Kesser Shem Tov. Both Parts. First Editions. Zolkiew 1794-1795

Kesser Shem Tov. Both Parts. First Editions. Zolkiew 1794-1795
The first sefer to present the teachings of the Ba’al Shem Tov in one cohesive volume.
R. Yisroel Ba’al Shem tov did not personally prepare any of his own writings for publication. Most of his teachings are found in the seforim of his talmidim. The first of these were published by R. Yaakov Yosef of Polonyia in his seforim Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Ben Poras Yosef and Tzofnas Paneiach. Those seforim presented the teachings of the Ba’al Shem Tov within the context of deep and extended discourses. The editor of the Keser Shem Tov shortened these discourses, culling only those that were directly in the name of the Ba’al Shem Tov which resulted in a sefer that presented the Torah of the Ba’al Shem Tov in a way that was more accessible for the average person.
The Keser Shem Tov begins with the famous letter sent by the Ba’al Shem Tov to his brother-in-law R. Gershon Kitover in Eretz Israel. There he mentions his pivotal query “Eimasai Ka’asi Mar?” (When will the Master Come?), to which Moshiach famously responded: “Kesheyafutzu Ma’ayanosecha Chutza” (“When the Wellsprings of your Torah are Universally Disseminated).”
Stefansky Hebrew Classics 380. Stefansky Sifrei Chassidus 249. Vinograd Zolkiew 467, 481. Meirhoffer-Rubenstein press. [30], [31] pages. 18 cm. Very fine condition. Some wear and very light isolated worming. Closely trimmed affecting some headers. Magnificent leather binding with matching slipcase.
Opening bid $7000