Mor U’ketziah [novellae to R. Joseph Karo’s Orach Chaim]. Two parts bound in one volume.
AUCTION 58 |
Thursday, May 02nd,
2013 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts and Autograph Letters
Lot 117
EMDEN, JACOB.
Mor U’ketziah [novellae to R. Joseph Karo’s Orach Chaim]. Two parts bound in one volume.
Altona: By the Author 1761-68
Est: $25,000 - $30,000
This copy belonged to the bibliophile Rabbi Menachem Mendel (Emanuel) Eckstein of Cleveland (1885-1946). With his signature, stamp and inscriptions (on the title of Part I and the blank leaf before Part II) stating that it contains R. Jacob Emden’s autograph notes. He also states that he owns another work with Emden’s signature.
Most of Emden’s lengthier manuscript notes in this copy, plus a facsimile of two of the four pages were reproduced by E. Grossman as an addendum to the reprint of this work (New York, 1953). However the smaller corrections found in the manuscript here were not included. Grossman also added a note by Rabbi Hillel Lichtenstein of Krasna analyzing Emden’s novel approach in these notes concerning desecrating the Sabbath for the benefit of a nursing mother via the services of a gentile.
In the introduction to the Mor U’ketziah, the author alludes to many personal details of his life and on f. 102 relates how a fire broke out in his home and destroyed portions of the original manuscript of the present work.