Fine Judaica: Rare Printed Books, Manuscripts, & Autograph Letters

Auction of Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts and Autograph Letters

June 16^th, 2022 

OVERVIEW 

            On the heels of our Boutique Passover Auction, we are proud to present our Summer auction which contains a broad range of fields of interest.

            Rabbinic Autograph Letters and Manuscripts lead off the sale (Lots 1-39), with a fascinating assortment of material. Scribal notes from the records of R. Moshe Teitelbaum (the Yismach Moishe), with editorial markings made by his grandson, R. Yekuthiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (the Yitev Lev) provide an absorbing glimpse into the printing of the former’s works (Lot 5, $4,000-6,000). Other learned material includes four handwritten responsa by R. Shlomo Kluger (Lot 17, $6,000-8,000) and a unique notebook containing many unpublished Torah novellae by various rabbis of Prague (Lot 25, $2,000-3,000). Letters abound as well, from both Chassidic masters such as Grand-Rebbe Chaim Hager of Otinia (Lot 11, $500-700) and Lithuanian ones too, like R. Yisrael Lipschitz, author of the Tifereth Yisrael (Lot 19, $5,000-7,000) and R. Meir Leibush Malbim (Lot 20, $4000-6,000). 

            A distinctive feature of the present auction is the inclusion of Rabbinic Objects (Lots 40-45). According to the Chassidic tradition, such items are infused with the spiritual energy of their users and thus bear tremendous significance. Included in this category is the pristine silver Kiddush cup used by Grand-Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (Lot 45, $30,000-50,000). So too, a portion of the Gartel Prayer-Belt of Grand-Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Lubavitch (Lot 44, $8,000-12,000) is featured. Two objects used by Grand-Rebbe Mordechai Hager of Vizhnitz are further highlights; his Gartel (Lot 41, $2,000-3,000) and Rabbinic Garment (Lot 42, $500-1,000).

            We are pleased to offer our clients an especially broad selection of Americana (Lots 58-89). This section features the first Hebrew prayer-book printed in America (Lot 75, $60,000-80,000) as well as the first bilingual edition of the Bible in Hebrew and Spanish (produced on behalf of Jews in the New World in 1762) (Lot 89, $6,000-9,000). Other items of interest include a Jewish memorial service for President Roosevelt (Lot 85, $300-500), an 1880’s photo album of the Gainesville, Fl. Endel family (Lot 74, $1,500-2,500) and a Prayer-book with Union Shield binding, demonstrating support for the North during the Civil War in 1863 (Lot 79, $1,000-1,500). Also featured are several lots of Civil War-era carte-de-visite photographs (Lots 69-73). 

             Classic Hebrew Printed Books can be found throughout the catalogue. To highlight but a few; the 1628 First Edition of Joseph Delmedigo’s Sepher Eilim (Lot 148, $6,000-9,000), a fancifully decorated Mashal Hakadmoni from the year 1800, with over 70 woodcut illustrations (Lot 154, $1,200-1,800) and a finely hand-colored, compact Meah Berachot – Orden de Bendiciones from 1687 (Lot 180, $6,000-9,000). Other lots of note include the first Machzor printed in Jerusalem in 1843 (Lot 224, $4,000-6,000) and three tractates from a remarkably rare Venetian edition of Talmud (1550-1), due to Church persecution (Lots 267-269). 

            Bibles (Lots 117-122) – Hebrew and otherwise – are an elementary feature to the auction. Two lots of note are the rare, Bomberg 1533 edition of the Pentateuch (Lot 117, $10,000-15,000) as well as an 1802 Court-Room Hebrew Bible, with a signed letter of attestation from Chief Rabbi of Prague, Eleazar Fleckeles, affirming that Jewish witnesses must swear over this tome (Lot 107, $4,000-6,000). Materials related to the Holocaust (Lots 168-179) include the mesmerizing Warsaw Phonebook from 1939 (Lot 251, $4,000-6,000), which includes tens of thousands of listings of Jews and is a key resource in historical research. Also of significance is the Polish Foreign Ministry’s report from 1942, containing the first official information to the general Western public of the Nazi’s systematic extermination of the Jews (Lot 176, $2,000-3,000).

            In addition to the above, we would be remiss not to highlight selections from the Traditional Jewish Bookshelf, also found throughout the catalogue. Referring only to First Editions of Beloved Classics, the reader is advised to view the selection of works of the Maharal of Prague (Lots 225-227) as well as those of the Chassidic leader, R. Dov Baer Schneersohn of Lubavitch (Lots 143-146). Of special significance are the First Editions of the treasured Mesilath Yesharim (Amsterdam, 1740), authored by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Lot 228, $8,000-10,000) and 1873 editio princeps of R. Yisrael Meir Cohen’s revolutionary Sepher Chofetz Chaim (Lot 205, $1,000-1,500).

            On the Less Traditional Bookshelf sits the 1677 First Edition of Spinoza’s highly influential Opera Posthumana (Lot 261, $6,000-9,000). The 1526 First Edition of the apostate Alfonso de Zamora’s Grammar, Introductiones Artis Grammatice Hebraice, along with a supplementary Hebrew conversionary tract (Lot 279, $15,000-20,000) also leaves an indelible impression.

 Further details about any item in this sale including images, or information regarding bidding at the auction itself can be obtained by contacting Jack Kestenbaum at (212-366-1197), or [email protected].