The Birds' Head Haggadah of the Bezalel National Art Museum in Jerusalem. Two volumes. Jerusalem: Tarshish Books (printed by Kunstanstalt Max Jaffe, Vienna, Austria), 1965-1967.
Color facsimile edition of the illuminated Birds' Head Haggadah (Germany, ca. 1300), printed on thick, high–quality paper. Two volumes: facsimile volume (1965), and an introductory volume edited by Dr. Moshe Spitzer (1967; English). Copy no. 95.
The Birds' Head Haggadah is the earliest illuminated German Haggadah extant as an independent book. It is distinguished by its exceptional illustrations of human figures with birds' heads – a most peculiar innovation likely devised by the illustrator as a means of abiding by the biblical prohibition against rendering a graven image. Most of the figures are depicted wearing the so-called Judenhut ("Jewish Hat"), the conical head covering Jews were legally required to wear in Germany. The illustrations depict various biblical scenes, holiday customs and the final redemption.
Vol. I: [48] leaves, [1] colophon leaf. Vol. II: 126 pages, [1] leaf, [31] plates (numbered 129-159). 28 cm. Upper edges gilt. Both volumes with gilt-decorated leather spine. Slipcased. Good condition. Minor defects to bindings and slipcases. Rubbing, wear and small tears to spines.
