Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
Displaying 97 - 108 of 134
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $2,500
Sold for: $4,500
Including buyer's premium
Ketubah recording the marriage of David di Yitzchak Franco Mendes with Sarah, daughter of David Teixeira. Hague, Netherlands, March 1771.
Dutch-Sephardi ketubah, handwritten on parchment, adorned with a high-quality copper engraving: In the right and left margins are two vases with large bouquets, on which various birds and animals are perched. These are topped by images of a bride and groom in contemporary attire (on the right) and a mother with two children (on the left; allegory to Caritas [charity]). The text is written in Sephardi script and appears between two rounded pillars entwined with branches, crowned with an arch. On both sides of the arch are two Cherubs holding a drapery bearing the inscription "B'Siman Tov". At the bottom of the engraving is a large Rococo cartouche in which the tena'im were written.
The inspiration for this copper-engraving was the design of two Dutch ketubot created in 1648 and in 1654 by the artist and engraver Shalom Mordechai Italia. Shalom Italia, who arrived in Holland from Mantua, was also known for creating two Scrolls of Esther and portraits of Jacob Judah Leon Templo and of Menasseh ben Israel.
The ornamentation of this ketubah and the inscription printed at the bottom vary slightly from those which appear on other ketubot of this type (for example, see previous item): the attire of the bride and groom which appear in the upper right corner has been updated reflecting changes of fashion. A medallion with the image of a phoenix has been added to the bottom of the cartouche and the inscription referring to R. Yitzchak Aboab is replaced with the inscription: "Pertenece ao K. K. de T. T. de Amsterdam Roshodes Kislef A° 5499 D = M" - "Belongs to the Amsterdam Talmud Torah community, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1739". One hundred years previously, in 1639, the three Jewish communities in Amsterdam of Sephardi and Portuguese origin, Beit Ya'akov, Neve Shalom and Beit Yisrael merged into one community named Talmud Torah. According to Prof. Shalom Sabar, the text and the additions and changes to this ketubah were created in 1739 in commemoration of the centennial of the unification of the communities.
Below the text are the signatures of the groom (in Latin letters) and of the witnesses: Shlomo Sruk (in Hebrew) and "Mor. / Mos. Baruch ---" (in Latin letters). The same signatures also appear at the end of the tena'im written on the bottom cartouche. The name of the attorney, "The famous attorney in the capital named Lambert Zeithof" who drew up the agreement is mentioned both in the text of the ketubah and the tena'im.
Shlomo Sruk whose signature appears twice on this ketubah was the Sephardi rabbi of Hague from 1789-1852 and the text of the ketubah also seems to have been written by Rabbi Sruk.
The groom, Ya'akov Franco-Mendes, is evidently a relative of David Franco-Mendes (David Chofshee, 1713-1792), a Dutch Jewish poet and Hebrew playwright, a descendant of a family of Anusim, disciple of the Ramchal, author of several books and copier of many manuscripts.
The NLI collection (Ms. Heb. 4°901.442) contains a ketubah from 1766 which records the marriage of Aharon son of David son of Yitzchak Franco-Mendes (brother of the abovementioned groom) with the bride Rachel daughter of David Teixeira (sister of the aforementioned bride).
34.5X42 cm. Stains to both sides of the ketubah (primarily to the bottom third). Few creases. The date which appears before the name of the attorney was amended.
Literature:
1. Ketubbah: Jewish marriage contracts of the Hebrew Union College Skirball Museum and Klau Library, Shalom Sabar (NY, 1990), pp. 265-270, no. 171.
2. The Oeuvre of the Jewish Engraver Salom Italia, by Mordechai Narkis, in: Tarbiz, Vol. 25, Issue 4, Tamuz 1957, pp. 441-451; Vol. 26, Issue 1, Tishrei 1957, pp. 87-101.
3. HaKetubah B'Iturim, David Davidowitz. Published by A. Levine-Epstein, Tel Aviv, 1979, pp. 21-24.
Dutch-Sephardi ketubah, handwritten on parchment, adorned with a high-quality copper engraving: In the right and left margins are two vases with large bouquets, on which various birds and animals are perched. These are topped by images of a bride and groom in contemporary attire (on the right) and a mother with two children (on the left; allegory to Caritas [charity]). The text is written in Sephardi script and appears between two rounded pillars entwined with branches, crowned with an arch. On both sides of the arch are two Cherubs holding a drapery bearing the inscription "B'Siman Tov". At the bottom of the engraving is a large Rococo cartouche in which the tena'im were written.
The inspiration for this copper-engraving was the design of two Dutch ketubot created in 1648 and in 1654 by the artist and engraver Shalom Mordechai Italia. Shalom Italia, who arrived in Holland from Mantua, was also known for creating two Scrolls of Esther and portraits of Jacob Judah Leon Templo and of Menasseh ben Israel.
The ornamentation of this ketubah and the inscription printed at the bottom vary slightly from those which appear on other ketubot of this type (for example, see previous item): the attire of the bride and groom which appear in the upper right corner has been updated reflecting changes of fashion. A medallion with the image of a phoenix has been added to the bottom of the cartouche and the inscription referring to R. Yitzchak Aboab is replaced with the inscription: "Pertenece ao K. K. de T. T. de Amsterdam Roshodes Kislef A° 5499 D = M" - "Belongs to the Amsterdam Talmud Torah community, Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1739". One hundred years previously, in 1639, the three Jewish communities in Amsterdam of Sephardi and Portuguese origin, Beit Ya'akov, Neve Shalom and Beit Yisrael merged into one community named Talmud Torah. According to Prof. Shalom Sabar, the text and the additions and changes to this ketubah were created in 1739 in commemoration of the centennial of the unification of the communities.
Below the text are the signatures of the groom (in Latin letters) and of the witnesses: Shlomo Sruk (in Hebrew) and "Mor. / Mos. Baruch ---" (in Latin letters). The same signatures also appear at the end of the tena'im written on the bottom cartouche. The name of the attorney, "The famous attorney in the capital named Lambert Zeithof" who drew up the agreement is mentioned both in the text of the ketubah and the tena'im.
Shlomo Sruk whose signature appears twice on this ketubah was the Sephardi rabbi of Hague from 1789-1852 and the text of the ketubah also seems to have been written by Rabbi Sruk.
The groom, Ya'akov Franco-Mendes, is evidently a relative of David Franco-Mendes (David Chofshee, 1713-1792), a Dutch Jewish poet and Hebrew playwright, a descendant of a family of Anusim, disciple of the Ramchal, author of several books and copier of many manuscripts.
The NLI collection (Ms. Heb. 4°901.442) contains a ketubah from 1766 which records the marriage of Aharon son of David son of Yitzchak Franco-Mendes (brother of the abovementioned groom) with the bride Rachel daughter of David Teixeira (sister of the aforementioned bride).
34.5X42 cm. Stains to both sides of the ketubah (primarily to the bottom third). Few creases. The date which appears before the name of the attorney was amended.
Literature:
1. Ketubbah: Jewish marriage contracts of the Hebrew Union College Skirball Museum and Klau Library, Shalom Sabar (NY, 1990), pp. 265-270, no. 171.
2. The Oeuvre of the Jewish Engraver Salom Italia, by Mordechai Narkis, in: Tarbiz, Vol. 25, Issue 4, Tamuz 1957, pp. 441-451; Vol. 26, Issue 1, Tishrei 1957, pp. 87-101.
3. HaKetubah B'Iturim, David Davidowitz. Published by A. Levine-Epstein, Tel Aviv, 1979, pp. 21-24.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $5,000
Sold for: $10,625
Including buyer's premium
Ketubah recording the marriage of Gavriel, "son of the dear honored elder" Shlomo Chaim Castelnuovo, with Chana, "daughter of the dear honored elder" Gershon David Volterra. Rome, November 1820.
Large-format ketubah, handwritten on parchment, with illustrations, colorful ornaments and shaped bottom border.
The text is framed by four panels. Three of the panels are ornamented with a chain of intertwined circles painted in gold, yellow and blue. The top panel is composed of two rectangles with verses of blessings and two squares with figurative illustrations: an illustration of King Solomon's trial (perhaps due to the fact that the name of the groom's father is Shlomo), and an illustration of a girl carrying chains of flowers. The word "ba'revi'i" is enlarged and framed by a ribbon. At the bottom of the ketubah is a family emblem - a lion (facing left) leaning on a stone tower framed by branches and delicately-colored ribbons.
A blank space remains in the center of the text, usually filled in with the name of the attorney who takes care of the (civil) marriage agreement: "Office of ---". Below the text are the signatures of the witnesses: Yitzchak son of Ya'akov Zitoni and Yehoshua Gershon son of David Binyamin Ashkenazi.
48.5X74 cm. Good condition. Faded ink. Stains. Creases and small tears to margins. Folding marks. A fabric thread is sewn into the bottom. Minor glue traces on verso. A tiny hole at the top of the ketubah.
Large-format ketubah, handwritten on parchment, with illustrations, colorful ornaments and shaped bottom border.
The text is framed by four panels. Three of the panels are ornamented with a chain of intertwined circles painted in gold, yellow and blue. The top panel is composed of two rectangles with verses of blessings and two squares with figurative illustrations: an illustration of King Solomon's trial (perhaps due to the fact that the name of the groom's father is Shlomo), and an illustration of a girl carrying chains of flowers. The word "ba'revi'i" is enlarged and framed by a ribbon. At the bottom of the ketubah is a family emblem - a lion (facing left) leaning on a stone tower framed by branches and delicately-colored ribbons.
A blank space remains in the center of the text, usually filled in with the name of the attorney who takes care of the (civil) marriage agreement: "Office of ---". Below the text are the signatures of the witnesses: Yitzchak son of Ya'akov Zitoni and Yehoshua Gershon son of David Binyamin Ashkenazi.
48.5X74 cm. Good condition. Faded ink. Stains. Creases and small tears to margins. Folding marks. A fabric thread is sewn into the bottom. Minor glue traces on verso. A tiny hole at the top of the ketubah.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $2,000
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium
Ketubah recording the marriage of the groom David son of Baruch Litshinsky with the bride Leah Freida daughter of R. Yaakov Zelitonovitz. Shanghai, Sivan 1909.
Printed frame crowned with a Star of David, with various decorations in dark purple ink.
The text of the ketubah and the opening blessings are handwritten.
The Jewish community in Shanghai was established at the end of the 19th century when Iraqi Jewish merchants and manufacturers traveled from India to the Far East with the expanding British Empire following the First Opium War. After the Bolshevik (Russian) Revolution in 1917 Russian Jewish refugees escaped to Shanghai as well. During WWII, Shanghai became the destination of many European refugees and yeshiva students.
This ketubah, which was written at the turn of the 20th century, contains Ashkenazic names (the bride, groom as well as witnesses: "Yitzchak son of Moshe Avraham Schissel" and "Chaim Braunstein"), but the opening verses - "In the name of the most merciful, may He be blessed" - are in accordance with the Indian rite of the Jews of Cochin.
37X32 cm. Fair-good condition. Dampstains. Stains, folding marks and creases to margins.
There are no ketubot from Shanghai in the collection of ketubot of the NLI.
Printed frame crowned with a Star of David, with various decorations in dark purple ink.
The text of the ketubah and the opening blessings are handwritten.
The Jewish community in Shanghai was established at the end of the 19th century when Iraqi Jewish merchants and manufacturers traveled from India to the Far East with the expanding British Empire following the First Opium War. After the Bolshevik (Russian) Revolution in 1917 Russian Jewish refugees escaped to Shanghai as well. During WWII, Shanghai became the destination of many European refugees and yeshiva students.
This ketubah, which was written at the turn of the 20th century, contains Ashkenazic names (the bride, groom as well as witnesses: "Yitzchak son of Moshe Avraham Schissel" and "Chaim Braunstein"), but the opening verses - "In the name of the most merciful, may He be blessed" - are in accordance with the Indian rite of the Jews of Cochin.
37X32 cm. Fair-good condition. Dampstains. Stains, folding marks and creases to margins.
There are no ketubot from Shanghai in the collection of ketubot of the NLI.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $20,000
Sold for: $25,000
Including buyer's premium
A Ketubah (legal contract) recording the marriage of Werner Lubianitzki (born in 1922) from Danzig, with Gertrude Katz (born in 1929) from Vienna. Shanghai, China, "36th year of the Chinese Republic". [Tamuz, July 1948]. Chinese. Signatures and transliteration of names in Latin characters.
A printed form, decorated with typical Chinese motifs, in bright colors: cherry and peach blossom, bird-and-flower painting and a wide frame decorated with colorful dragons. The marriage contract is arranged in several columns: the names of the groom and bride are written on the right column; the name of the advocate in whose office the contract was signed - Hans Behmack - and the names of the witnesses: G. [Gustav] Flörsheimer and H. [Heinz] Brauer - appear in the center column; and in the left column appear the signatures of the groom, the bride, the two witnesses, the advocate and parents of the bride - Julius Katz and Regine Katz. All the names are written by hand, in Chinese and in Latin letters.
Following the Kristallnacht (November 1938) many German and Austrian refugees arrived in Shanghai, where the gates remained open for Jews when numerous countries closed their gates. Between November 1939 and July 1940 some 18,000 refugees entered Shanghai (some estimate that 20,000 arrived), most of whom arrived impoverished and were supported and absorbed by local Jewish aid organizations. In 1943, following orders issued by Japanese authorities, all the Jewish stateless refugees were settled in Hongskou district where they lived in rough hygienic conditions in a crowded area, until the end of the war. When the war ended about half of the refugees immigrated to the United States and the others immigrated to Palestine. When the communists occupied China in 1949, most of the Jews were gone already, and only several thousands were still there.
Gustav Flörsheimer, who signed the ketubah as a witness, appears in the Lexicon of musicians persecuted by the Nazis (Lexikon verfolgter Musiker und Musikerinnen der NS-Zeit) published by Hamburg University (editors: Claudia Maurer Zenck, Peter Petersen, Sophie Fetthauer), 2016 (on the website of Hamburg University). Flörsheimer (1906-1985), born in Höchst, Frankfurt, fled to China through Italy in September 1939 and lived in a home for refugees in Shanghai. Served as a cantor, was a member of the association for Jewish cantors in Shanghai and delivered lectures about Zionism and Judaism. In 1943 he was transferred to the ghetto in Shanghai (Hongkou), and after the war (after 1948) he immigrated to the USA where he lived for the rest of his life. Flörsheimer's mother was murdered in Kovno and his sister was deported from Drancy concentration camp in France to Auschwitz where she was murdered.
The name of Hans Behmack, the advocate from Vienna, is mentioned in Michael Andreas Frischler's study (Vienna University), "Little Vienna in Shanghai", as owner of a legal office in Shanghai already in 1941 (ibid, pp. 69-70; see enclosed material).
Rare. Only a few examples of similar marriage contracts are known, but none are identical to the one offered here. In the collection of ketubot of the NLI appears only one Chinese ketubah, from Hong Kong (1938), written on a printed Baghdadi ketubah-form.
Approx. 51X38 cm. Good condition. Creases. Framed - not examined out of frame.
A printed form, decorated with typical Chinese motifs, in bright colors: cherry and peach blossom, bird-and-flower painting and a wide frame decorated with colorful dragons. The marriage contract is arranged in several columns: the names of the groom and bride are written on the right column; the name of the advocate in whose office the contract was signed - Hans Behmack - and the names of the witnesses: G. [Gustav] Flörsheimer and H. [Heinz] Brauer - appear in the center column; and in the left column appear the signatures of the groom, the bride, the two witnesses, the advocate and parents of the bride - Julius Katz and Regine Katz. All the names are written by hand, in Chinese and in Latin letters.
Following the Kristallnacht (November 1938) many German and Austrian refugees arrived in Shanghai, where the gates remained open for Jews when numerous countries closed their gates. Between November 1939 and July 1940 some 18,000 refugees entered Shanghai (some estimate that 20,000 arrived), most of whom arrived impoverished and were supported and absorbed by local Jewish aid organizations. In 1943, following orders issued by Japanese authorities, all the Jewish stateless refugees were settled in Hongskou district where they lived in rough hygienic conditions in a crowded area, until the end of the war. When the war ended about half of the refugees immigrated to the United States and the others immigrated to Palestine. When the communists occupied China in 1949, most of the Jews were gone already, and only several thousands were still there.
Gustav Flörsheimer, who signed the ketubah as a witness, appears in the Lexicon of musicians persecuted by the Nazis (Lexikon verfolgter Musiker und Musikerinnen der NS-Zeit) published by Hamburg University (editors: Claudia Maurer Zenck, Peter Petersen, Sophie Fetthauer), 2016 (on the website of Hamburg University). Flörsheimer (1906-1985), born in Höchst, Frankfurt, fled to China through Italy in September 1939 and lived in a home for refugees in Shanghai. Served as a cantor, was a member of the association for Jewish cantors in Shanghai and delivered lectures about Zionism and Judaism. In 1943 he was transferred to the ghetto in Shanghai (Hongkou), and after the war (after 1948) he immigrated to the USA where he lived for the rest of his life. Flörsheimer's mother was murdered in Kovno and his sister was deported from Drancy concentration camp in France to Auschwitz where she was murdered.
The name of Hans Behmack, the advocate from Vienna, is mentioned in Michael Andreas Frischler's study (Vienna University), "Little Vienna in Shanghai", as owner of a legal office in Shanghai already in 1941 (ibid, pp. 69-70; see enclosed material).
Rare. Only a few examples of similar marriage contracts are known, but none are identical to the one offered here. In the collection of ketubot of the NLI appears only one Chinese ketubah, from Hong Kong (1938), written on a printed Baghdadi ketubah-form.
Approx. 51X38 cm. Good condition. Creases. Framed - not examined out of frame.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $12,000
Unsold
Tragédies du Ghetto, Contes [Ghetto Tragedies, Stories] by Israel Zangwill. Translation into French by Charles Mauron. Paris: Emile Hazan, 1928. French. Numbered copy (out of 2500 copies), hand-illustrated in watercolor by Alice Halicka.
Anthology of short stories about Jewish life, by Israel Zangwill. Along the book appear some 55 fine illustrations in watercolor (one in ink) by Alice Halicka. Some of the illustrations are painted on the whole page (blank pages of the book) and some are painted on the text pages.
A dedication to Mrs. Robert Ellisen, handwritten (in French) by Halicka, appears at the beginning of the book.
The artist Alice Halicka (Alicja Halicka, 1894-1975) was born in Poland, where she studies with the artist Józef Pankiewicz. In 1912 she moved to Paris and continued with her studies of art. A year later she married the artist Louis Marcoussis. Her works were exhibited in Europe,
London, New-York and other cities. Except for painting sho also designed textile, stage sets (among others she designed the sets for ballet shows in New York and London) and illustrated books. During World War II she lived in France and in 1946 her book of memoires of the war was published ("Hier, Souvenirs").
[4] leaves, 265 pp, [2] leaves, 19 cm. Good overall condition. Slight defects. Original cover, slightly damaged (with stains, tears and creases and with open tears to spine). Back cover is detached and front cover is partly detached. The book is housed in a fine case (new) with a gilt embossing.
Provenance:
1. Alice Halicka.
2. Mrs. Robert Ellisen (gifted by the above).
3. Christie's, London, June 19 2012, item 195.
Anthology of short stories about Jewish life, by Israel Zangwill. Along the book appear some 55 fine illustrations in watercolor (one in ink) by Alice Halicka. Some of the illustrations are painted on the whole page (blank pages of the book) and some are painted on the text pages.
A dedication to Mrs. Robert Ellisen, handwritten (in French) by Halicka, appears at the beginning of the book.
The artist Alice Halicka (Alicja Halicka, 1894-1975) was born in Poland, where she studies with the artist Józef Pankiewicz. In 1912 she moved to Paris and continued with her studies of art. A year later she married the artist Louis Marcoussis. Her works were exhibited in Europe,
London, New-York and other cities. Except for painting sho also designed textile, stage sets (among others she designed the sets for ballet shows in New York and London) and illustrated books. During World War II she lived in France and in 1946 her book of memoires of the war was published ("Hier, Souvenirs").
[4] leaves, 265 pp, [2] leaves, 19 cm. Good overall condition. Slight defects. Original cover, slightly damaged (with stains, tears and creases and with open tears to spine). Back cover is detached and front cover is partly detached. The book is housed in a fine case (new) with a gilt embossing.
Provenance:
1. Alice Halicka.
2. Mrs. Robert Ellisen (gifted by the above).
3. Christie's, London, June 19 2012, item 195.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $3,000
Sold for: $3,750
Including buyer's premium
Map of Palestine, showing the territories of the Tribes of Israel, by Georg Horn and Jan Jansson, after Christian Kruik van Adrichem ("Situs Terrae Promissionis"). Engravings printed on six sheets, attached to one another. [Amsterdam, 1658-1677].
A very large map of Palestine showing the territories of the Tribes of Israel. Along the map appear illustrations depicting biblical scenes. The four burning cities, Sodom, Gomorra, Seboim and Adama, are seen in the Dead Sea. Two small inset maps in the top corners depict the route followed by Abraham from Ur into Canaan and the route of the Israelites through the desert.
The map consists of six parts, attached to one another (no text on verso). The map was first published in 1652 in the atlas "Accuratissima orbis antique delineation".
See Laor 343-349.
Map (all parts together): 181X88.5 cm. Overall good condition. Tears at margins (tear of approx. 7 cm to lower margin), stains, creases and slight defects. Pasted at the corners to a plywood board (partly detached) and framed.
A very large map of Palestine showing the territories of the Tribes of Israel. Along the map appear illustrations depicting biblical scenes. The four burning cities, Sodom, Gomorra, Seboim and Adama, are seen in the Dead Sea. Two small inset maps in the top corners depict the route followed by Abraham from Ur into Canaan and the route of the Israelites through the desert.
The map consists of six parts, attached to one another (no text on verso). The map was first published in 1652 in the atlas "Accuratissima orbis antique delineation".
See Laor 343-349.
Map (all parts together): 181X88.5 cm. Overall good condition. Tears at margins (tear of approx. 7 cm to lower margin), stains, creases and slight defects. Pasted at the corners to a plywood board (partly detached) and framed.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $3,000
Sold for: $4,750
Including buyer's premium
Onomasticum veteris testamenti sive tractatus philologicus [Lexicon of the Old Testament with philological treatise], by Johann Simonis. Halle, 1741. Bound with: Onomasticum novi testament [Lexicon of the New Testament], by Johann Simonis. Halle, 1742. Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Ethiopian and Greek.
Engraved frontispiece - map of Palestine, with important Biblical sites, mountains, cities, and the division into the twelve tribes, captioned in Hebrew; decorated with grapevines and grapes symbolizing the fertility of the land; all within an ornate frame. Cartographer not mentioned.
One of the earliest and most important maps of Palestine captioned in Hebrew prior to the 19th century. The map was inspired by verses from the Book of Psalms referring to planting grapevines in the Land of Israel. The grapes symbolize the People of Israel, the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of the Land of Israel. On the grape leaves appear the names of kings, prophets and other outstanding biblical figures. The name "Israel" appears on the vine.
The map is oriented to the north and its northern borders are Lebanon and Mount Hermon. In the south, the map reaches the estate of the tribe of Yehuda, the town of Hebron and the Dead Sea. In the west, "the Great Sea" with several vessels, and in the east - Trans-Jordan. The River Jordan flows from Lebanon southward, through the Hula Lake ("May Marom"), the Sea of Galilee and into the Dead Sea. Towns are geographically located incorrectly, for example Beersheba is located north-west of Jerusalem.
The author of the book, Johann Simonis (1698-1768), was a professor of Theology and History of the Church at Halle University, a Hebraist, Orientalist and philologist.
Laor 730. Wajntraub - Hebrew Maps of the Holy Land, 1992, p. 67.
[8] leaves, 644, 188 pp; [3] leaves, 206, [6] pp, 21.5 cm. Good overall condition. Stains (including dampstains). Some of the pages are dark. Small tears to margins of a few pages. The map is also in good condition, with stains. Small tears to top margins of the map leaf (margins cut crookedly). The map is not centered on the page. Period binding, with leather spine and corners. Small tears and defects to binding. Bookplate on inner side of front binding.
For more information on the map, see essay by Eliyahu HaCohen, "'The Grapevine Map' - A Rare Hebrew Map from 1741" (enclosed; Hebrew).
Engraved frontispiece - map of Palestine, with important Biblical sites, mountains, cities, and the division into the twelve tribes, captioned in Hebrew; decorated with grapevines and grapes symbolizing the fertility of the land; all within an ornate frame. Cartographer not mentioned.
One of the earliest and most important maps of Palestine captioned in Hebrew prior to the 19th century. The map was inspired by verses from the Book of Psalms referring to planting grapevines in the Land of Israel. The grapes symbolize the People of Israel, the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of the Land of Israel. On the grape leaves appear the names of kings, prophets and other outstanding biblical figures. The name "Israel" appears on the vine.
The map is oriented to the north and its northern borders are Lebanon and Mount Hermon. In the south, the map reaches the estate of the tribe of Yehuda, the town of Hebron and the Dead Sea. In the west, "the Great Sea" with several vessels, and in the east - Trans-Jordan. The River Jordan flows from Lebanon southward, through the Hula Lake ("May Marom"), the Sea of Galilee and into the Dead Sea. Towns are geographically located incorrectly, for example Beersheba is located north-west of Jerusalem.
The author of the book, Johann Simonis (1698-1768), was a professor of Theology and History of the Church at Halle University, a Hebraist, Orientalist and philologist.
Laor 730. Wajntraub - Hebrew Maps of the Holy Land, 1992, p. 67.
[8] leaves, 644, 188 pp; [3] leaves, 206, [6] pp, 21.5 cm. Good overall condition. Stains (including dampstains). Some of the pages are dark. Small tears to margins of a few pages. The map is also in good condition, with stains. Small tears to top margins of the map leaf (margins cut crookedly). The map is not centered on the page. Period binding, with leather spine and corners. Small tears and defects to binding. Bookplate on inner side of front binding.
For more information on the map, see essay by Eliyahu HaCohen, "'The Grapevine Map' - A Rare Hebrew Map from 1741" (enclosed; Hebrew).
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $7,000
Unsold
Views in Egypt, Palestine, and other parts of the Ottoman Empire by Sir Robert Ainslie. Printed by Thomas Bensley for R. Bowyer, London, 1804. Three parts in one volume. English.
A book about the Ottoman Empire, accompanied by 96 hand-colored aquatints, after paintings by the artist Luigi (Ludwig) Mayer (1755-1803). The paintings were created by Mayer for the British diplomat and orientalist Robert Ainslie while Ainslie served as the ambassador of Britain in the Ottoman Empire.
The book is divided into three parts (separate title page for each part). The first part is dedicated to Egypt and includes 48 plates (prints depicting the pyramids, the sphinx, mosques and various sites in Egyptian towns as well as prints depicting local population). The second part is dedicated to Palestine and includes 24 plates, most of them depicting Jerusalem and the surroundings (view of Jerusalem from Mount of Olives, view of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Pools of Bethesda, Pool of Siloam, Tomb of Absalom, Valley of Josaphat, Bethlehem and more). The third part is dedicated to several additional sites in the Ottoman Empire, mainly around the city of Karaman in Turkey, and includes 24 plates. This part has two title pages, one in English and one in French, dated 1803. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Luigi Mayer appears in the first part.
Sir Robert Ainslie (ca. 1730-1812) was a British diplomat, numismatist, orientalist and art collector of Scottish origin, ambassador of Britain in the Ottoman Empire during the years 1776-1792. Luigi Mayer was commissioned by Ainslie to make paintings and drawings of the important sites in the Ottoman Empire, and many engravings and lithographs were printed after his works. The prints in this book were first published in three parts, in the years 1801-1803.
[4] leaves (title pages and a frontispiece engraving), 102, [2] pp + [48] plates; [1] leaf, 47, [1] pp + [24] plates; [2] leaves (English title page and French title page), 40 pp + [24] plates. 45 cm. Good overall condition. Stains. Creases to margins of some plates; an inscription on top of the title page of the first part. Fine binding, with blue leather spine and corners and gilt embossing. Gilt edges. Slight defects to binding.
A book about the Ottoman Empire, accompanied by 96 hand-colored aquatints, after paintings by the artist Luigi (Ludwig) Mayer (1755-1803). The paintings were created by Mayer for the British diplomat and orientalist Robert Ainslie while Ainslie served as the ambassador of Britain in the Ottoman Empire.
The book is divided into three parts (separate title page for each part). The first part is dedicated to Egypt and includes 48 plates (prints depicting the pyramids, the sphinx, mosques and various sites in Egyptian towns as well as prints depicting local population). The second part is dedicated to Palestine and includes 24 plates, most of them depicting Jerusalem and the surroundings (view of Jerusalem from Mount of Olives, view of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Pools of Bethesda, Pool of Siloam, Tomb of Absalom, Valley of Josaphat, Bethlehem and more). The third part is dedicated to several additional sites in the Ottoman Empire, mainly around the city of Karaman in Turkey, and includes 24 plates. This part has two title pages, one in English and one in French, dated 1803. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Luigi Mayer appears in the first part.
Sir Robert Ainslie (ca. 1730-1812) was a British diplomat, numismatist, orientalist and art collector of Scottish origin, ambassador of Britain in the Ottoman Empire during the years 1776-1792. Luigi Mayer was commissioned by Ainslie to make paintings and drawings of the important sites in the Ottoman Empire, and many engravings and lithographs were printed after his works. The prints in this book were first published in three parts, in the years 1801-1803.
[4] leaves (title pages and a frontispiece engraving), 102, [2] pp + [48] plates; [1] leaf, 47, [1] pp + [24] plates; [2] leaves (English title page and French title page), 40 pp + [24] plates. 45 cm. Good overall condition. Stains. Creases to margins of some plates; an inscription on top of the title page of the first part. Fine binding, with blue leather spine and corners and gilt embossing. Gilt edges. Slight defects to binding.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $14,000
Unsold
Sir David Wilkie's Sketches in Turkey, Syria & Egypt, 1840 & 1841. [London]: Messrs Graves and Warmsley, 1843. English.
A large format (folio) volume, with 25 large lithographs by Joseph Nash after sketches by David Wilkie. The lithographs depict figures that Wilkie met during his visit to the Middle East in the years 1840-1841. Among them - Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Abdülmecid I; Persian Prince Halakoo Mirza; inhabitants in various towns in the Ottoman Empire, among them Jews in Jerusalem (woman with a child, group of women reading the scriptures); figures near Ecce Homo arch; A Turkish courier announcing the occupation of Acre; and more. The lithographs are titled and signed in the plate; some are dated. Lithographed titled page followed by a leaf with a dedication from the publishers on one side and the list of plates on the other side.
The painter David Wilkie (1785-1841) was born in Scotland and studied art in London where he exhibited his works as of 1806. In 1811 Wilkie was elected an associate of the Royal Academy of Art, and in 1830 was appointed as painter to the King. Wilkie went on a journey to the Middle East in 1840, to make the acquaintance of the Holy Land and gather materials for Biblical-themed works. During his journey Wilkie painted the portrait of the Ottoman Sultan and other portraits. In 1841, while on his way back to London, he fell sick and died on board of a ship near the shores of Gibraltar.
[27] leaves (and blank leaves bound between the lithograph plates), 53 cm. Good-fair condition. Numerous stains. Several dark leaves. Creases. Tears at margins of some leaves. Original half leather binding, with gilt embossings. Tears and wear to binding (mainly to corners and spine).
A large format (folio) volume, with 25 large lithographs by Joseph Nash after sketches by David Wilkie. The lithographs depict figures that Wilkie met during his visit to the Middle East in the years 1840-1841. Among them - Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Abdülmecid I; Persian Prince Halakoo Mirza; inhabitants in various towns in the Ottoman Empire, among them Jews in Jerusalem (woman with a child, group of women reading the scriptures); figures near Ecce Homo arch; A Turkish courier announcing the occupation of Acre; and more. The lithographs are titled and signed in the plate; some are dated. Lithographed titled page followed by a leaf with a dedication from the publishers on one side and the list of plates on the other side.
The painter David Wilkie (1785-1841) was born in Scotland and studied art in London where he exhibited his works as of 1806. In 1811 Wilkie was elected an associate of the Royal Academy of Art, and in 1830 was appointed as painter to the King. Wilkie went on a journey to the Middle East in 1840, to make the acquaintance of the Holy Land and gather materials for Biblical-themed works. During his journey Wilkie painted the portrait of the Ottoman Sultan and other portraits. In 1841, while on his way back to London, he fell sick and died on board of a ship near the shores of Gibraltar.
[27] leaves (and blank leaves bound between the lithograph plates), 53 cm. Good-fair condition. Numerous stains. Several dark leaves. Creases. Tears at margins of some leaves. Original half leather binding, with gilt embossings. Tears and wear to binding (mainly to corners and spine).
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $3,000
Unsold
Souvenirs de Jerusalem. Album Dessiné par M. Le Contre-Amiral Pâris. Paris: Arthus Bertrand, [ca. 1862]. French.
"Souvenir from Jerusalem", elephant folio volume with fourteen large and impressive lithographs depicting holy sites in Jerusalem, after paintings by Vice Admiral François-Edmond Pâris (1806-1893); most lithographs are in color.
Most of the lithographs depict the interiors of mosques and churches (Dome of the Rock, El-Aqsa mosque, Church of Nativity Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and more). One lithograph depicts the city of Jerusalem viewed from the Mount of Olives. An additional lithograph on the title page depicts a plan of the interior of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The volume opens with four text pages with descriptions of the sites depicted in the lithographs.
[3] leaves, [14] lithograph plates, 62 cm. Fair condition. Significant foxing to most of the leaves. Darkened title page. Creases, worming and small tears at margins of leaves and plates (not affecting drawings). Contemporary binding, worn and restored, with new endpapers, reinforced with cloth strips. Gilt edges. The initials "J.P." are embossed on the back binding.
"Souvenir from Jerusalem", elephant folio volume with fourteen large and impressive lithographs depicting holy sites in Jerusalem, after paintings by Vice Admiral François-Edmond Pâris (1806-1893); most lithographs are in color.
Most of the lithographs depict the interiors of mosques and churches (Dome of the Rock, El-Aqsa mosque, Church of Nativity Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and more). One lithograph depicts the city of Jerusalem viewed from the Mount of Olives. An additional lithograph on the title page depicts a plan of the interior of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The volume opens with four text pages with descriptions of the sites depicted in the lithographs.
[3] leaves, [14] lithograph plates, 62 cm. Fair condition. Significant foxing to most of the leaves. Darkened title page. Creases, worming and small tears at margins of leaves and plates (not affecting drawings). Contemporary binding, worn and restored, with new endpapers, reinforced with cloth strips. Gilt edges. The initials "J.P." are embossed on the back binding.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $2,000
Unsold
Les Quatorze Stations de la Voie Douloureuse [14 Stations of the Via Dolorosa]. Paris: M. Doussault, 1855. French. Second edition.
Large (folio) format volume. Fourteen large lithographs depicting the fourteen stations of the "Via Dolorosa" in the Old City in Jerusalem, map of the route, and a text describing the various stations. The lithographs were created after paintings by the French artist Charles Doussault. Title page is printed in red ink.
[3] leaves (title page and two text pages), [15] plates, 52 cm. Good-fair condition. Significant foxing and slight defects. Several dark pages. Some leaves are partly detached. Original cloth-covered binding with gilt embossing. Gilt edges. Worn binding (large defect on front). Bookplate on the inner side of front binding.
Large (folio) format volume. Fourteen large lithographs depicting the fourteen stations of the "Via Dolorosa" in the Old City in Jerusalem, map of the route, and a text describing the various stations. The lithographs were created after paintings by the French artist Charles Doussault. Title page is printed in red ink.
[3] leaves (title page and two text pages), [15] plates, 52 cm. Good-fair condition. Significant foxing and slight defects. Several dark pages. Some leaves are partly detached. Original cloth-covered binding with gilt embossing. Gilt edges. Worn binding (large defect on front). Bookplate on the inner side of front binding.
Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
April 24, 2018
Opening: $2,500
Sold for: $5,750
Including buyer's premium
A large collection of stereoscopic photographs on glass, from Palestine and its vicinity and from Europe. [1920s-30s].
Among the photographs: · About 100 photographs from Palestine. Among them: numerous photographs from the Old City of Jerusalem and from the area of the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert (photographs of the Old City walls, streets and figures in Jerusalem, photographs of a tent camp, photograph from Ein Prat, and more), photographs from Tiberias and Migdal, and more. Some are titled and dated by hand, in Hebrew. · About 20 photographs from a trip to Damascus and other towns in the vicinity. · About 60 photographs from Italy (Venice and Florence), photographs from Czechoslovakia and Germany and photographs taken on the deck of a ship. · 90 family photographs and tens of photographs documenting a laboratory.
It seems that the collection belonged to a family who emmigrated from Germany to Palestine. Possibly, the head of the family was involved in scientific research in Palestine.
The photographs are placed in tin boxes. Some are titled by hand and dated (on the glass or on the boxes).
Total of about 330 photographs, some are not on glass and some are on colored glass. Fair overall condition (some in poor condition). Some photographs are stained and damaged (significant dampness damages).
An elaborate electric stereoscope made by "Stereoscope Magnetique Planox", France, [early 20th century].
51X24X30 cm. Fair-good condition. The device is in working order, but slightly defected and some metal parts are rusted.
Among the photographs: · About 100 photographs from Palestine. Among them: numerous photographs from the Old City of Jerusalem and from the area of the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert (photographs of the Old City walls, streets and figures in Jerusalem, photographs of a tent camp, photograph from Ein Prat, and more), photographs from Tiberias and Migdal, and more. Some are titled and dated by hand, in Hebrew. · About 20 photographs from a trip to Damascus and other towns in the vicinity. · About 60 photographs from Italy (Venice and Florence), photographs from Czechoslovakia and Germany and photographs taken on the deck of a ship. · 90 family photographs and tens of photographs documenting a laboratory.
It seems that the collection belonged to a family who emmigrated from Germany to Palestine. Possibly, the head of the family was involved in scientific research in Palestine.
The photographs are placed in tin boxes. Some are titled by hand and dated (on the glass or on the boxes).
Total of about 330 photographs, some are not on glass and some are on colored glass. Fair overall condition (some in poor condition). Some photographs are stained and damaged (significant dampness damages).
An elaborate electric stereoscope made by "Stereoscope Magnetique Planox", France, [early 20th century].
51X24X30 cm. Fair-good condition. The device is in working order, but slightly defected and some metal parts are rusted.