Hadrat Melech on the Zohar – Amsterdam, 1766 – Copy of Rabbi Israel of Salant, with his Signatures

Hadrat Melech, commentary on the Zohar, by the Kabbalist Rabbi Shalom Buzaglo. Amsterdam, [1766]. Only edition.
On the upper part of the title page are two signatures of Rabbi Israel of Salant. "Israel ben Ze'ev Wolf of Salant…". At the bottom of the title page is another signature in his handwriting: "Israel ben Rabbi Ze'ev Wolf".
On the leaves are several handwritten corrections from the time of printing. Additional ownership signatures and inscriptions.
Rabbi Israel Lipkin of Salant – Father of the Mussar Movement (1811-1883), son of Rabbi Ze'ev Wolf Ben-Aryeh (Lipkin), a leading Torah genius in his times and a disciple of the disciples of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin. Rabbi Israel founded the Perushim Kollel in Kaunas (Kovne) and appointed his disciples Rabbi Avraham Shenker and Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Levitan to head it. He was the influence behind many institutes for strengthening the study of Torah and Mussar in various countries. He passed on his Torah teaching methods to a chosen group of disciples who bequeathed these guidelines throughout the Torah world up to this very day: Rabbi Simcha Zissel of Kelm (who established his Yeshiva with the guidance of his teacher and rabbi), Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer and Rabbi Naftali Amsterdam. "The Saba of Slabodka" and "The Saba of Novardok" were also among his close disciples.
This book of Kabbalah from which Rabbi Israel of Salant studied is a remarkable discovery which solves a well-known riddle; did Rabbi Israel of Salant study Kabbalah or not. There is a story told of a meeting between Rabbi Israel and the Kabbalist Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv, author of the Leshem who asked Rabbi Israel why he does not study Kabbalah. Rabbi Israel evaded a clear response [see attached material]. This book proves that Rabbi Israel studied Kabbalah but he did not wish to make this publicly known due to his modesty.
[4], 116 leaves. 19.5 cm. Good-fair condition, spotting and wear, worm marks. Original binding, damaged and worn.
Enclosed is an authorization by an expert identifying the signatures as those of Rabbi Israel Salant.