Kehunath Avraham

Estimate: $500–$700
Hammer price: $1,300

Historical auction record. Hammer prices exclude buyer’s premium and taxes.

author

COHEN, ABRAHM BEN SHABTHAI.

printer

Bragadin

Place

Venice

Publication

1719-26

Description

FIRST EDITION. Six parts in one each preceeded by individual title page (featuring cherubs sounding trumpets). Additional engraved title depicting tamarisk plant surrounded by 14-part historiated border featuring King David with harp, Priestly hands, angels and cherubs with musical instruments, etc. (see Yaari, Printer’s Marks no. 97). Engraved portrait of Author. Full-page circular engraving in praise of Creation. The Elkan Nathan Adler copy

references

Vinograd, Venice 1660

summary

A poetical paraphrase, with commentary, to the Psalms, to which is appended “Benei Keturah” rhymed verses to Perek Shirah (The Song of Moses). The author, a physician in Zante, one of the Ionian Islands of Greece, issued this work with a most uncommon engraved self-portrait (see A. Rubens, A Jewish Iconography (1981) no. 8). According to Cecil Roth, Cohen was probably responsible for the other engravings in the book as well. A rare copy, complete with all title pages and engravings

ff. (2), 8, 49, 40, 30, 26, 52, (1), 53-64. Extreme lower corners of final six leaves worn. Contemporary vellum, rubbed. 4to

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