Gates of Righteousness

Jacob ben Abraham Gikatilla: The Book of the Name (Sefer ha-Shem) original Hebrew: Sefer ha-Shem. Although the slip names him "Jacob," this author is historically known as Joseph ben Abraham Gikatilla.

Kabbalistic work on the Tetragrammaton|The sacred four-letter name of God (YHWH) in Hebrew tradition and the names of God.
Riva di Trento, Jacob Marcaria, 1561. First three leaves (original).
Title page in Hebrew characters. The first word of the text has a woodcut border. [36] leaves, small quarto|A book size where each sheet of paper is folded twice to create four leaves. Quarter leather binding on boards. [36] leaves. Last leaf blank.
Well-preserved (though slightly rubbed, with worn corners).

Steinschneider, Catalog of Hebrew Books original Latin: Catalogus Librorum Hebraeorum 5522, 11. First edition, I, 11 (under Gikatilla).
Zedner 330; Roest 254. Amram, The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy, page 305. The first edition of this fundamental work was printed in—

(Gikatilla), 1248–1305. A pupil of Abraham Abulafia, from whom he learned the origin of the Kabbalah|The Jewish mystical tradition with which he was no doubt familiar. He was a leading Spanish Kabbalist at the end of the 13th century, who wrote several influential books on the symbolism of the Sefiroth|The ten creative attributes or emanations through which the Divine interacts with the universe. The present work was produced by the famous physician Jacob Marcaria, who established the press at his house in Riva di Trento in 1558. "He was acting as director?." During the five years this press produced upwards of 30 books of value and importance (according to Amram). On the verso|The back side of a page of leaf 1, there is a short preface by the learned printer. Not held in the British Museum or the Bodleian Library.
Italian paper, old notes on the title page; slightly water-stained.