Ben-Avi, Ithamar. Avi

AUCTION 37 | Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

Back to Catalogue Download Catalogue

<Previous Lot

/310

Next Lot>

Lot 20

(BEN-YEHUDAH, ELIEZER)

Ben-Avi, Ithamar. Avi

FIRST EDITION. INSCRIBED AND SIGNED BY AUTHOR. Illustrated plates, folding-plate. Includes romanized Hebrew to English glossary. Foreword with a rudimentary outline of the author’s innovative use of Hebrew pp.16, 4, 106, (2). Name of recipient cut from upper right corner of title page, paper replaced. Rebound with original cover retained, pages uncut. 8vo

“Yeruçalaym” (i.e. Jerusalem): 1927 (“X Le-Hatzharat Balfur”)

Est: $600 - $900

PRICE REALIZED $1,600

A biography of Eliezer Ben-Yehudah by his son, Ithamar, putatively the first modern Jew whose mother-tongue was exclusively Hebrew. The present work displays the author’s bold linguistic innovation, writing his Hebrew entirely in Latin characters, testifying to Ben-Avi’s political and cultural wish to transform the Jewish people into an independent “Western” nation. See EJ, IV cols.469-70