Autori Vari - Sefer Ha-Tikunim - 1695

THE SEFER HA-TIKUNIM OR THE BOOK OF SECRET CORRECTIONS: “ZOHAR”, KABBalah, COSMOS AND SOUL
Venetian edition of 1695 of Sefer ha-Tikunim (Tikunei ha-Zohar), one of the most enigmatic and symbolically dense texts of Kabbalistic mysticism. Printed at the Vendramin typography, one of the most active Jewish workshops in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Venice, the volume testifies to the printed transmission of initiatory knowledge based on the doctrine of the spiritual “corrections” of the cosmos and the soul. The title page within an elegant woodcut architectural frame, typical of lagunary Jewish production, confers a visual solemnity on the work that is coherent with its theosophical content. An octavo exemplar, expression of the cultural vitality of the Venetian Jewish community and of the European circulation of Kabbalistic texts in the modern era.
MARKET VALUE
The seventeenth-century Venetian Jewish editions, especially in good condition and with decorated title pages, are consistently sought after in the international antique market. Demand is sustained by Judaica collectors as well as by scholars of the history of Jewish typography. An exemplar such as this generally falls within a range of 1,500 to 2,500 euros, with variations depending on completeness and the freshness of the paper.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Original binding in board with signs of wear. Title page within an architectural woodcut frame. Text in Hebrew characters. Browning and stains compatible with intensive use, an appealing and genuine exemplar.
In old books with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present that are not always noted in the description. Pp. 52.

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Sefer ha-Tikunim (Tikunei ha-Zohar).
Venice, Vendramin, 1695.
Traditionally attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; medieval redaction traced to the Castilian cabalistic milieu of the 13th century (Moshe de León).

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (2nd century CE) is a central figure in the Jewish mystical tradition. A disciple of Rabbi Akiva, according to legend he withdrew to a cave for years of meditation, during which he would have received secrets revealed about the divine structure of the universe. He is traditionally credited with the paternity of the Zohar, foundational text of the Kabbalah.
Modern historical criticism identifies the Castilian Kabbalist Moshe de León (c. 1240–1305) as the probable author or redactor of the Zohar and the Tikunim. Active in 13th-century Spain, he composed in mystic Aramaic a work that presented itself as an ancient revelation, but reflected medieval Kabbalistic speculation. His work deeply influenced Jewish mysticism, up to Lurianic currents of the 16th century and beyond.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Sefer ha-Tikunim (Book of Repairs or Corrections) belongs to the Kabbalistic tradition and connects to the Zohar corpus, a foundational text of Jewish mysticism. The Tikunim develop symbolic and mystical interpretations of the biblical text, particularly the Book of Genesis, according to the doctrine of the spiritual “corrections” of the soul and the cosmos. The Venetian print of the 17th century played a decisive role in spreading Kabbalistic texts, making them accessible to Jewish communities around the Mediterranean and Central Europe. Venice, a commercial and cultural crossroads, was one of the main European centers for Jewish book production.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
The Vendramin Jewish printing shop was founded in 1630 by Giovanni Vendramin, temporarily breaking the monopoly of the Bragadin family in Venetian Jewish printing. Later the two shops merged and continued to operate until the end of the 18th century, contributing decisively to the circulation of the Jewish book in Europe. The 1695 edition fits into this consolidated tradition, characterized by elegant architectural title pages and typographic care.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
ICCU/OPAC SBN, records relating to the 1695 Venetian Jewish editions.
Catalogues of 17th-century Venetian Judaica.
Studies on Venetian Jewish typography (Bragadin, Vendramin).