Kehunath Avraham [poetical paraphrase of the Book of Psalms]

Estimate: $4,000–$5,000
Hammer price: Not recorded

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

author

COHEN, ABRAHAM BEN SHABTHAI

printer

Bragadin

Place

Venice

Publication

1719-26

Description

FIRST EDITION. Six parts in one, each part proceeded 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 ALFRED RUBENS COPY, with his bookplate on front paste down

references

Vinograd, Venice 1660

summary

A rare copy, complete with all title pages and engravings. 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

ff. (2), 8, 49, 40, 30, 26, 52, (1), 53-64. Dampstained in places, small hole on f. 58 affecting a few letters, engraved portrait misbound between ff.8&9. Recent cloth-backed boards, gently rubbed at extremities. 4to

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