Kehunath Avraham [poetical paraphrase of the Book of Psalms]

AUCTION 14 | Tuesday, November 13th, 2001 at 1:00

Important Hebrew Printed Books and Manuscripts From the Library of the London Beth Din

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Lot 143

COHEN, ABRAHAM BEN SHABTHAI

Kehunath Avraham [poetical paraphrase of the Book of Psalms]

FIRST EDITION. Six parts in one, each part proceeded by individual 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 portrait of Author. Full-page circular engraving in praise of Creation. THE ALFRED RUBENS COPY, with his bookplate on front paste down ff. (2), 8, 49, 40, 30, 26, 52, (1), 53-64. Dampstained in places, small hole on f. 58 affecting a few letters, engraved portrait misbound between ff.8&9. Recent cloth-backed boards, gently rubbed at extremities. 4to Vinograd, Venice 1660

Venice: Bragadin 1719-26

Est: $4,000 - $5,000

A rare copy, complete with all title pages and engravings. A poetical paraphrase, with commentary, to the Psalms, to which is appended “Benei Keturah” rhymed verses to Perek Shirah (The Song of Moses). The author, a physician in Zante, one of the Ionian Islands of Greece, issued this work with a most uncommon engraved self-portrait (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