The Book of Formation or Sepher Yetzirah, Rabbi Akiba Ben Joseph — 1st Ed

£285.00

The Book of Formation or Sepher Yetzirah, Rabbi Akiba Ben Joseph — 1st Ed

Name: The Book of Formation or Sepher Yetzirah, Rabbi Akiba Ben Joseph — 1st Ed
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5081
Price: 285.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, William Rider & Son, Limited, 1923

Formatting: 8vo, pp. N/A.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original maroon cloth boards remain wonderfully bright and vibrant, completely avoiding the heavy sun-fading often found on esoterica from this era. The gilt tooling and lettering to the front board are sharp, unoxidised, and highly legible. The binding is square, tight, and sound, showing only the lightest bumping to the extreme corners and minor rubbing at the head and tail of the spine. Internally, the pages present nicely; there is some characteristic light toning and minor foxing confined predominantly to the preliminary leaves and endpapers, but the primary text block remains clean and supple. Overall, a robust, handsome copy of an increasingly fragile production.

Catalogue Note: This 1923 First Edition represents a significant milestone in modern Western occultism and Kabbalistic study. Translated from the Hebrew by Knut Stenring, this edition is significantly bolstered by an extensive introduction from Arthur Edward Waite, a prominent figure in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the co-creator of the iconic Rider-Waite Tarot deck. Waite's involvement makes this specific William Rider & Son imprint particularly sought after by collectors of Golden Dawn-adjacent literature and early 20th-century esoteric history.

True first printings of Stenring's translation in the original publisher's cloth are scarce on the open market, particularly those that have retained the vibrancy of the maroon boards without suffering heavy shelf-wear or sun-bleaching.

Considered one of the foundational texts of Kabbalistic philosophy, the Sepher Yetzirah (The Book of Formation) is an ancient, mystical treatise detailing the origins of the universe and the foundational power of the Hebrew alphabet. Long attributed to the patriarch Abraham or Rabbi Akiba, its dense, cryptic verses lay the groundwork for the esoteric correspondences between letters, numbers, and the cosmos. Knut Stenring's translation remains celebrated for its scholarly rigour and is further illuminated by A. E. Waite’s profound contextual insights, offering a vital gateway into the esoteric traditions of the West.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Rabbi Akiba Ben Joseph, Knut Stenring, Arthur Edward Waite

Book Publisher: William Rider & Son, Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Religion & Spirituality

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1923

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.