World Notes — auction comparables · Snaplot Comparables
Comparables
10,000
Median
£88
Suggested estimate
£35 – £150
25–75% range
£37 – £231
Overall range
£0 – £2,711,074
Distribution
Sell-through 100% of lots sold
5% at premier salerooms
Trend↗ rising +73% over 8y
Median by grade
Good
£9 n=41
VF
£196 n=12
Unc (MS60-62)
£8 n=33
Median from 3,475 sold in the last 36 months·hammer prices, excl. buyer's premium — fair-market auction value (retail/insurance replacement runs higher)
10,000 comparables for “World Notes” · page 405 of 417
<b>The First Sefer to Mention the Baal Shem Tov! </b>
<div>
<b>Published by Rabbi Yaakov Emden </b>
</div>
<div>
<b>Altona, 1769 </b>
<br />
<b>*</b>
<br />
<br />A collection of writings published by Rabbi Yaakov Emden (the Yaavetz), among them the section titled Ma'aseh Nora B'Padolia - an account of the rabbinic debate with the Frankists (followers of a Sabbatean religious movement) in the presence of priests in Kaminitz - Podolski. Among his words, Rabbi Emden includes a reference to the participation of the Baal Shem Tov in the debate.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b> This description by the Yaavetz is the earliest printed mention of the Baal Shem Tov in the world. </b>
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
The Yaavetz presents this account under the heading "Ma’aseh Nora B'Padolia" - "An Awesome Event in Podolia", based on the testimony of a reliable eyewitness who was personally present. Among his words, he mentions the Rabbanim who participated in the debate (leaf 29b):
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"From among the Jews, there were chosen: the Chief Rabbi of Lemberg, Rabbi Chaim Rappaport; Rabbi Yisrael of Mezhibuzh, the Baal Shem; the Rav of Rozdil [Rabbi Nosson Nota Ashkenazi, Av Beis Din of Rozdil]; and Rabbi Ber, Rav of Yazlovitz" [this being Rabbi Yitzchak Dov Ber Margolios, Av Beis Din of Yazlovitz, among the earliest disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, along with his brother, the author of Meir Nesivim]. The Baal Shem Tov is referenced again (leaf 30a) by the acronym רי"שמ — Rabbi Yisrael of Mezhibuzh.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b> This testimony constitutes the earliest and most primary record of the holy Baal Shem Tov’s participation in the debate against the Frankists. </b>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; ">
<b> The Baal Shem Tov and the Yaavetz </b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; ">
In numerous Chassidic sources, it is recorded that the Baal Shem Tov held the Yaavetz in great esteem.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; ">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; ">
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
In the approbation by the sons of the holy Rebbe of Sanz to the Yaavetz's Eitz Avos, they write that the Baal Shem Tov once said to Rabbi Efraim, brother of the Yaavetz:
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
“Although your brother is counted among the misnagdim, nonetheless he is constantly cleaving to the upper worlds.”
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
In Tzror HaChaim (Bilgoray 1913, section on the Baal Shem Tov, letter 56), Rabbi Chaim Lieberson writes:
</div>
<div>
‘The Chacham Tzvi had five sons, and regarding all of them, the Baal Shem Tov said that the spirit of holiness rested upon them. Of one in particular he expressed profound praise, though he did not reveal who he meant. Yet the chassidim said he referred to the holy gaon, the Yaavetz.”
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
It is known that the Baal Shem Tov addressed a halachic inquiry to Rabbi Meir, Av Beis Din of Konstantin, the son of the Yaavetz (Shu”t Mayim Chaim, Zhitomir 1857, §21).
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The great figures of Chassidus - the holy Rebbe of Apta, Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, and Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin - all gave their approbation to the Yaavetz's sefer Biras Migdal Oz.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b> Contents of the Sefer: <br /><br /></b>
</div>
<ul>
<li> Sefer HaPedus VeHaPurkan – Chapter 8 from Emunos VeDei'os by Rabbi Sa'adiah Gaon </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Iggeres Teiman by the Rambam – with introduction and notes by the Yaavetz </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Ma'amar Techiyas HaMeisim – with introduction and notes by the Yaavetz </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> A tale of a wealthy man who became impoverished and regained his wealth </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Ma'aseh Nora B'Padolia (leaves 27a–30b) </li>
</ul>
<div>
<b> Altona, 1769. First edition, published by the Yaavetz [printed in his own home].</b> With the signature and stamp of Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<b> Page Count: </b>30 leaves.
<b>Size: </b>15.5 cm.
<b>Condition: </b>Good, with new binding.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b> Bibliography: </b>Stefansky, Sifrei Chassidus, p. 4.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
On the Baal Shem Tov’s participation in the debate, see:
<br />
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li> Gedaliah David Oberlander, Hishtatfuso Shel HaBaal Shem Tov BaVikuach Neged HaFrankistim, Heichal HaBaal Shem Tov 28, pp. 155–164 </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Rabbi Yechezkel Salomon, HaChassidus VeHaMa’aracha Neged HaFrankistim, Nachalas Tzvi 8, pp. 66–75. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
US$12,000
Other
US$6,000
· Dec 2025
<b>First Siddur in the World Based on the Shelah! </b>
<div>
<b>Siddur Avodas Boreh </b>
</div>
<div>
<b>Wilhermsdorf, 1688. First and Rare Edition. <br />*</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Year-round siddur according to both simplistic and kabbalistic teachings, with commentaries and kavanos, composed and arranged by the holy kabbalist Rabbi Shimon Akiva Baer of Vienna, one of the great Ashkenazi kabbalists.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b>A very important and fundamental siddur that was widely accepted and cherished by Ashkenazi communities. <br /><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<b>It is likely the very first siddur in the world whose foundations are rooted in the sefer Shnei Luchos HaBris of the holy Shelah! </b>
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
In his introduction, the author records his sources from the kabbalistic sefarim available to him, emphasizing: “And above all from the Shelah”. On leaf 19a, he further writes: “All this I composed and collected from the sefarim of Kabbalah, particularly based on the sefer Shnei Luchos HaBris.” Indeed, he brings from the Shelah both minhagim of prayer as well as matters of Kabbalah and mussar, and in one place even quotes an exceptionally long passage from it.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
This siddur is one of the first kabbalistic siddurim ever printed. The first kabbalistic siddur according to the Arizal was printed only seven years earlier (Amsterdam 1681, see Genazym 12 item 25).
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
This siddur preceded, by decades, the renowned siddur of the Shelah himself, composed in his later years (Amsterdam 1717), and even before the siddur Ohr HaYashar of the kabbalist Rabbi Meir Papirash (Amsterdam 1709).
<br />
<br />
<b>A very rare siddur, certainly so in complete form! <br /><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<b>The author Rabbi Shimon Akiva Baer</b> initially lived in Vienna but was expelled from there. He moved to the city of Schnaittach where he served as Av Beis Din, but was imprisoned and forced to leave there, almost without any possessions. Afterwards, he served as Rav of Gunzenhausen, and as dayan in the Beis HaDin HaGadol of the state of Ansbach.
<br />
<br />He was revered by the Gedolei Hador for his greatness in Torah and Kabbalah, and his siddur was received with love and special affection. He received many approbations from all the great Ashkenazi rabbanim.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
Rabbi Gershon Ashkenazi, author of Avodas HaGershuni, granted the sefer two approbations (!) – one printed at the beginning and the other at the end. In the second one, he remarked that one should recite both Birkas HaTorah and Birkas HaNehenin (the blessing recited when deriving enjoyment) on Rabbi Shimon's chiddushim!
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
This siddur is the mahadurah kama; an expanded edition was printed some twenty years later, in Sulzbach 1707, known as Avodas HaBorei, Mahadurah Basra.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b>Wilhermsdorf, 1688. First edition. Page Count: </b>[52] leaves.
<b>Size: </b>19.4 cm.
<b>Condition: </b>Good, with light paper restoration on the title page, the following leaf, and the last six leaves, with photographic replacement of a few missing words. Signs of use, holes in the margins of several leaves. Fine new leather binding.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b>Bibliography: </b>Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, p. 204 (in notes); Ginzei Yisrael – Mehlmann Collection no. 611 (in his copy the last leaf is lacking).
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
“The sefer Avodas HaBoreh, as its name implies, awakens the heart to the service of the Creator, and it is commendable to acquire it…” (the Avnei Nezer of Sochatchov, in his approbation to the Warsaw 1900 edition).
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b>A prayer from the sefer Raziel HaMalach, before it was printed: </b>
</div>
<div>
On leaf 49a, the author brings a prayer to remember words of Torah and to counter forgetfulness, taken “from Sefer Roziel” – that is the renowned segulah sefer Raziel HaMalach, which was printed for the first time only thirteen years later (Amsterdam 1701).
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
![<b>The First Sefer to Mention the Baal Shem Tov! </b>
<div>
<b>Published by Rabbi Yaakov Emden </b>
</div>
<div>
<b>Altona, 1769 </b>
<br />
<b>*</b>
<br />
<br />A collection of writings published by Rabbi Yaakov Emden (the Yaavetz), among them the section titled Ma'aseh Nora B'Padolia - an account of the rabbinic debate with the Frankists (followers of a Sabbatean religious movement) in the presence of priests in Kaminitz - Podolski. Among his words, Rabbi Emden includes a reference to the participation of the Baal Shem Tov in the debate.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b> This description by the Yaavetz is the earliest printed mention of the Baal Shem Tov in the world. </b>
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
The Yaavetz presents this account under the heading "Ma’aseh Nora B'Padolia" - "An Awesome Event in Podolia", based on the testimony of a reliable eyewitness who was personally present. Among his words, he mentions the Rabbanim who participated in the debate (leaf 29b):
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"From among the Jews, there were chosen: the Chief Rabbi of Lemberg, Rabbi Chaim Rappaport; Rabbi Yisrael of Mezhibuzh, the Baal Shem; the Rav of Rozdil [Rabbi Nosson Nota Ashkenazi, Av Beis Din of Rozdil]; and Rabbi Ber, Rav of Yazlovitz" [this being Rabbi Yitzchak Dov Ber Margolios, Av Beis Din of Yazlovitz, among the earliest disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, along with his brother, the author of Meir Nesivim]. The Baal Shem Tov is referenced again (leaf 30a) by the acronym רי"שמ — Rabbi Yisrael of Mezhibuzh.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b> This testimony constitutes the earliest and most primary record of the holy Baal Shem Tov’s participation in the debate against the Frankists. </b>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; ">
<b> The Baal Shem Tov and the Yaavetz </b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; ">
In numerous Chassidic sources, it is recorded that the Baal Shem Tov held the Yaavetz in great esteem.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; ">
<br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; ">
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
In the approbation by the sons of the holy Rebbe of Sanz to the Yaavetz's Eitz Avos, they write that the Baal Shem Tov once said to Rabbi Efraim, brother of the Yaavetz:
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
“Although your brother is counted among the misnagdim, nonetheless he is constantly cleaving to the upper worlds.”
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
In Tzror HaChaim (Bilgoray 1913, section on the Baal Shem Tov, letter 56), Rabbi Chaim Lieberson writes:
</div>
<div>
‘The Chacham Tzvi had five sons, and regarding all of them, the Baal Shem Tov said that the spirit of holiness rested upon them. Of one in particular he expressed profound praise, though he did not reveal who he meant. Yet the chassidim said he referred to the holy gaon, the Yaavetz.”
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
It is known that the Baal Shem Tov addressed a halachic inquiry to Rabbi Meir, Av Beis Din of Konstantin, the son of the Yaavetz (Shu”t Mayim Chaim, Zhitomir 1857, §21).
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The great figures of Chassidus - the holy Rebbe of Apta, Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, and Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin - all gave their approbation to the Yaavetz's sefer Biras Migdal Oz.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b> Contents of the Sefer: <br /><br /></b>
</div>
<ul>
<li> Sefer HaPedus VeHaPurkan – Chapter 8 from Emunos VeDei'os by Rabbi Sa'adiah Gaon </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Iggeres Teiman by the Rambam – with introduction and notes by the Yaavetz </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Ma'amar Techiyas HaMeisim – with introduction and notes by the Yaavetz </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> A tale of a wealthy man who became impoverished and regained his wealth </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Ma'aseh Nora B'Padolia (leaves 27a–30b) </li>
</ul>
<div>
<b> Altona, 1769. First edition, published by the Yaavetz [printed in his own home].</b> With the signature and stamp of Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<b> Page Count: </b>30 leaves.
<b>Size: </b>15.5 cm.
<b>Condition: </b>Good, with new binding.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b> Bibliography: </b>Stefansky, Sifrei Chassidus, p. 4.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
On the Baal Shem Tov’s participation in the debate, see:
<br />
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li> Gedaliah David Oberlander, Hishtatfuso Shel HaBaal Shem Tov BaVikuach Neged HaFrankistim, Heichal HaBaal Shem Tov 28, pp. 155–164 </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Rabbi Yechezkel Salomon, HaChassidus VeHaMa’aracha Neged HaFrankistim, Nachalas Tzvi 8, pp. 66–75. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>](/img/aHR0cHM6Ly9iaWRzcGlyaXQtaW1hZ2VzLmdsb2JhbC5zc2wuZmFzdGx5Lm5ldC9nZW5henltL2Nsb25lZC1pbWFnZXMvMTMxMjMzLzAxOC8wMTguZ2lm.sEQRcCPiYclkFUGYbFDxQA)
![<b>First Siddur in the World Based on the Shelah! </b>
<div>
<b>Siddur Avodas Boreh </b>
</div>
<div>
<b>Wilhermsdorf, 1688. First and Rare Edition. <br />*</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Year-round siddur according to both simplistic and kabbalistic teachings, with commentaries and kavanos, composed and arranged by the holy kabbalist Rabbi Shimon Akiva Baer of Vienna, one of the great Ashkenazi kabbalists.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b>A very important and fundamental siddur that was widely accepted and cherished by Ashkenazi communities. <br /><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<b>It is likely the very first siddur in the world whose foundations are rooted in the sefer Shnei Luchos HaBris of the holy Shelah! </b>
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
In his introduction, the author records his sources from the kabbalistic sefarim available to him, emphasizing: “And above all from the Shelah”. On leaf 19a, he further writes: “All this I composed and collected from the sefarim of Kabbalah, particularly based on the sefer Shnei Luchos HaBris.” Indeed, he brings from the Shelah both minhagim of prayer as well as matters of Kabbalah and mussar, and in one place even quotes an exceptionally long passage from it.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
This siddur is one of the first kabbalistic siddurim ever printed. The first kabbalistic siddur according to the Arizal was printed only seven years earlier (Amsterdam 1681, see Genazym 12 item 25).
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
This siddur preceded, by decades, the renowned siddur of the Shelah himself, composed in his later years (Amsterdam 1717), and even before the siddur Ohr HaYashar of the kabbalist Rabbi Meir Papirash (Amsterdam 1709).
<br />
<br />
<b>A very rare siddur, certainly so in complete form! <br /><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
<b>The author Rabbi Shimon Akiva Baer</b> initially lived in Vienna but was expelled from there. He moved to the city of Schnaittach where he served as Av Beis Din, but was imprisoned and forced to leave there, almost without any possessions. Afterwards, he served as Rav of Gunzenhausen, and as dayan in the Beis HaDin HaGadol of the state of Ansbach.
<br />
<br />He was revered by the Gedolei Hador for his greatness in Torah and Kabbalah, and his siddur was received with love and special affection. He received many approbations from all the great Ashkenazi rabbanim.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
Rabbi Gershon Ashkenazi, author of Avodas HaGershuni, granted the sefer two approbations (!) – one printed at the beginning and the other at the end. In the second one, he remarked that one should recite both Birkas HaTorah and Birkas HaNehenin (the blessing recited when deriving enjoyment) on Rabbi Shimon's chiddushim!
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
This siddur is the mahadurah kama; an expanded edition was printed some twenty years later, in Sulzbach 1707, known as Avodas HaBorei, Mahadurah Basra.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b>Wilhermsdorf, 1688. First edition. Page Count: </b>[52] leaves.
<b>Size: </b>19.4 cm.
<b>Condition: </b>Good, with light paper restoration on the title page, the following leaf, and the last six leaves, with photographic replacement of a few missing words. Signs of use, holes in the margins of several leaves. Fine new leather binding.
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b>Bibliography: </b>Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, p. 204 (in notes); Ginzei Yisrael – Mehlmann Collection no. 611 (in his copy the last leaf is lacking).
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
“The sefer Avodas HaBoreh, as its name implies, awakens the heart to the service of the Creator, and it is commendable to acquire it…” (the Avnei Nezer of Sochatchov, in his approbation to the Warsaw 1900 edition).
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
<b>A prayer from the sefer Raziel HaMalach, before it was printed: </b>
</div>
<div>
On leaf 49a, the author brings a prayer to remember words of Torah and to counter forgetfulness, taken “from Sefer Roziel” – that is the renowned segulah sefer Raziel HaMalach, which was printed for the first time only thirteen years later (Amsterdam 1701).
</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>](/img/aHR0cHM6Ly9iaWRzcGlyaXQtaW1hZ2VzLmdsb2JhbC5zc2wuZmFzdGx5Lm5ldC96YWlkeS9jbG9uZWQtaW1hZ2VzLzE4MDU5LzAxNS8wMTUuanBn.5KAhYlzzn_lOaZLVn6KTIw)