Book of Esther, in scroll format, with illustrations by Otto (Nathan) Geismar. Tel-Aviv: Löwenstein, 1936.
Otto (Nathan) Geismar (1873-1957) was an art teacher at the Jewish Community School in Berlin during the years 1904-1936. In 1930, he spent a few months in Palestine on scholarship from the Berlin congregation. In 1939 he and his wife immigrated to Brazil and after WW II they moved to England. Geismar designed and illustrated this Book of Esther during his time in Berlin. His unique drawing style – utilizing Jugendstil minimalism with its very simple, strong lines to draw characters by means of their bodily contours – is characterized also by its bold typography, freedom of treatment of traditional themes, and humor.
The name of the scribe Sofer Weisberg is noted at the end of the megillah. 21 cm scroll, placed inside its original illustrated cardboard tube (22.5 cm), both in near fine condition (rarely seen in this state of preservation).