Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts, Art at Kestenbaum & Co.
Kestenbaum & Company will conduct an early Summer auction of Fine Judaica on Thursday, June 21 at 3:00 pm at their New York City gallery located at 242 West 30th Street. Viewing will be held from Sunday, June 17 through Wednesday, June 20. The extensive, 420-lot auction covers a broad range of collecting categories from Printed Books, Manuscripts and Autograph Letters to Illustrated Books, Graphic Art and Ceremonial Art. Also featured within the sale is Part III of the Alfonso Cassuto Collection of Iberian Judaica.
Perhaps the most important lot of the sale, and featured on the auction catalogue cover, is the Ferrara Bible, one of the great landmarks in the history of printing and a masterpiece of sixteenth century book production. Printed in 1553, it is the first Spanish translation of the entire Hebrew Bible and was printed for Jews who had carried the Spanish language with them into their exile. With its Gothic typography and intricate design, this stately folio became the classic Spanish version of the Bible for Marranos and the entire Sephardic diaspora, for centuries thereafter. The pre-auction estimate is $30,000-50,000 (Lot 307).
Also within the section of Iberian-Judaica is an important Hebrew Bible printed in Portugal, consisting of the Former Prophets with commentaries by David Kimchi and Gersonides. Produced in Leiria, 1494, this Bible was one of the last Hebrew books printed before the Portuguese expulsion of 1497, and is in fact, the most voluminous of all Hebrew incunables. The pre-sale estimate is $50,000-60,000 (Lot 306). Also of note is a fascinating cache from the fifteenth-seventeenth centuries, of personal documents relating to the Spanish Conchillos, one of the great and influential Marrano families, resident in Tarazona, Aragon, estimate $12,000-18,000 (Lot 308) and Miguel (Daniel Levi) de Barrios’ book of poems composed in praise of the Portuguese military victory of 1663 and dedicated to the Count of Villaflor, Amsterdam, 1673, estimate $4,000-5,000 (Lot 304). Texts by Joseph de la Vega (Penso) and David Nieto, and books relating to the Inquisition are also featured in this section.
Among the general section of printed books are noteworthy early texts such as the very first edition, in any language, of the Kabbalistic work, Sepher Yetzirah, Paris, 1552, at an estimate of $8,000-10,000 (Lot 213) and Benedictus Arias Montanus’ Tractatuum Biblicorum…which includes the rare map of the world captioned in Hebrew, Frankfurt am Main, 1696, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 195). Also of importance is the complete set of the first edition of Moses Mendelssohn’s monumental Bible translation, Berlin, 1783, at an estimate of $8,000-10,000 (Lot 194).
Prominent within a section of Chassidic works is a complete copy of the important Siddur of Rav Asher, Lemberg, 1787, estimate $10,000-15,000 (Lot 75) and another prayerbook, with commentary by R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Siddur D”ach, Zhitomir, 1863-64, at an estimate of $4,000-5,000 (Lot 183). Passover Hagadahs are well represented within the auction. On offer is an attractive, eighteenth century illuminated Hagadah, owned for nearly a century within the family of the famed Jewish artist, Ephraim Moses Lilien (1874-1925). Composed on thick parchment with pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, this lovely manuscript is estimated at $30,000-50,000 (Lot 261). Another beautiful Hagadah was designed by Anglo-Jewish artist William Rothenstein in a limited edition of just 100 copies. Printed in London, 1930, the pre-sale estimate is $6,000-8,000 (Lot 130).
American Judaica highlights include a unique copy of a text produced by the Jewish Community of Barbados in 1843, containing prayers of thanks offered to the Almighty for sparing the Jews of that island from the devastation of the earthquake that hit the West Indies that year, estimate $8,000-10,000 (Lot 15) and the first Aschkenazi Machzorim (for the New Year and Day of Atonement) printed in America, New York, 1854, at an estimate of $10,000-15,000 (Lot 20). A significant lot in the Anglo-Judaica section of the sale is a pamphlet by Samuel H. Ellis containing rare printed documents relating to the election of a new Chief Rabbi of England in 1844, estimate $1,200-1,800 (Lot 48). Of note among French Judaica being offered is one of only two copies extant of Isaac Adolphe Cremieux’s landmark speech written in Nimes, 1827, protesting the obligation of a Jew to take a special oath on the Torah before testifying in a secular court, a practice carried over from the Middle Ages, estimate $1,000-1,500 (Lot 112). Noteworthy in the German Judaica section is a checklist of Jews permitted to enter the city of Augsburg to conduct trade, circa 1800, at an estimate of $1,200-1,800 (Lot 117). Further highlights continue to span the globe with texts relating to Jews in China (Lot 88), Corfu (Lot 90), Sweden, (Lots 217-219), Ethiopia (Lot 100), Morocco (Lot 197) and elsewhere in the Middle East (Lots 102-103).
Holocaust related lots worth mentioning include Hans Severus Ziegler’s Entartete Musik: Eine Abrechnung, in which he enthusiastically favors what the Nazis viewed as “degenerate music”, that is, primarily anything composed by Jewish musicians, Dusseldorf, 1938, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 145) and Menachem Mendel Kirschbaum’s scarce Hebrew pamphlet relating to burial rites for Jews cremated in Nazi concentration camps, Cracow, 1939, estimate $3,000-5,000 (Lot 146).
Further significant books include the first edition in the English language of Karl Marx’s Captial: A Critical Analysis of Capitalist Production, London, 1887, estimate $1,500-2,000 (Lot 193); the first American edition of Theodor Herzl’s Der Judenstaat, New York, 1904, estimate $1,500-2,000 (Lot 228) and eye-witness reports, that were printed on linen (to evade police detection), concerning the atrocities committed against Jews during the Russian Civil War, estimate $1,000-1,500 (Lot 205).
The Manuscripts section, which also includes Autograph Letters and a range of sumptuous illuminated Ketubot, covers topics both religious and secular. Top lots include a singular fifteenth century Yemenite manuscript of Maimonides’ commentary on the Mishnah, estimate $30,000-40,000 (Lot 280) and an eleventh century manuscript of Nissim Gaon’s Megilath Setarim, Yemen, 1017, at an estimate of $20,000-25,000 (Lot 281). Also featured is a Hebrew Prayer-Book written on vellum from Italy, circa, 1400, estimated at $15,000-18,000 (Lot 277).
Of further interest is an autograph manuscript by Samson Raphael Hirsch, written in defense of Jewish tradition, and entitled “Rabbi Josua: Der Mann der Goldene Mitte”, Frankfurt a/ Main, 1857, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 260); an autograph manuscript by Joseph Hayyim of Baghdad, the “Ben Ish Hai”, 1890, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 267); and an historic autograph letter by Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik relating to his son’s (Rabbi J. B. Soloveitchik) campaign for appointment as chief Rabbi of Tel-Aviv, 1935, at an estimate of $8,000-10,000. Autograph letters from the Karlin-Stolin Chassidic Rebbes are also featured.
An additional fascinating lot is the original signed proclamation issued in Jerusalem 1931, that protests the decision of the sports organization Maccabi to schedule soccer matches on the Sabbath. Seeking to preserve the unity of the fledgling community of Jews in Palestine at the time, the protest was organized and endorsed by over thirty of the country’s leading intellectuals almost all of whom were not religious themselves. The pre-auction estimate is $10,000-12,000 (Lot 262).
Art enthusiasts will have much from which to choose. The Graphic Art section of the auction includes a large selection of paintings and other artwork by noted Jewish artists such as Saul Raskin, Arthur Szyk, Issachar Ryback, Al Hirschfeld, Louis Lozowick, Abraham Walkowitz and Vasily Dmetrevich Polenov.
Rounding out the auction is a section of Ceremonial Art featuring Chanukah lamps, Kiddush cups, spice towers, among others. Highlights include a large, exotic Indian brass Chanukah lamp, early nineteenth century, estimate $10,000-15,000 (Lot 378); a large Dutch brass Chanukah lamp, circa 1700, estimate $15,000-18,000 (Lot 379), and a highly attractive Bezalel silver Chanukah lamp, at an estimate of $3,000-5,000 (Lot 384). Also sure to find favor among collectors is a Ludwig Wolpert designed silver Kiddush beaker, estimate $1,000-1,5000 (Lot 391), a Ludwig Wolpert designed silver honey dish, estimate $6,000-8,000 (Lot 392) and an exceptional set of silver Torah ornaments created by the internationally renowned silversmith Kurt J. Matzdorf at an estimate of $15,000-20,000 (Lot 399).
For further information relating to bidding or any other queries, please contact Jackie Insel at 212-366-1197.
Perhaps the most important lot of the sale, and featured on the auction catalogue cover, is the Ferrara Bible, one of the great landmarks in the history of printing and a masterpiece of sixteenth century book production. Printed in 1553, it is the first Spanish translation of the entire Hebrew Bible and was printed for Jews who had carried the Spanish language with them into their exile. With its Gothic typography and intricate design, this stately folio became the classic Spanish version of the Bible for Marranos and the entire Sephardic diaspora, for centuries thereafter. The pre-auction estimate is $30,000-50,000 (Lot 307).
Also within the section of Iberian-Judaica is an important Hebrew Bible printed in Portugal, consisting of the Former Prophets with commentaries by David Kimchi and Gersonides. Produced in Leiria, 1494, this Bible was one of the last Hebrew books printed before the Portuguese expulsion of 1497, and is in fact, the most voluminous of all Hebrew incunables. The pre-sale estimate is $50,000-60,000 (Lot 306). Also of note is a fascinating cache from the fifteenth-seventeenth centuries, of personal documents relating to the Spanish Conchillos, one of the great and influential Marrano families, resident in Tarazona, Aragon, estimate $12,000-18,000 (Lot 308) and Miguel (Daniel Levi) de Barrios’ book of poems composed in praise of the Portuguese military victory of 1663 and dedicated to the Count of Villaflor, Amsterdam, 1673, estimate $4,000-5,000 (Lot 304). Texts by Joseph de la Vega (Penso) and David Nieto, and books relating to the Inquisition are also featured in this section.
Among the general section of printed books are noteworthy early texts such as the very first edition, in any language, of the Kabbalistic work, Sepher Yetzirah, Paris, 1552, at an estimate of $8,000-10,000 (Lot 213) and Benedictus Arias Montanus’ Tractatuum Biblicorum…which includes the rare map of the world captioned in Hebrew, Frankfurt am Main, 1696, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 195). Also of importance is the complete set of the first edition of Moses Mendelssohn’s monumental Bible translation, Berlin, 1783, at an estimate of $8,000-10,000 (Lot 194).
Prominent within a section of Chassidic works is a complete copy of the important Siddur of Rav Asher, Lemberg, 1787, estimate $10,000-15,000 (Lot 75) and another prayerbook, with commentary by R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Siddur D”ach, Zhitomir, 1863-64, at an estimate of $4,000-5,000 (Lot 183). Passover Hagadahs are well represented within the auction. On offer is an attractive, eighteenth century illuminated Hagadah, owned for nearly a century within the family of the famed Jewish artist, Ephraim Moses Lilien (1874-1925). Composed on thick parchment with pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, this lovely manuscript is estimated at $30,000-50,000 (Lot 261). Another beautiful Hagadah was designed by Anglo-Jewish artist William Rothenstein in a limited edition of just 100 copies. Printed in London, 1930, the pre-sale estimate is $6,000-8,000 (Lot 130).
American Judaica highlights include a unique copy of a text produced by the Jewish Community of Barbados in 1843, containing prayers of thanks offered to the Almighty for sparing the Jews of that island from the devastation of the earthquake that hit the West Indies that year, estimate $8,000-10,000 (Lot 15) and the first Aschkenazi Machzorim (for the New Year and Day of Atonement) printed in America, New York, 1854, at an estimate of $10,000-15,000 (Lot 20). A significant lot in the Anglo-Judaica section of the sale is a pamphlet by Samuel H. Ellis containing rare printed documents relating to the election of a new Chief Rabbi of England in 1844, estimate $1,200-1,800 (Lot 48). Of note among French Judaica being offered is one of only two copies extant of Isaac Adolphe Cremieux’s landmark speech written in Nimes, 1827, protesting the obligation of a Jew to take a special oath on the Torah before testifying in a secular court, a practice carried over from the Middle Ages, estimate $1,000-1,500 (Lot 112). Noteworthy in the German Judaica section is a checklist of Jews permitted to enter the city of Augsburg to conduct trade, circa 1800, at an estimate of $1,200-1,800 (Lot 117). Further highlights continue to span the globe with texts relating to Jews in China (Lot 88), Corfu (Lot 90), Sweden, (Lots 217-219), Ethiopia (Lot 100), Morocco (Lot 197) and elsewhere in the Middle East (Lots 102-103).
Holocaust related lots worth mentioning include Hans Severus Ziegler’s Entartete Musik: Eine Abrechnung, in which he enthusiastically favors what the Nazis viewed as “degenerate music”, that is, primarily anything composed by Jewish musicians, Dusseldorf, 1938, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 145) and Menachem Mendel Kirschbaum’s scarce Hebrew pamphlet relating to burial rites for Jews cremated in Nazi concentration camps, Cracow, 1939, estimate $3,000-5,000 (Lot 146).
Further significant books include the first edition in the English language of Karl Marx’s Captial: A Critical Analysis of Capitalist Production, London, 1887, estimate $1,500-2,000 (Lot 193); the first American edition of Theodor Herzl’s Der Judenstaat, New York, 1904, estimate $1,500-2,000 (Lot 228) and eye-witness reports, that were printed on linen (to evade police detection), concerning the atrocities committed against Jews during the Russian Civil War, estimate $1,000-1,500 (Lot 205).
The Manuscripts section, which also includes Autograph Letters and a range of sumptuous illuminated Ketubot, covers topics both religious and secular. Top lots include a singular fifteenth century Yemenite manuscript of Maimonides’ commentary on the Mishnah, estimate $30,000-40,000 (Lot 280) and an eleventh century manuscript of Nissim Gaon’s Megilath Setarim, Yemen, 1017, at an estimate of $20,000-25,000 (Lot 281). Also featured is a Hebrew Prayer-Book written on vellum from Italy, circa, 1400, estimated at $15,000-18,000 (Lot 277).
Of further interest is an autograph manuscript by Samson Raphael Hirsch, written in defense of Jewish tradition, and entitled “Rabbi Josua: Der Mann der Goldene Mitte”, Frankfurt a/ Main, 1857, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 260); an autograph manuscript by Joseph Hayyim of Baghdad, the “Ben Ish Hai”, 1890, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 267); and an historic autograph letter by Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik relating to his son’s (Rabbi J. B. Soloveitchik) campaign for appointment as chief Rabbi of Tel-Aviv, 1935, at an estimate of $8,000-10,000. Autograph letters from the Karlin-Stolin Chassidic Rebbes are also featured.
An additional fascinating lot is the original signed proclamation issued in Jerusalem 1931, that protests the decision of the sports organization Maccabi to schedule soccer matches on the Sabbath. Seeking to preserve the unity of the fledgling community of Jews in Palestine at the time, the protest was organized and endorsed by over thirty of the country’s leading intellectuals almost all of whom were not religious themselves. The pre-auction estimate is $10,000-12,000 (Lot 262).
Art enthusiasts will have much from which to choose. The Graphic Art section of the auction includes a large selection of paintings and other artwork by noted Jewish artists such as Saul Raskin, Arthur Szyk, Issachar Ryback, Al Hirschfeld, Louis Lozowick, Abraham Walkowitz and Vasily Dmetrevich Polenov.
Rounding out the auction is a section of Ceremonial Art featuring Chanukah lamps, Kiddush cups, spice towers, among others. Highlights include a large, exotic Indian brass Chanukah lamp, early nineteenth century, estimate $10,000-15,000 (Lot 378); a large Dutch brass Chanukah lamp, circa 1700, estimate $15,000-18,000 (Lot 379), and a highly attractive Bezalel silver Chanukah lamp, at an estimate of $3,000-5,000 (Lot 384). Also sure to find favor among collectors is a Ludwig Wolpert designed silver Kiddush beaker, estimate $1,000-1,5000 (Lot 391), a Ludwig Wolpert designed silver honey dish, estimate $6,000-8,000 (Lot 392) and an exceptional set of silver Torah ornaments created by the internationally renowned silversmith Kurt J. Matzdorf at an estimate of $15,000-20,000 (Lot 399).
For further information relating to bidding or any other queries, please contact Jackie Insel at 212-366-1197.
