Abraham Samson (Shapurkar). The Truth and Divinity of the Holy Writ.

AUCTION 60 | Thursday, November 14th, 2013 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic Art and Ceremonial Objects

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Lot 169
(INDIA).

Abraham Samson (Shapurkar). The Truth and Divinity of the Holy Writ.

<<FIRST EDITION.>> Marathi text with title and footnotes in English. Frontispiece portrait of author. Additional portrait likeness of David Solomon, Trustee (sic) and Treasurer of the Bene Israel New Synagogue, to whom the volume is dedicated. pp.(10), 94, (8). Brittle, leaves loose. Original gilt-titled boards, some wear, gutter split. 8vo.

Bombay: Javaji Dadaji’s “Nirnaya-Sagar” Press 1897

Est: $800 - $1,000
Rare: WorldCat lists but a single copy in JNUL. The author refers in his English footnotes to various 19th-century Jewish authors, both English and American: Grace Aguilar, Dr. Alexander Kohut, Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf, Dr. I.M. Wise, Dr. D. Philipson, M. Friedländer - as well as to classics such as Menasseh ben Israel’s Conciliator. Abraham Samson Shapulkar is billed on the title-page as “Head School Master, 22nd Bombay Infantry.” He later authored a Hebrew biography of Samuel Ezekiel Dibkar (1927) as well as texts on military matters. See Rebecca Reuben (ed.) The Bene-Israel Annual and Year Book, (Bombay, 1918), p. 70.