Firkovich, Abraham. (“Even Reshef”). Avnei Zikaron.

(KARAITICA).

S. Finn & A. Rozenkrantz

Vilna

1872

FIRST EDITION. Additional title. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Firkovich in ceremonial robes. With 16 plates of tombstones (few folding). Provenance: Ilya Sahibi.

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

Karaite “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. Avnei Zikaron, his principle work, 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.