Auction 101 Part 2 Chassidut and Kabbalah | Jerusalem Printings | Letters and Manuscripts | Objects
Keter Yosef Kabbalistic Siddur – Berlin, 1699-1700 – All Three Parts – Siddur, Tehillim and Maamadot
Opening: $300
Sold for: $2,500
Including buyer's premium
Keter Yosef, year-round siddur with kabbalistic commentaries and prayers, by "the great preacher" R. Yosef of Przemyśl (author of Ketonet Pasim and Tzafnat Paneach Chadash). Berlin: Daniel Ernst Jablonski, 1699-1700. Three parts – Keter Malchut, containing the siddur and piyyutim; Keter Torah, containing Tehillim; and Keter Kehunah, containing Maamadot.
This siddur was printed in two editions, conforming to the (eastern) Ashkenazic and Polish rites. The piyyutim constitute the primary difference between the two editions, not the actual text of the prayers. This copy conforms to the Ashkenazic rite.
This siddur is especially rare because most copies were buried after a heated debate due to Sabbatean allusions included in the kabbalistic commentary. The commentaries were considered suspect by R. Yaakov Emden and were confiscated by R. Yechezkel Katzenellenbogen; however, as confirmed by R. Yaakov Emden himself, the author, R. Yosef of Przemyśl, was blind, and was therefore unaware of the Sabbatean material introduced by the printers.
Volume containing all three parts. Lacking [2] leaves at the beginning (title page of Part I and approbations): 6-64, 61-96, 101-160, 165-167, 164-177 leaves; 51, [1], 55-66, 57-84, 83-86 leaves; Part II: [2], 3-91, 62-66, [1] leaves; Part III: [1], 2-57 leaves (does not contain leaves 58-76 of Part III, with Kinot for Tishah BeAv and favorable interpretation of a dream – which appear in some copies of this edition). 20.5 cm. Condition varies. Most leaves in good condition. Stains and wear. Many leaves detached and worn. Early wood and leather binding, worn, with tear to spine.
Handwritten leaf (in large square letters) with formula for a woman's tombstone in Germany, 1835.