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Auction 6 · Lot 1
Lev Aharon [commentary to the Books of Joshua and Judges, with text]
Hammer price $325
Auction 6 · November 17, 1998
Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art The Property of Various Owners
Read the sale report
Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art
Including A Private Collection of Jewish Art and Illustrated Books and
The Holy Land Collection of The Late Erich Wronker
The durability of the Hebrew Book market was on display at this Kestenbaum & Company auction. The sale featured a fine assortment of early printed Rabbinic Literature, luxury editions of illustrated Hagadoth and Holy Land memorabilia.
Undaunted by the topsy-turvy state of the world economy at the time, dealers, collectors and curators bid aggressively for the authentic rare Hebrew printed books. Consignors and dealers had been speculating for months how this tight-knit sector of the book market might react to recent tumbles in the larger economy. By the end of the evening, all agreed that demand for luxury Judaica remained strong.
No doubt, bidders were driven to enthusiasm by the remarkable martial gathered by Mr. Daniel E. Kestenbaum, a world renowned expert in the fields of Hebraica and Judaica. Highlights of the sale included:
The first English translation of the Pentateuch by an American for an American Jewish audience; Isaac Leeser's crowning literary achievement, published in Philadelphia in 1845-6, sold for $9775. (Lot 12).
The second Biblia Rabbinica, the first Hebrew bible to be printed with the Massoretic text, printed in 1524-5 by Daniel Bomberg in Venice, fetched $17,250. (Lot 27).
A very early document establishing political rights for Jews resident in Poland, signed by King Sigismund Augustus and dated 17th June, 1562, fetched $16,100. (Lot 270).
(Note: all prices include buyers premium)
Lots in this auction
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Auction 6 · Lot 2
Sepher Hazichronoth [ethics]
Hammer price $425
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Auction 6 · Lot 3
Nachlath Avoth [commentary to Ethics of the Fathers, with text]
Hammer price $14,000
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Auction 6 · Lot 4
Abudraham [commentary to prayers]
Hammer price $1,900
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Auction 6 · Lot 5
Vital, Chaim. Sha’arei Kedushah [Kabbalah]. * BOUND WITH (As Originally Issued): Sepher Eilim Letruphah [letters of moral instruction by Moses Nachmanides and Elijah, Gaon of Vilna]
Hammer price $1,000
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Auction 6 · Lot 6
Sepher Hilchoth Rav Alfas [Rabbinic Code]
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Auction 6 · Lot 7
Lechem Setarim.
Hammer price $150
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Auction 6 · Lot 8
Me’ametz Koach [sermons and eulogies]
Hammer price $450
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Auction 6 · Lot 9
Chavatzeleth Hasharon [commentary to Book of Daniel, with text]
Hammer price $7,000
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Auction 6 · Lot 10
BRESLAU, ARYEH LEIB. Penei Aryeh [responsa]
Hammer price $1,400
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Auction 6 · Lot 11
HADASSAH, the Jewish Orphan. Anonymous. Illustrated with fine cuts.
Hammer price $150
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Auction 6 · Lot 12
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.
Hammer price $8,500
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Auction 6 · Lot 13
(AMERICAN JUDAICA).
Hammer price $5,000
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Auction 6 · Lot 14
(LEESER, ISAAC). A Memorial Offering Upon the Death of that Great, Wise, Good and Beloved Man, Minister and Guide of the Congregation Beth El Emeth, Philadelphia.
Hammer price $5,000
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Auction 6 · Lot 15
RAPHALL, MORRIS J. New York Evening Express [Daily Newspaper]. Front-page containing entire text of Discourse by Rabbi Morris J. Raphall “The Bible View of Slavery” preached at the Synagogue Bnai Jeshurun, Greene Street, New York.
Hammer price $1,500
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Auction 6 · Lot 16
SNEERSON, HAYIM ZVI. Palestine and Roumania. A Description of the Holy Land, and the Past and Present State of Roumania and the Roumanian Jews.
Hammer price $7,500
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Auction 6 · Lot 17
SCHREIDER, ABRAHAM. Toldoth Anshei Hashem.
Hammer price $400
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Auction 6 · Lot 18
(LITURGY). The Form of Prayers According to the Custom of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews. Edited and Revised by Abraham De Sola.
Hammer price $750
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Auction 6 · Lot 19
Seder Hatephiloth [prayers through the year]
Hammer price $800
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Auction 6 · Lot 20
AVKATH ROCHEL [eschatology]
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Auction 6 · Lot 21
CHEMDATH YAMIM [Kabbalistic homilies through the year]
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Auction 6 · Lot 22
Sepher MECHILTA [Halachic Midrash to the Book of Exodus]
Hammer price $8,000
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Auction 6 · Lot 23
Sepher shel Rabi Anshel…Mirkeveth Hamishnah.
Hammer price $1,100
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Auction 6 · Lot 24
Avodath Hakodesh.
Hammer price $1,500