Ascamoth da Sta. Irmandade Hesed veemeth [Statutes of the Chesed VeEmet Chevra Kadisha]. Amsterdam, 1748. Portuguese.

Statutes of the Chesed VeEmet Chevra Kadisha of the Spanish community in Amsterdam. Includes text of statutes reinstated by community leaders, along with copies of protocols, decisions and letters relating to the internal management of the society, appointments, membership dues and manner of burial.

Originally included 69 pages, including blank pages to be filled in. Additional gatherings added ca. 1760 (with continuous pagination), bound into copies of book. The present copy includes both original and added pages. One known copy contains more gatherings (until p. 101).

At end of present volume, 30 pages handwritten by an administrator of the society, from ca. 1776-1798, with names of members and their distribution into divisions. Some names deleted (for deceased members) or otherwise annotated for presence, payment, retirement, etc.

On title page (and top of p. 31), engraving depicting rinsing of the dead body.

69 pages (including numbered blank pages) + [16] unnumbered blank leaves; additional gatherings: 71-92 pages + [37] leaves (some blank). Approx. 13 cm. Good condition. Stains, creases and minor tears. Endpaper detached. Gilt edges. Original leather binding, somewhat worn, with pair of brass clasps.

Yosifon, two parts: Keter Kehunah by Yosef ben Gurion, and Keter Malchut (She'erit Yisrael) by R. Menachem Man son of Shlomo HaLevi [Amelander]. Amsterdam: Kosman son of R. Yosef Baruch, [1771]. Yiddish. Second edition.

The two books detail Jewish history from Adam until the destruction of the Temple, and from the destruction until the time of printing. Accompanied by many woodcut illustrations.

The present edition includes an additional chapter, chapter 36 of Part II, continuing the history from 1745-1769. These additions are absent from most editions which are reprinted from the first 1743 edition.

[1], 244 leaves; [1], 151 leaves. 18 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Wear and creases. Light marginal tears to several leaves. Old inscriptions (Hebrew and Dutch) to back endpapers and margins of leaf 148 of second sequence. Original leather binding, somewhat worn, with tears to spine; leather and metal clasps (one of metal parts lacking);

Metziat HaEretz HaChadashah – on the discovery of America, including history, laws and peoples of the land, by Joachim Heinrich Campe, translated into Hebrew by Moses Mendelsohn-Frankfurt of Hamburg. Altona: Shmuel and Yehudah Bonn Segal, 1807. Only edition.

Translation of Die Entdeckung Von Amerika by Joachim Heinrich Campe, a prominent figure of the German Enlightenment. The present work is a translation and adaptation of the first part of the trilogy, dealing with Colombus and meant for children.

On leaf before preface, illustration of "one side of the Earth".

On margins of title page, dedication of translator, Moses Mendelsohn, "to my friend… R. Aharon Chorin, Rabbi of Chorin, as a token of my love, Moses son of R. Mendel Frankfurt. Hamburg… Tamuz 1819".

The recipient of the dedication who received the book from the author may have been Aharon Chorin (Choriner; 1766-1844), Rabbi of Arad, one of the radical adherents of the Haskalah. He was the first Reform rabbi of Hungary, and was considered a forerunner of the Reform movement. He was opposed and banned by the Chatam Sofer and others. Chorin did not serve as Rabbi of Chorin, but this may have been a mistake on the part of the author.

On endpaper, notable handwritten ownership inscription, describing a loan of the book that was not returned on time, which the borrower was unable to return due to the owner dying with no heirs.

The author,
Moses Mendelsohn-Frankfurt (1782-1861), Jewish-German poet, author, artist and translator. Born in Hamburg as Moses Frankfurter, he later named himself after the famous philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. He was attracted to the Haskalah movement under the influence of Naphtali Herz Wessely and authored poems and ethical works. His nephew was R. Shimshon Refael Hirsch.

[19], 175, [1] pages. 15.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Light wear. Marginal tears to several leaves. Last two leaves detached, and several leaves loose. Margins of several leaves trimmed, bordering text. Stamps and handwritten inscriptions. Old binding, worn.