Auction 95 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Letters and Manuscripts, Engravings and Jewish Ceremonial Objects
Two matching incunabula leaves; a leaf from the folio edition and a leaf from the quarto edition of the "Nuremberg Chronicle" by Hartmann Schedel, containing woodcuts depicting the burning of Jews in the 14th century:
1. Leaf CCXX of the folio German edition of the "Nuremberg Chronicle" (Weltchronik). Nuremberg, Anton Koberger, 1493. German.
Approx. 41 cm. Good condition. Stains and minor blemishes.
2. Smal, hand-colored leaf, from the quarto edition of the "Nuremberg Chronicle" (Liber Chronicarum), often called "Little Schedel". Augsburg, Johan Schönsperger, 1497. Latin.
Approx. 31 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor marginal tears and open tears.
The incunabulum "Nuremberg Chronicle" is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful books of the early days of the printing press, and among the first printed books to contain in-text illustrations. The woodcuts contained within were created by painter and printmaker Michael Wohlgemut, 1434/37-1519, who was among the most prominent of Nuremberg's artists at the time – in Wohlgemut's own workshop. Among the apprentices and students in this workshop was Albrecht Dürer, who is thought by some to be responsible for a few of the illustrations appearing in the Chronicle.
The "Small Schedel" (Kleine Schedel) is a quarto edition of the Chronicle published by Johann Schönsperger – one of Germany's most prominent printers and a printer for Kaiser Maximilian I. This edition was printed in a smaller type, maintaining an identical design to the original edition, and featured miniature versions of the original woodcuts. In an effort to reduce costs, the "Kleine Schedel" was printed on lower-quality paper, resulting in only a handful of surviving copies to this day.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.
![Portrait of Menasseh ben Israel. Engraving by Salom Italia. [The Netherlands], 1642.This portrait of Menasseh ben Israel is e](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale95/359.jpg "Portrait of Menasseh ben Israel – By Salom Italia – The Netherlands, 1")
Portrait of Menasseh ben Israel. Engraving by Salom Italia. [The Netherlands], 1642.
This portrait of Menasseh ben Israel is encircled with the Latin inscription: “Menasseh ben Israel Theologus et Philisophus Hebraeus / Peregrinando Quaerimus.” Underneath the portrait is a poem – also in Latin – singing his praises.
R. Menasseh ben Israel (1604-1657), French-born rabbi, preacher and statesman; founder of the first Hebrew press in Amsterdam. He was very active on behalf of the Jews in the Diaspora, and the Marranos of Spain and Portugal. He played an important role in the readmission of the Jews to England, after their expulsion in 1290 on the orders of Edward I. This is his most famous and important portrait.
The copper engraver Salom ben Mordechai Italia (also Italiae and d’Italia), who moved to the Netherlands from Mantua, Italy, was noted mostly as a creator and decorator of ketubot (Jewish marriage contracts) and Esther scrolls. However, he also gained fame thanks to this particular portrait of Menasseh ben Israel, as well as his portrait of Rabbi Jacob Judah Leon Templo. He died in the Netherlands, roughly 1655.
19X13.5 cm. Good condition. Fine, light-colored copy. Mounted on thick paper board (from the 19th century?), 23X17 cm, stains to corners.
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Lot 360 Portrait of Rabbi Jacob Judah Leon Templo, 1665 – Illustrations of the Temple and Tabernacle
Portrait of Rabbi Jacob Judah Leon “Templo”. Engraving by Conrad Buno, from the book “De Templo Hierosolymitano” by Jacob Judah Aryeh Leon Templo. [Helmstadt, Germany, 1665].
Portrait of R. Jacob Judah Leon Templo, holding a scroll.
A small vignette in the lower margins depicts the contents of the scroll held by R. Templo: A small figure representing Moses, observing the land of Canaan ("For from afar, you will see the land, but you will not come there", Deuteronomy, 32, 52).
Flanked by the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem. The portrait is encircled by a Latin inscription: "Effigies uiri doctissimi et clarissimi Jacobi Yehudæ Leonis Hebræi autoris Structuræ templi Salomonici facti anno 1641". Signed in print.
The present engraving was made after a portrait of R. Templo created by R. Salom Italia some 20 years prior, in the 1740's.
R. Jacob Judah Leon Templo (1603 – after 1675), a 17th century Torah scholar in Amsterdam. Born in Portugal to a family of Spanish exiles, he studied in Amsterdam under the rabbi of the Neveh Shalom community, R. Yitzchak Uziel. He was renowned for his books on the prominent Biblical structures and utensils – the Tabernacle, Solomon's temple, and the Ark of the Covenant, which R. Leon described for the first time based on contemporary scientific knowledge. His pioneering work earned him renown throughout Europe, and drew the attention of contemporary rulers – King Charles II, William II Prince of Orange, and Augustus Duke of Brunswick (who commissioned German translations of the works). Following the success of his books, R. Judah Leon created a model of Solomon's temple with small scale utensils, earning him the nickname of "Templo".
18X28 cm. Good condition. Some stains. Minor creases. Tiny hole.
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Portrait of Samuel de Leon Benavente. Mezzotint print by Peter Schenk, after painting by Michiel van Musscher. [Amsterdam?, ca. 1701].
Samuel de Leon Benavente (1643-1723), a Jewish physician and surgeon renowned for his expertise in extracting kidney stones. During his time, this procedure was undertaken by only a select few doctors, given the significant risks it posed to patients' lives.
Printed in the margins is a rhymed poem dedicated to Benavente by the Dutch poet Hermanus Angelkot: "Dit 's Benavente die door kunst, en door geluk / Den steen haalt uijt de Blaas, en uit het hart den druk" [literally: "this is Benavente who, through skill and through luck, removes the stone from the bladder and relieves the pressure from the heart."]
28.5X19.5 cm. Good condition. Few pinholes. Inscription to margins.
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The Most Learned Aaron Hart, Rabbi, Aged 81. Portrait of R. Aaron Hart. Mezzotint by James McArdell, after Bartholomew Dandridge. London: printed for G. Pulley, 1751.
High-quality portrait, depicting R. Aaron Hart at the age of 81; his right-hand resting on the book of his father-in-law – Beit Shmuel, and his left-hand holding a folded document inscribed in Hebrew "Get" (divorce document).
R. Aaron (Uri Phoebus) Hart-Hamburger (1670-1756), first chief rabbi of the British Empire (a position he held until his passing, for over fifty years) and founder of the Great Synagogue in London. Son-in-law of R. Shmuel Rabbi of Fürth, author of Beit Shmuel. He authored the Urim VeTumim booklet regarding the London Get polemic (London, 1706; the document inscribed "Get" seen in the present print alludes to his involvement in this affair).
35.5X25.5 cm. Overall good condition. Some minor marginal stains and creases. Mounted on old board, 36.5X26.5 cm, fair condition, with marginal tears and corners lacking.
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Lot 363 Portrait of R. Moshe Nasch Rabbi of Zwolle – Engraving – The Netherlands, Early 19th Century
Portrait of R. Moshe son of Yoel Nasch (Nias; Nikolsburg), rabbi of Zwolle (the Netherlands) – engraving by A. Joëls, partially hand-colored. [The Netherlands, early 19th century].
R. Moshe son of Yoel Nasch is portrayed within a round frame resting on three books he authored. The following inscription is printed beneath the portrait: "The portrait… of the perfect scholar, the honored and renowned R. Moshe Nasch, rabbi and dean of the Zwolle community…".
R. Moshe son of Yoel Nasch (or: of Nasch – Nikolsburg) served as posek in Nijkerk (Gelderland) for some thirty years. In 1802, he was appointed rabbi of Zwolle (Overijssel province). He passed away in Elul, 1807. This portrait documents three books he authored, titled: Yismach Moshe, VaYoel Moshe and VaYaster Moshe. Apart from Yismach Moshe (printed in 1771), his other books are currently unknown.
Engraving: 15X9.5 cm. Good condition. Old tape stains to upper margin, on both sides of leaf.
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“A Prospect of the Portuguese and High German Jews Churches at Amsterdam”. Engraving after Abraham Rademaker. [Amsterdam, undated, ca. from 1730 to 1752].
89 postcards presenting synagogues from cities throughout the world; most from Europe, and many of these from Hungary. [Late 19th century, early decades of the 20th century].
Splendid collection of postcards presenting synagogues from various cities around the world. Some postcards are of the “Gruss aus” (“greetings from…”) type, wherein an illustration or photograph of a synagogue is shown alongside other buildings. A large number of the postcards document synagogues in Hungary and Transylvania; others bear depictions from Montreal, Brooklyn, Buffalo NY, Munich, Leningrad, Belgrade; the French towns and communities of Remiremont, Épinal, Chablis, and Belfort; Strasbourg (several different postcards), Olomouc (Czech Republic), Dortmund, Chernowitz (Chernivtsi), Florence, Warsaw, Prague, and other cities. 44 of the postcards have undivided backs.
Average size: 9X14 cm. Varying condition. A number of postcards appear in duplicate copies. Possibly, some of the postcards feature buildings other than synagogues, related in one way or another to Jewish communities.
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Large chromolithographic print, with portraits of seven of the great Chassidic rebbes. No publisher or date indicated. [Breslau: S. Schottlaender, late 19th century].
In the center of the print, inside a large medallion, appears the portrait of R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Baal HaTanya (the Alter Rebbe; 1745-1812). Around him, in smaller medallions, appear (from right to left) portraits of the rebbes: R. Yochanan of Rachmastrivka (1816-1895, youngest son of the Maggid Rebbe Mordechai Twersky of Chernobyl); R. David of Tolna [1808-1882, sixth son of the Maggid of Chernobyl); R. Avraham of Trisk (1806-1889, fifth son of the Maggid of Chernobyl); Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz (1789-1868), R. Yaakov Yitzchak Twersky of Makarov (1828-1892; son of R. Menachem Nachum of Makarov, fourth son of the Maggid of Chernobyl).
Captions from biblical verses at the top and bottom of print. Frame around the print decorated with a vegetal motif.
[1] large sheet. Approx. 51x39.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Creases, abrasions and light damage. Marginal tears, some long; some tears non-professionally restored (with paper strips and glue to verso).
Rare. Does not appear in OCLC or the National Library of Israel catalog.
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Seven photographs from the wedding of R. Avraham Shlomo Biderman and Rebbetzin Brachah Elka, held in Jerusalem, 15 Shevat, 1947.
Rebbe Avraham Shlomo Biderman of Lelov (1927-2000), son and successor of Rebbe Moshe Mordechai Biderman (1903-1987). Married Rebbetzin Brachah Elka, daughter of Rebbe Yehudah Zundel Hager of Savran (1906-1993) and granddaughter of R. Shmuel Aharon Shazuri-Weber (1885-1980; also from the family of Lelov rebbes).
The present photographs are from the chupah and wedding feast, including: the bride and groom, the groom's father, Rebbe Moshe Mordechai of Lelov and the bride's father, Rebbe Yehudah Zundel of Savran, the bride's grandfather, R. Shmuel Aharon Shazuri, the mesader kiddushin, R. Yitzchak Eizik Herzog, guests and family members.
Original photographs. On the verso of each of the photographs הis a stamp of the studio and archive of photographer Kalman (Karl) Weiss of Photo Weiss (erased stamps of the studio, as well as stamps of the photographer – decorated frame, with handwritten inscription: "history of the people, the Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel" [Hebrew]).
7 photographs, 18x12 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and some creases.
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.