Jüdisches Ceremoniel, oder, Beschreibung dererjenigen Gebräuche [Jewish Ceremonies, or, description of these customs...], by Paul Christian Kirchner. Nuremberg: Peter Conrad Monath, 1724. German (with some Hebrew). First edition, with engravings.
Detailed description of Jewish ceremonies and customs in early 18th century Germany, accompanied by 30 engraved plates (one frontispiece and all the rest folding copper engravings), depicting Jewish rites and customs such as binding tefillin, chalitzah, prayers and more.
The author,
Paul Christian Kirchner, born to a Jewish family in Hamburg, apostatized to Christianity a few years before authoring the work, declaring his intentions to persuade more Jews to follow him in the introduction. The present edition was reedited by the Hebraist Sebastian Jacob Jungendres (1685-1765) who added corrections, softened some of Kirchner's sharp expressions, and added the engravings for the first time.
[5] leaves, 226, [18] pages + [30] engraved plates. Does not include [2] folding plates of texts (Erklärung der Kupfer – explanations of engravings). 20 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Creases and wear. Marginal tears to some leaves and plates, including open tears, some repaired with paper and tape, slightly affecting text. Loose and detached leaves and plates. Stamp. Bookplate. New binding and endpapers.
