[Parliamentary Act]. An Act to Permit Persons Professing the Jewish Religion, to be Naturalized by Parliament

AUCTION 39 | Thursday, April 03rd, 2008 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters & Graphic Art

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Lot 22
(ANGLO-JUDAICA)

[Parliamentary Act]. An Act to Permit Persons Professing the Jewish Religion, to be Naturalized by Parliament

Initial letter within richly historiated woodcut borders pp. (6) (including integral blank). Trace foxed. Disbound. Folio Roth, Magna Bibliotheca Anglo-Judaica, p. 246, no. 3; Hyamson, Bibliography, no. 4

London: Thomas Baskett 1753

Est: $1,000 - $1,500
PRICE REALIZED $1,300
The Jewish Naturalization Act of 1753. In the year 1609 the naturalization of any foreigner settled in England was made contingent upon their acceptance of the Sacrament. Although this act was deliberately directed against Catholics, it incidentally would later affect Jews following their Readmission in 1653. This disability was lifted by the Whig Government in the Act of 1753 to permit persons professing the Jewish religion to be naturalized by Parliament. The Bill was, at best, of limited advantage to the Jews because practically speaking, only the very wealthy could obtain naturalization. See J. Picciotto, Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History (1956), pp. 75-86; and A. Hyamson, The Sephardim of England (1951), pp.127-8