Kehunath Avraham [poetical paraphrase of the Book of Psalms]

Estimate: $700–$1,000
Hammer price: $950

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). Engraved frontispiece portrait of Author. Full-page circular engraving in praise of Creation

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

ff. (1), 8, 49, 40, 30, 26, 64, (1). Lacking additional engraved title. Light stains in places, engraved portrait laid down, first two leaves loose. Recent black half-calf boards, gently rubbed at extremities. 4to

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