Auction 22 · January 27, 2004

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts and Works of Graphic Art Including Holy Land Maps, Illustrated Books, Photography and Graphic Art from The Collection of Daniel M. Friedenberg of Greenwich, Conn

Read the sale report

Kestenbaum & Company Sells
Early Printed & Illustrated Hebrew Books,
Manuscripts and Works of Graphic Art

Offered for Sale by Auction on
Tuesday 27th January, 2004

Kestenbaum & Company’s sale of Fine Judaica on January 27th offered an extensive selection of Early Printed & Hebrew Illustrated Books, Manuscripts and Works of Graphic Art including Photography and Posters.

A handsome first edition of the celebrated prayer-book Sha’ar Hashamayim with a Kabbalistic commentary by the Holy SheLa”H, Amsterdam, 1717 was the top lot in the Printed Books Section selling for $17,250 against estimate of $10,000-15,000. Other good sellers were a first edition of Samuel ben Isaac Aripol’s Sar Shalom (commentary to Shir Hashirim), Safed, 1579 that realized $12,650 and a rare pamphlet of American Judaica, Constitutions and By-Laws of the Beneficial Hebrew Society of the City of Philadelphia, 1844 that was bought for $8,338, far surpassing its estimate of $2,000-3,000.

Of particular note in the Illustrated Books Section was Bernard Picart’s Historie Generale de Ceremonies, Moeurs, et Coutumes Religieuses de tous les Peuples du Monde, Amsterdam, 1733-46, which included an invaluable pictorial record of Jewish life in 18th century Holland. This striking 10-volume set sold for $8,050.

In the Manuscripts Section, former Israel Prime Minister Menachem Begin’s “The Revolt”, a typewritten early draft of his autobiography with Begin’s comprehensive corrections, which was offered with a correspondence to the publisher, found favor with buyers, garnering $7,475. An autographed letter by Theodor Herzl realized $2,760 and an 18th-19th century manuscript by R. Ephraim Zalman Margolioth & Others dealing with Halacha and Ethics brought in $6,038 against an estimate of $800-1,200.

Making an impression on buyers in the Graphic Arts section was the catalogue cover lot, Alphonse Levy’s colored stone lithograph, Exposition d’Oeuvres d’Alphonse Levy, Paris, 1897 which made $3,450, two portraits of Shalom-Aleichem, the famed Yiddish author and humorist which brought in $1,495 against an estimate of $400-600, and a silver gelatin print by Berenice Abbott, The Jewish card-player which realized $2,875.

Lots in this auction

(Hayarchi). Sepher Ha’manhig.

(SALOMON, HAYM). The New York Journal or State Gazette.

Constitution and By-Laws of the Beneficial Hebrew Society, Chervach [sic!] Chessed Ve’emeth [Hebrew] of the City of Philadelphia

BIBLE, Hebrew and English. PENTATEUCH). Torath Ha’elo-him - The Law of God. Edited and “With Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised” by Isaac Leeser

Selichoth Leyom Kippur. Single printed page with directions concerning the particular penitential prayers to be recited on Yom Kippur. Issued for Congregation Sha’are Tefilah, Franklin Street, New York

[Phillips, A.?]. A Review of the Late Controversies Between the Rev. Isaac Leeser and the Congregation Mikveh Israel

(BIBLE. English). The Twenty-Four Books of the Holy Scriptures. Prepared by Isaac Leeser

Sepher Yetzirah. A Book on Creation; or, The Jewish Metaphysics of Remote Antiquity. * A Sketch of the Talmud. Together two works in one volume (as issued). Both Edited and translated into English by Isidor Kalisch

Constitution of the Zion Association of Baltimore, Maryland

Sepher ha-Takanoth shel Kollel America Tiphereth Jerusalem [Constitution of the Kollel America in Jerusalem]

“Uncle Sam Sends Out the Call: 3,000,000 Boys are Waiting for Your Answer.”

Broadside forbidding the co-mingling of the sexes in synagogue seating arrangements

ROSENZWEIG, GERSHON. Talmud Yanka’ee. Eight works in one volume. Each with its own title page. S. Druckerman, 1907 * Together with: Kiss, Gershon. Masechta Prohibishon [“Prohibition Tractate”].1929.

(British Parliamentary Act). An Act for Naturalizing such Foreign Protestants and Others therein Mentioned, as are Settled or Shall Settle in Any of His Majesty’s Colonies in America

Shaffner, Abraham. A Wisp of Myrrh in a Bed of Spices. A Narrative of Interesting Events in the Life of Israel’s Benefactor, the Illustrious Philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore and Reflections upon his Many Deeds of Kindness and Benevolence

(BIBLE, Hebrew. PENTATEUCH, HAPHTAROTH & MEGILOTH). Chamishah Chumshei Torah. Hebrew with Targum Onkelos on facing pages and commentary by Rashi below.

Gamaliel ben Pedahzur (i.e. Abraham Mears). The Book of Religion, Ceremonies, and Prayers of the Jews

Nº. 11. Ascamâ das Impostas

(LITURGY). Tephilloth, Containing the Forms of Prayers Which are Publicly Read in the Synagogues, and Used in All Families.

Even Shoham [24 sermons on various topics based upon Rabbah Bar Bar Chanah] by R. Moshe B. Yehudah, Maggid of Minsk, Zorik,and presently Maggid of Chevra Shaarei Zion in London. * Bound with: Another

Beith Tephilah [prayers]. According to Sephardic rite

WALES). Raffalovich, Isaiah. M’Lamid L’Hoyil. A Teachers’ Handbook of Picture Lessons Forming a First Year’s Course in Conversational Hebrew for Children.

Sar Shalom [commentary to Shir Hashirim]

De rebus gestis Alexandri regis. Translation by Bartholomeus Facius (Bartolomeo Fazio)

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