Penina Moïse. Fancy’s Sketch Book.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

J.S. Burges

Charleston

1833

FIRST EDITION. Includes a poem “On the Death of my Preceptor” by Isaac Harby (p. 75). Dedication-page with autograph signature of Dorita Moise Kohn whose great-great aunt was Penina Moïse.

Singerman 556.

The first book by a Jewish woman published in the United States. A collection of poems on Biblical themes and contemporary Jewish life, demonstrating a cosmopolitan worldview. The author addresses issues of anti-Semitism, political history as well as her own particular insights to society. The poems contain romantic and classical themes as well as religious topics. Penina Moïse (1797-1880) was one of nine children born to French-Jewish parents who came to Charleston in 1791 from the Carribean island of St. Eustatius. She grew up to become one of the most prolific and creative writers of poetry on Jewish themes in America. Moïse was also superintendent of the first Jewish religious school in Charleston and many of her poems and songs focused upon Jewish history and heritage as she sought to encourage a sense of Jewish pride among her charges. See Hyman & Moore, Jewish Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia (1997) pp. 932-3; and. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/moise-penina. Exceptionally rare. No copy has appeared at auction for many decades. Further information available upon request.