Goldsmid, Francis Henry. Remarks on the Civil Disabilities of British Jews.

AUCTION 43 | Thursday, April 02nd, 2009 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 28
(ANGLO-JUDAICA)

Goldsmid, Francis Henry. Remarks on the Civil Disabilities of British Jews.

FIRST EDITION. pp. (4), 72. Trace foxed. 8vo. Roth, Bibliotheca Anglo-Judaica, p. 232.

London: Richard Taylor 1830

Est: $700 - $900
PRICE REALIZED $400
Argues for the repeal of the Abjuration Oath which consists of the words "upon the true faith of a Christian," and for the right of a Jew to sit in Parliament. A Table on p.70 places the number of Jews in London at about 18,000; and 9,000 in other parts of the Kingdom; for a total probable number of Jews in Great Britain and Ireland of 27,000. Sir Francis Henry Goldsmid (1808-1878) was in 1833 the first Jew called to the English Bar. He was permitted to omit the words "upon the true faith of a Christian" when taking the oath and was indeed a strict Sabbath observer. In 1860, he entered Parliament as a Liberal M.P. for Reading. See P.H. Emden, Jews of Britain, pp. 137-140