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| Highlights
from the 2 June 2003 Sale: |
Important Hebrew Printed Books from
the Library of the Late Salman Schocken
(1877-1959)
Offered for Sale
by Auction on
Monday 2nd June, 2003 at 5pm
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| The appeal of fundamental
texts of rabbinical literature offered in excellent condition from
the library of one of Europeās great entrepreneurs and publishers
was hard to resist for serious Judaic book collectors at Kestenbaum
& Company. Enthusiastic private buyers from around the world, mostly
bidding by telephone, snatched up every one of the lots auctioned
at firmās June 2nd sale of Important Hebrew Printed Books from the
Library of the Late Salman Schocken (1877-1959). The 38 lots on
offer, many sought-after early editions of Hebraic classics, brought
in a total of $819,530. More than three-quarters of the auction
sold above their high estimates with many realizing double their
high estimate and some top lots tripling their high pre-sale estimates.
Salman Schocken was a celebrated bibliophile and discriminating
collector who deployed much of his substantial fortune into forming
a library of some of the rarest and most important Hebrew books
and manuscripts ever assembled. The books from his library offered
in the sale are early books and like the Jews themselves, suffered
persecution and tribulations. Many are marked with the notes of
the Christian censors that scrutinized Hebrew books between the
years of 1555 and 1688. |
Highlights
of the Sale:
(prices include 15% buyer’s premium) |
- The most enthusiastic response of the sale was evoked
for Maimonidesā Mishneh Torah (a book of Rabbinic code),
Constantinople, 1509. This highly significant edition realized
an impressive $155,250 against a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-60,000.
Lot 31. 
- Also generating tremendous interest was an important first
edition Midrash Rabba (Midrashim on the Pentateuch) five
parts inone volume in beautiful condition, Constantinople,
1512, that attained a premium price of $116,150 against
an estimate of $20,000-30,000.
Lot 28.
- A prayer book according to Italian rite (Machzor Kephi
Minhag Roma), Bologna, 1540-1, parts of it printed on vellum
and extensive, important scholarly notes written in the
margins. It sold for $35,650, above its estimate of $25,000-30,000.
Lot 26.
- A prayer book (Selichoth) consisting of penitential prayers
according to Aschkenazi rite; an extremely rare Fano, c.
1505 edition was purchased for $39,100, topping its estimate
of $20,000-30,000.
Lot 24.
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- A Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Aruch), complete with all
four parts, Venice, 1567.
Sold for $19,550. Lot 18.
- A first edition of an important work of Jewish Philosophy
by one of the greatest Hebrew poets of the middle ages -
Judah ben Sanuel Halevi, Fano, 1506. It is a rare, complete
edition that garnered $55,200, more than doubling its pre-sale
estimate of $15,000-20,000.
Lot 13.
- A first edition Book of Precepts by Maimonides, Constantinople,
c. 1515-20, that achieved $54,050, sailing over its pre-sale
estimate of $12,000-15,000.
Lot 32.
- A Hebrew Bible from Antwerp, 1566, a delightful set of
seven volumes which was presented to Salman Schocken as
a gift from President Chaim Weitzman with a dated autographed
note.
Sold for $7475. Lot
7.
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