Auction 103 Part 1 Jewish Ceremonial Art | Illustrated Scrolls and Manuscripts | Engravings and Graphic Art | Ketubot | Hebraica

Passover Haggadah – Amsterdam, 1695 – First Haggadah with Copper Engravings and Map of Eretz Israel – Variant Title Page

Opening: $1,500
Sold for: $5,250
Including buyer's premium
Passover Haggadah, "with a beautiful commentary and fine illustrations of the signs and wonders G-d did for our ancestors", with commentary of R. Yitzchak Abarbanel and a map of Eretz Israel. Amsterdam: Asher Anshel son of Eliezer Chazan and Yissachar Ber son of Avraham Eliezer, 1695. Two title pages, the first one illustrated with copper engravings.
This Haggadah, illustrated by the artist Avraham HaGer (a German priest from Rhineland who converted to Judaism in Amsterdam), was the first Haggadah to be illustrated with copper engravings, and one of the first Hebrew books to be illustrated with this printing method, which, as the second title page asserts, is infinitely superior to previously used woodcuts. This edition served as a prototype for many subsequent Haggadot, either by inclusion of the map or by imitation of its illustrations (for more information on this Haggadah, see article by Cecil Roth, HaHaggadah HaMetzuyeret ShebiDefus, Areshet, III, 1961, pp. 22-25).

[1], 26 leaves + [1] folding map. 28.5 cm. Fair condition. Many stains, including dampstains and dark food and wine stains. Wear, worming, tears and open tears, affecting title frame, text and a few illustrations, partially repaired with tape. Close trimming, slightly affecting upper part of title frame. Stains, folding marks and tears to folding map (marginal open tears), mostly repaired with tape and paper strips to verso of map (tears in center of map without loss to illustrations).

Variant. The first title page was printed in two forms. The bottom half of the title page is the same in both, depicting Moses and Aaron. The upper part of the title pages differs. The more common version has six miniature circles with various Biblical scenes. The present variant has a large illustration of Moses kneeling next to the Burning Bush (a title page of this type later appeared in the Amsterdam 1712 edition). Besides this, there are minor differences in the text on the title page.
Otzar HaHaggadot 93.
Passover Haggadot
Passover Haggadot