tears varies. At the beginning of the book the tears are relatively small, then medium size, and towards the end of the book are several big tears (half the leaf or more). Many of the illustrations and angel seals on the last leaves are missing and were replaced in handwriting. 22 cm. Fair-poor condition. Apart from the tears described above, stains, wear, and marginal tears to the title page repaired with paper. Darkened leaves. Contemporary leather binding with clasp remnants. Damage to the binding.

Mesillat Yesharim, including all topics of ethics and fear of G-d, by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto - the Ramchal. [Amsterdam]: Naftali Hertz Rofe, [1740]. First edition, printed during the lifetime of the Ramchal by his leading disciples in Amsterdam.
Incomplete copy - four leaves from the proofreaders' introductions and the indices are missing.
Mesillat Yesharim is accepted as a refined, clear summary of all the Ramchal's other works (Derech Hashem, Daat Tevunot, 138 Pitchei Chochma, etc.), written in measured, precise language with great depth of thought. In his introduction to the book Mesillat Yesharim - im Iyunim (with study), R. Yechezkel Sarna mentions a tradition passed down in the name of the Vilna Gaon that until Chapter 11 not one unnecessary word can be found in the book [!]. R. Yerucham of Mir would tell his disciples that "Mesillat Yesharim is based on the Ramchal's more esoteric works on Kabbalah, but he simplified the concepts so as to make them more accessible to us. We imagine that we have a connection to Ramchal's words [but in reality they are deeply esoteric]" (Daat Chochma U'Mussar, 1, p. 249).
The author explains in his introduction that this work was composed to assist in the acquisition of ethical wisdom and fear of G-d, which cannot be acquired by knowledge alone. The purpose of this work is not the innovation of new concepts but rather the constant review and meditation which anchor thoughts inside a man's soul. Indeed, this book has been accepted across the worldwide Jewish population as the primary book of ethical study.
When the Vilna Gaon first received this book he proclaimed that a new light has come down to illuminate the world. Due to his great regard for the book, he paid an entire gold dinar (a high price) for it. Rabbi Y. Meltzen wrote in his introduction to Derech Hashem that he heard Torah scholars say in the name of the Vilna Gaon that if the author was still living, he would travel by foot all the way to Italy to greet him. The Vilna Gaon was accustomed to reviewing the book often.
Chassidic leaders as well understood the great qualities of the book and the holiness of its Kabbalistic author. The Maggid of Kozienice said that all the levels he reached in his youth stemmed from the book Mesillat Yesharim. The holy Rebbe of Apta, author of Ohev Yisrael, and R. Menachem Mendel of Rimanov diligently studied Mesillat Yesharim in depth and had awesome and wonderful things to say about it. The Rebbe of Apta was used to saying that he received his spiritual direction and his education first and foremost from the book Mesillat Yesharim (Sefer HaChassidut, p. 146). Rebbe Nachman of Breslev was accustomed to instruct newcomers to Judaism to study Mesillat Yesharim, and the author of Bnei Yissaschar wrote in in his additions to the book Sur MeRa V’Ase Tov that "this book will quench your thirst and … its words are sweeter than honey". R. Yaakov Yosef of Ostroh writes in his approbation to the book 138 Pitchei Chochma by the Ramchal (Koritz 1785): "The book Mesillat Yesharim, the path the tzaddikim tread, written by …Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto is the Torah which Moshe presented to Israel to understand the words of our Sages and their 'riddles', by its straightforward sayings...". In his introduction to the book, the publisher quotes the words he heard from the Maggid of Mezritch that "his generation was not worthy to understand the righteousness and abstention [of the Ramchal]".
The tzaddik R. Yosef Zundel of Salant told his great disciple R. Yisrael of Salant that upon receiving a farewell blessing when leaving the Volozhin Yeshiva, he asked R. Chaim of Volozhin which mussar book to study. His teacher responded: "All mussar books are good to study, but Mesillat Yesharim should be your guide". Since its first printing in 1740, Mesillat Yesharim has been reprinted in hundreds of editions [!], and until today it remains the primary mussar book in Torah and Chassidic study halls.
[4], 61 leaves. (Incomplete copy - originally: [6], 63 leaves. Missing [2] leaves from the proofreaders' introductions, and two leaves from the indices at the end of the volume.) 15.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Worming to the text. (The book has been professionally restored with paper). The title page contains the signature: "Refael David Tevel Halevi". New handsome vellum binding.

Sefer Yetzira with five commentaries, including the commentary by R. Eliyahu of Vilna (the Gaon of Vilna), printed here for the first time. Grodno, 1806.
First edition of the Vilna Gaon's commentary. Includes Kabbalistic sketches. This is the first Kabbalistic book of the Vilna Gaon's teaching to be printed. Published by his renowned disciple R. Menachem Mendel of Shklow, who later immigrated to Eretz Israel and founded the Ashkenazi settlement in Jerusalem.
An inscription in large letters appears in the margin of p. [23b]: "A gift from the great luminary of Neustadt, son of the brother of the holy R. Eliyahu of Vilna".
R. Eliyahu, Rabbi of Neustadt-Sugind (Žemaičių Naumiestis), was the nephew of the Gaon of Vilna. His father was R. Avraham, author of Maalot HaTorah, brother of the Gaon of Vilna.
12, [2], 42, [30] leaves. 19.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Pages trimmed on text border, slightly affecting the titles and the edge of the text on several leaves. New binding.
Vinograd, Otzar Sifrei HaGra 682.