FIRKOVICH, ABRAHAM. (“Even Reshef”). Avnei Zikaron.

(KARAITICA)

S. Finn & A. Rozenkrantz

Villna

1872

FIRST EDITION. Additional title. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Firkovich in ceremonial robes. With 15 plates of tombstones appended. Autograph manuscript notation in Hebrew by Moses ben Abraham Firkovich, the author's son, tipped onto front paste down.

Friedberg, Aleph 215; JNUL copy incomplete, lacking the plates

Karite “High Priest,” Firkovich was chiefly concerned with establishing the independence of the Karaites from Talmudic Judaism. To this end he zealously devoted himself to searching for old manuscripts and books that would prove that the Karaites had entered the Crimea from Byzantium and that it was the Karaites who had converted the Khazars to Judaism. After settling in Eupatoria to serve as High Priest, Firkovich initiated archaeological expeditions in the Crimea and the Caucasus uncovering ancient tombstones and manuscripts. His main work, Avnei Zikaron, describes his travels and discoveries and contains a collection of tombstone inscriptions as well as several illustrations. His discoveries stimulated much interest in the history of the Karaites. However, after his death in 1874, controversy raged over the authenticity of Firkovich’s material. Several scholars have demonstrated conclusively that it abounded in forgeries. The material remains, at best, unreliable and it is impossible to determine the original texts from the emendations and interpolations. See EJ, VI col. 1305-6.