Auction 103 Part 2 Early Printed Books | Sabbateanism and Crypto-Jews of Spain and Portugal | Chassidut and Kabbalah | Books Printed in Slavita and Jerusalem | Letters and Manuscripts
Sod Hashem – Amsterdam, 1709 – With Handwritten Mohel Ledger, Documenting 331 Circumcisions – Hanau, 1801-1838 – Description of Siege of City by Napoleon's Army
Opening: $500
Sold for: $2,750
Including buyer's premium
Sod Hashem with Sharvit HaZahav, prayers, halachot and customs of circumcision, by R. David of Lida, with halachot in Yiddish. Amsterdam: Shlomo Proops, 1709.
After the printed book appears a handwritten mohel ledger (on the blank leaves originally bound with the book to that end). The ledger documents 331 circumcisions performed by the mohel R. Michael Frankel in Hanau, Germany. R. Michael was the son of R. Binyamin Frankel, Rabbi of Hanau, and a disciple of R. Moshe Tuviah of Sontheim, who succeeded R. Binyamin as Rabbi and is mentioned several times in the ledger.
The first page contains the signature of the mohel: "Michael son of… R. Binyamin" and an introductory inscription, relating that he studied circumcision under the Rabbi of the city R. Moshe Tuviah of Sontheim. R. Moshe Tuviah of Sontheim is mentioned several times in the inscriptions as assisting in circumcision. The present inscriptions also include hundreds of names, dates and genealogical details of distinguished German families, particularly those of Hanau and the region.
The inscriptions include many events, personal details and expressions relating to the number of the circumcision.
Inscription no. 155, dated 15th Cheshvan 1813, contains a lengthy description of the Battle of Hanau when it was besieged by Napoleon, describing three days of warfare, the battle on the Kinzig, and cannons shot into the Jewish quarter, burning many homes until the fire subsided. He praises G-d for the miraculous salvation from the fire and from the looting by enemy soldiers.
On front endpaper, several inscriptions (in the handwriting of the same mohel), mostly in Yiddish. The first: "Cures for the mohel".
Signature on title page of Sod Hashem.
Sod Hashem: 32 leaves. Mohel ledger: [34] leaves. 15 cm. Overall fair condition. Some leaves in Sod Hashem in fair-poor condition. Stains, including dark stains. Heavy stains to leaves of Sod Hashem, affecting text in several places. Wear and several tears. Original binding, with wear and defects.
Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.
Mohel Ledgers
Mohel Ledgers