Auction 104 Part 1 Rare and Important Items

Oct 21, 2025

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Lot 94 Five Books of the Torah and Haftarot in Spanish – Menasseh Ben Israel – Amsterdam, 1654-1655

Humas, o cinco libros de la ley divina. Juntas las Aphtarot del año [Five Books of the Torah, with year-round haftarot],

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Five Books of the Torah and Haftarot in Spanish – Menasseh Ben Israel – Amsterdam, 1654-1655

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Auction 104 Part 1 Rare and Important Items Oct 21, 2025

Opening: $1,000

Estimate: $2,000 - $4,000

Sold for: $1,875

Including buyer's premium

Humas, o cinco libros de la ley divina. Juntas las Aphtarot del año [Five Books of the Torah, with year-round haftarot], with summary of chapter contents by Menasseh Ben Israel. Amsterdam: [Menasseh Ben Israel], 1654-1655. Spanish.

In this edition, Menasseh Ben Israel added for the first time a detailed summary (in Spanish) of the chapter contents, appearing at the beginning of each chapter.

With year-round haftarot for Shabbat and festivals (divisional title page for haftarot). At end of haftarot, short chart with order of reading of the Four Parashiot for 1655-1676.

At the beginning of the book is a lengthy dedication from Menasseh Ben Israel to the Dutch diplomat Coenraad van Beuningen (1622-1693), who was then serving as ambassador to the Swedish royal court. The two were apparently close; Menasseh Ben Israel praises Van Beuningen extensively, and at the end he calls himself his "intimate friend" ("intimo amigo").

[8], 451, [5]; 127, [5] pages. 14.5 cm. Gauffered page edges. Overall good condition. Stains. Marginal tears to several leaves (first and last leaves somewhat dry and brittle). New binding (with minor defects).

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.

Alfei Menashe, 1927, no. 62.

Lot 95 Mikveh Yisrael – Amsterdam, 1698 – Work by Menasseh Ben Israel on the Lost Tribes and the Redemption– First Hebrew Edition – Early Decorated Leather Binding

Mikveh Yisrael, on the ten lost tribes of Israel and the redemption, by Menasseh Ben Israel. Amsterdam: Kosman Emrich at p

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Mikveh Yisrael – Amsterdam, 1698 – Work by Menasseh Ben Israel on the Lost Tribes and the Redemption– First Hebrew Edition – Early Decorated Leather Binding

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Auction 104 Part 1 Rare and Important Items Oct 21, 2025

Opening: $1,500

Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000

Sold for: $6,875

Including buyer's premium

Mikveh Yisrael, on the ten lost tribes of Israel and the redemption, by Menasseh Ben Israel. Amsterdam: Kosman Emrich at press of Asher Anshel son of Eliezer Chazan and Yissachar Ber son of Avraham Eliezer, 1698. First Hebrew edition. Pocket format.

Early leather binding, with gilt decorations.

Mikveh Yisrael was first published in Spanish by the author's son in Amsterdam, 1650. It was published the same year in Latin and English, and first appeared in Dutch about ten years later, and was later also translated into Yiddish. The present book is the first edition of the Hebrew translation.

At the beginning of the book is an introduction by the translator, R. Elyakim Shatz of Komarno, a cantor in Amsterdam (the translation was produced from the Dutch edition), followed by an index of Jewish and non-Jewish works and authors mentioned in the book.

In this work, Menasseh Ben Israel discusses the ten lost tribes of Israel, identifying them with the Indians of South America, and his concept of the redemption. At the beginning of the work, he cites the testimony of the Portuguese Marrano Antonio de Montezinos of his meeting with an Indian tribe who observed some Jewish customs and his claim that they are descendants of the tribes of Reuben and Levi. The work goes on to cite other testimonies from studies and travelogues, along with a discussion of the redemption, based on a conception connecting Jewish settlement throughout the world with the coming of the messiah.

Bound with another book: Masaot Shel Rabbi Binyamin HaRofe. Amsterdam: Casper Steen, 1698.

Mikveh Yisrael: 66 leaves. Masaot Shel Rabbi Binyamin: 27 leaves. 11 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor defects to margins of title page. Early leather binding, decorated, with color endpaper. Wear and defects to binding (open tear to spine).

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.

For further details on Mikveh Yisrael, and a full Hebrew translation of the original Spanish edition, see: M. Dorman, Menasseh Ben Israel, Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 1989 (Hebrew).

Alfei Menashe, 1927, no. 57d.