Bikurei HaYam: The First Fruits of the West, and Jewish Monthly Magazine; A Periodical, Specially Devoted to Jewish Interests, Edited by the Rev. M.N. Nathan, and Lewis Ashenheim. Volume I, Number 1-9/10 [all published ]

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

R.J. de Cordova, February-October

Kingston

1844

Bound together in one volume. The H.S. Henry set.

Rosenbach 528 (incomplete).

A rare complete set . A total of ten issues of The First Fruits of the West appeared, designated Vol. I, nos. 1-10. Though short-lived (under a year), the journal is significant as a source of historical information concerning the Jews of Jamaica and the Caribbean basin. Although the Jewish population of Jamaica never surpassed more than two thousand souls, they nonetheless were an important minority who played an outsized role through much of Jamaica’s history. See M. Arbell, The Jewish Nation of the Caribbean (2002) p.243.