Kehunath Avraham [poetical paraphrase of the Book of Psalms]. With Benei Keturah [verse to Perek Shirah].

Auction 94 | Thursday, June 17th, 2021 at 11:00am

Rare & Excellent Hebrew Printed Books: From the Library of Arthur A. Marx

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Lot 100

COHEN, AVRAHAM.

Kehunath Avraham [poetical paraphrase of the Book of Psalms]. With Benei Keturah [verse to Perek Shirah].

<<FIRST EDITION.>> Six parts in one, each part preceded by divisional title page (featuring cherubs sounding trumpets). Additional engraved title depicting tamarisk plant surrounded by 14-part historiated border featuring King David with harp, Priestly hands, angels and cherubs with musical instruments, etc. (see Yaari, Printer’s Marks no. 97).<< Engraved frontispiece portrait of the Author.>> Engraved plate prior to Benei Keturah (between (final collation) f. 52 and f.53) entitled “Barchu HaShem Kol Tzva’av” - depicting celestial bodies and animal kingdom praising their Creator. The Elkan Nathan Adler copy. ff. (2), 8, 49, 40, 30, 26, 52, (1), 53-64. Extreme lower corners of final few leaves worn and wormed. Modern morocco. 4to. Vinograd, Venice 1660.

Venice: Bragadin 1719

Est: $1,500 - $2,500

<<A rare copy, complete with all title pages and engravings.>> The author, a native of Zante, one of the Ionian isles of Greece, then part of the Venetian Republic, issued this work with a most uncommon engraved self-portrait, with the caption: “Abraham Hakohen the Doctor, the Philosopher, in the year 1719, aged 49 years.” See A. Rubens, A Jewish Iconography (1981), no. 8. According to Cecil Roth, Cohen was probably responsible for the other engravings in the book as well. See also, R. Abraham Hakohen of Zante and the Circle of Physician-Poets in Padua, Ha Sifrut, Vol. 26(1978) p.115.