Origin of the Rites and Worship of the Hebrews. Minutely detailed engraving by Julius Bien. Upper portion creased and torn not affecting image, backed. 640x950 mm sheet size.

Remarkable composition representing a cornucopia of Judaic iconographic symbols and figures along with Hebrew textual narrative from Jewish lore and service. Max Wolff in his preface as Editor states he was ministering to the Chabei Shalom Congregation of Boston, where he was inundated with queries concerning the present engraving (originally produced in Paris, 1851). Consequently, Wolff reproduced it for the American market together with an extended translation of the explanatory booklet. Julius Bien was a respected lithographer who fled Germany for New York after having participated in the unsuccessful revolution of 1848. While receiving US Government contracts for engraving geological and geographical publications, he was also involved in Jewish communal life as director of both the Hebrew Technical Institute and Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York.