Auction 7 · Lot 654

Hagadah shel Pesach. With commentary by Isaac Abrabanel

Estimate: $5,000–$6,000
Hammer price: $6,500

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

author

(HAGADAH).

printer

Asher Anshel & Partners

Place

Amsterdam

Publication

1695

Description

Additional engraved frontispiece depicting large figures of Moses and Aaron beneath six circular vignettes of biblical themes. Numerous engraved copper-plate illustrations within the text. Engraved Folding Map of the travels in the Wilderness and the division of the Land among the Tribes of Israel. All accomplished by the proselyte Abraham ben Jacob

references

Yudlov 93; Yaari 59; Yerushalmi 59-62

summary

The First hagadah illustrated with copperplate engravings. “It is somewhat ironic that these illustrations which were destined to be copied and imitated more than any Hagadah in history, were themselves borrowed from a Christian source: the biblical engravings published by the Swiss artist Matthaeus Merian in 1625-30...Most of the pictures were copied almost slavishly from Merian. Others were somewhat altered and rearranged to suit the Hagadah text, and were necessarily “Judaized” in the process.” Yerushalmi pl.59

ff. (1), 26, (1). Engraved title repaired and laid down, inner margns re-hinged and lower margins expertly repaired on several leaves, lightly browned, scattered stains. Later calf retaining contemporary speckled calf covers with central gilt-tooled crest titled in Hebrew. Folio

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