Bidspirit auctions | Kestenbaum & Company Auction Apr 4, 2024

Kestenbaum & Company, Apr 4, 2024. 116 lots, estimates 60 - 70000 $.

Kestenbaum & Company -

The auction commences with a first edition of the Segulah-book "Raziel HaMalach" (Lot 1); followed by books that were owned by significant rabbis: 

R. Shlomo Ganzfried (Lot 5); The Aruch Hashulchan (Lot 6); R. Meir Shapira of Lublin (Lot 68). 

The most valuable lot offered is a Sefer that was personally owned by, and has a long personal inscription in the hand of, R. Chaim Volozhiner (Lot 4).

The auction contains many excellent offerings of Autograph Letters including:

The first Rebbe of Sadigura, R. Avraham Ya'akov (Lot 13); The Chofetz Chaim (Lots 17-20); The Ohr Same’ach (Lot 41); The Kesav Sofer (Lot 58); Reb Chaim Brisker (Lot 59); The Lubavitcher Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka and her sister (Lots 50-51); and dozens more of such letters.

Autograph manuscripts of note are those from R. Menachem Mendel of Shklov (Lot 9A); The Tiferes Yisroel (Lot 40); and a 14th-century Ramba'n manuscript (Lot 9).

As per annual tradition, this pre-Pesach auction features a wide selection of Passover Hagadot:

The rare, the exotic and the curious; with examples from 1545 through until 2008.

Among particularly Early examples: Lot 87 (Venice, 1545); Lot 88 (Riva di Trento, 1561) and Lot 95 (Salonika, 1569).

Beautifully illustrated Hagadoth include: Lot 93 (Venice, 1740); Lot 85 (India, 1874) and Lot 115 (The Avner Moriah Hagadah).

Historically significant Hagadoth include Lot 72 (American/Canadian/Anglo-related) and many examples from Germany, India, Jerusalem; as well as first edition Hagadah commentaries by the Vilna Gaon (Lot 96), R. Ya'akov Emden (Lot 78); and ending with several facsimile editions. 

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Lots in this catalog (116)

• Lot 1: (KABBALAH) . Raziel HaMalach. FIRST EDITION. [A celebrated cornucopia of mystical texts and magical recipes]. — $8,000 - $12,000
• Lot 2: YEHUDAH HALEVI. Sepher HaKuzari [philosophy]. Translated from Arabic into Hebrew by Yehudah ibn Tibbon. — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 3: VOLOZHINER, CHAIM. Nephesh HaChaim. FIRST EDITION. With an introduction by Rabbi Chaim’s son and successor, R. — $3,000 - $5,000
• Lot 4: VOLOZHINER, CHAIM. — $70,000 - $90,000
• Lot 5: GANZFRIED, SHLOMO. (Author of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 1804-86). — $2,000 - $3,000
• Lot 6: EPSTEIN, YECHIEL MICHEL. Aruch HaShulchan: Inscribed and signed by the Author. Aruch HaShulchan [on Choshen Mishpat, — $3,000 - $5,000
• Lot 7: MALBIM, MEIR LEIBUSH. Sepher Ikrei Dinim by R. Daniel Tirani. Sudilkov, 1835. Opening two leaves only. — $2,000 - $3,000
• Lot 8: SALANT, SHMUEL. His personal copy of: Derech HaMelech [sermons, — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 9: MOSHE BEN NACHMAN (NACHMANIDES / (RAMBA’N). Peirush al HaTorah. Manuscript in Hebrew. Spain, c. 1400. — $6,000 - $9,000
• Lot 9A: MENACHEM MENDEL OF SHKLOV. — $4,000 - $6,000
• Lot 10: ABRAMSKY, YECHEZKEL (“Reb Chatzkel, ” Rabbi in Slutzk, Av Beth Din in London, Rosh Yeshiva in Bnei Braq, 1886-1976). — $300 - $500
• Lot 11: ALTER, AVRAHAM MORDECHAI (The “Imrei Emes” Grand Rabbi of Gur, 1866-1948). Autograph Letter Signed, in Hebrew. — $5,000 - $7,000
• Lot 12: AUERBACH, SHLOMO ZALMAN. (Posek and Rosh Yeshivah of Kol Torah, 1910-95). — $300 - $500
• Lot 13: AVRAHAM YA’AKOV OF SADIGURA. The First Sadigura Rebbe, (1820-83). Letter Signed, written in Hebrew on behalf of R. — $12,000 - $18,000
• Lot 14: BENGIS, ZELIG REUVEN. (Head of Eidah HaChareidis and author Leflagos Reuven, 1864-1953). Typed Letter Signed, — $300 - $500
• Lot 15: BERLIN, CHAIM. (Of Volozhin, 1832-1913). Autograph Letter Signed, — $500 - $700
• Lot 16: BLOCH, YOSEF YEHUDA LEIB. (Rosh Yeshiva in Telshe (Telšiai, Lithuania), 1860-1930). — $400 - $600
• Lot 17: CHOFETZ CHAIM. (R. Yisroel Meir Kagan). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to R. David Potash, — $25,000 - $30,000
• Lot 18: CHOFETZ CHAIM. (R. Yisroel Meir Kagan). — $10,000 - $15,000
• Lot 19: (CHOFETZ CHAIM). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew by Menachem Mendel Zaks, — $3,000 - $5,000
• Lot 20: (CHOFETZ CHAIM). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew by R. Eliezer Zev Kaplan grandson of the Chofetz Chaim, — $300 - $500
• Lot 21: ELYASHIV, YOSEF (Posek HaDor, 1910-2012). Autograph Letter Signed, — $400 - $600
• Lot 22: EPSTEIN, BARUCH HALEVI. (Author of Torah Temimah, 1860-1941). Autograph Letter Signed, in Hebrew, — $4,000 - $5,000
• Lot 23: EPSTEIN, YECHIEL MICHEL (Author of the Aruch Hashulchan, 1829-1908). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 24: FEINSTEIN, MOSHE (Pre-eminent American Posek and President of the Agudath HaRabbanim, 1895-1985). — $700 - $1,000
• Lot 25: FINKEL, ELIEZER YEHUDAH (Rosh Yeshiva Mir, 1879-1965). Typed Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead. — $500 - $700
• Lot 26: GIFTER, MORDECHAI (Rosh Yeshiva Telz, Cleveland, 1915-2001). — $300 - $500
• Lot 27: GRODNENSKY, ELIYAHU ELIEZER (Chief Posek of Vilna, 1831-87). Manuscript Document Signed. “Shtar Shelishut." — $2,000 - $3,000
• Lot 28: HERZOG, YITZCHAK (ISAAC) HALEVI. (Chief Rabbi of Israel, 1888-1959). Autograph Letter Signed, — $500 - $700
• Lot 29: JOFEN (YOFFEN), AVRAHAM (1887-1970). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped written in Hebrew on letterhead. — $300 - $500
• Lot 30: KAHANEMAN, YOSEF SHLOMO (The Ponevitcher Rav, 1886–1969). — $500 - $700
• Lot 31: KAMAI, ELIYAHU BARUCH (Av Beth Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, 1840-1917). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 32: KAMENETSKY, YA’AKOV (Rosh Yeshiva Mesivta Torah Voda’ath, Brooklyn, 1891-1986). — $300 - $500
• Lot 33: KANIEVSKY, YA’AKOV YISRAEL (The Steipler Gaon, 1899-1985). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, written in Hebrew. — $500 - $700
• Lot 34: KANIEVSKY, CHAIM. Autograph Letter written to Rabbi Pinchas Barzel of Kollel Nachalat Raphael, Bnei Brak. — $500 - $700
• Lot 35: KANIEVSKY, CHAIM. Autograph Letter written to Rabbi Pinchas Barzel of Kollel Nachalat Raphael, Bnei Brak. — $500 - $700
• Lot 36: KOOK, AVRAHAM YITZCHAK HAKOHEN (First Aschkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, 1865-1935). — $500 - $700
• Lot 37: KOSSOWSKY, YITZCHOK (1877-1951). Typed Letter Signed written in Hebrew on letterhead to Rabbi Menahem Papo. — $200 - $400
• Lot 38: L EFKOWITZ, MICHEL YEHUDAH (Rosh Yeshiva Ponovezh Letze’irim, 1913-2011). — $300 - $500
• Lot 39: LEIBOWITZ, BARUCH BER (Rosh Yeshiva of Kamenitz, 1864-1939). Typed Letter Signed and stamped, — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 40: LIPSCHUETZ, YISRAEL (“The Tiferes Yisrael, ” 1782-1860). Autograph Manuscript. — $6,000 - $8,000
• Lot 41: MEIR SIMCHAH HAKOHEN OF DVINSK (The Ohr Same’ach, 1843-1926). Autograph Postcard Signed, written in Hebrew to R. — $12,000 - $16,000
• Lot 42: MELTZER, ISSER ZALMAN (Rosh Yeshivah Etz Chaim, Jerusalem, 1870-1953). — $700 - $900
• Lot 43: MONTEFIORE, SIR MOSES (English philanthropist, 1784-1885). Lithographed Letter Signed, — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 44: OVADIA YOSEF (Sephardic sage and Chief Rabbi of Israel, 1920-2013). — $300 - $500
• Lot 45: RABINOWITZ, YITZCHOK YA’AKOV. (“Reb Itzele Ponevicher, ” 1854–1919). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew. — $2,500 - $3,500
• Lot 46: REINES, YITZCHAK YA’AKOV (Rabbi of Lida, founder of the Religious-Zionist Mizrachi Movement, 1839-1915). — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 47: ROSEN, YOSEPH (The Rogatchover Gaon, 1858-1936). Lengthy Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew. Detailed, — $4,000 - $5,000
• Lot 48: ROSEN, YOSEPH (The Rogatchover Gaon, 1858-1936). Autograph Postcard Signed, — $3,000 - $5,000
• Lot 49: RUCH, YEHOSHUA ZELIG (Rosh Yeshiva Lomza, 1879-1941). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew on letterhead to R. — $500 - $700
• Lot 50: SCHNEERSON, MOUSSIA (CHAYA-MUSHKA) (Rebbetzin / Wife of the seventh Grand Rabbi of Lubavitch, R. — $3,000 - $6,000
• Lot 51: SCHNEERSON, MOUSSIA (CHAYA-MUSHKA) (Rebbetzin / Wife of the seventh Grand Rabbi of Lubavitch, R. — $2,000 - $4,000
• Lot 52: SCHWADRON, SHALOM MORDECHAI HAKOHEN (The Maharsham, 1835-1911). Autograph Letter Signed. — $4,000 - $5,000
• Lot 53: SHAPIRA, AVRAHAM DOVBER KAHANE (Chief Rabbi of Kovno, 1873–1943). Autograph Letter Signed, — $500 - $700
• Lot 54: SHAPIRO, MEIR (Founder of Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva and the Daf HaYomi System, 1887-1937). — $1,500 - $2,000
• Lot 55: SHE’ER, YITZCHAK IZAK (Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, 1875-1952). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, — $300 - $500
• Lot 56: SHMULEVITZ, CHAIM (Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir, 1902-79). Autograph Letter Signed written on letterhead to R. — $800 - $1,000
• Lot 57: SILVER, ELIEZER. (President of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, 1882-1968). — $500 - $700
• Lot 58: SOFER , AVRAHAM SHMUEL BENYAMIN WOLF. (The Kesav Sofer, 1815-71). Manuscript Document Signed, — $10,000 - $12,000
• Lot 59: SOLOVEITCHIK, CHAIM HALEVI (“R. Chaim Brisker, ” 1853-1918). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, — $12,000 - $18,000
• Lot 60: SONNENFELD, YOSEPH CHAIM (Head of the Eidah HaChareidith of Jerusalem, 1848-1932). — $300 - $500
• Lot 61: SPEKTOR, YITZCHAK ELCHANON (Rabbi of Kovno, 1817-96). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to Rabbi Dr. — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 62: UNTERMAN, ISSER YEHUDAH (Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, 1886-1976). Autograph Letter Signed (and addressed), — $500 - $700
• Lot 63: UZIEL, BEN-ZION MEIR HAI (Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Mandatory Palestine, 1880-1953). — $300 - $500
• Lot 64: WASSERMAN, ELCHANAN. (Rosh Yeshiva of Baranovitch, 1875-1941). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, — $2,000 - $2,500
• Lot 65: WILOWSKY, YA’AKOV DOVID. (Ridva’z, 1845-1913). Autograph Letter Signed written in Hebrew. — $1,500 - $2,000
• Lot 66: WOSNER, SHMUEL. (“The Shevet HaLevi, ” 1913-2015). Autograph Letter Signed, — $400 - $600
• Lot 67: YOSEPH, YA’AKOV . (Chief Rabbi of New York, 1840-1902). Autograph Manuscript Signed, written in Hebrew and German. — $3,000 - $5,000
• Lot 68: (SHAPIRO, MEIR). Devar Eliyahu [responsa] by R. Eliyahu Lerman of Pilev. The personal copy of R. — $2,000 - $3,000
• Lot 69: (AMSTERDAM, 1695). Chaluka DeRabbanan. With commentaries: Shnei Luhoth HaBerith by R. — $800 - $1,200
• Lot 70: (AMSTERDAM, 1764). Agudoth Mordechai. With commentary by Mordechai ben Yoseph Juzpa Hanau of Hamburg. — $400 - $600
• Lot 71: (AMSTERDAM, 1946). — $400 - $600
• Lot 72: (ANGLO / AMERICA / CANADA). Hagadah shel Pesach. Service for the Two First Nights of Passover. — $6,000 - $9,000
• Lot 73: (ARGENTINA). Hagada - Manual de Pesaj. — $100 - $200
• Lot 74: (BELGIUM). Pessah. Officiers et Soldats de Culte Israelite des Forces Armees Belges. Text in French. — $300 - $500
• Lot 75: (CHABAD). Hagadah shel Pesach. According to Minhag Chabad. With supplement relating to the Rebbe’s 70th birthday, — $60 - $90
• Lot 76: (CHASAM SOFER). Hagadah shel Pesach - Die Pessach-Haggadah. — $800 - $1,200
• Lot 77: (CHILDREN’S HAGADAH). Seder Hagadah shel Pesach. Twenty illustrated woodcuts. Instructions in Judeo-German. — $2,000 - $3,000
• Lot 78: EMDEN, YA’AKOV. Derush Pesach Gadol [Passover sermon]. FIRST EDITION. ff. 18. Lightly foxed. — $3,000 - $5,000
• Lot 79: (GERMANY, 1710). Sepher Mateh Aharon. With commentary by Aharon Darshan Te’omim. — $600 - $900
• Lot 80: (GERMANY, 1755). Hagadah Seder shel Pesach. With commentaries by Isaac Abrabanel. — $600 - $900
• Lot 81: (GERMANY, 1765). Hagadah Seder shel Pesach. Commentary by Isaac Abrabanel. — $500 - $700
• Lot 82: (GERMANY, 1840). Hagada auf Pessach. With commentary “Atereth Tzvi” by R. Samson Raphael Hirsch; and R. — $600 - $900
• Lot 83: (INDIA, 1841). Pesach Me’ubin. According to the custom of the Jews of Baghdad. — $2,000 - $3,000
• Lot 84: (INDIA, 1846). Seder Hagadah. Prepared by Haim Joseph Hallegua of Cochin. Hebrew and Marathi on facing pages. — $4,000 - $6,000
• Lot 85: (INDIA, 1874). Hagadah shel Pesach - The Institution of Passover. — $4,000 - $6,000
• Lot 86: (INDIA, 1935). Hagadah shel Pesach. Service for the First Two Nights of Passover. — $100 - $150
• Lot 87: (ITALY, 1545). Sepher Zevach Pesach. With commentary by Isaac Abrabanel. Printer’s device on title. — $4,000 - $6,000
• Lot 88: (ITALY, 1561). Zevach Pesach, With commentary by Isaac Abrabanel and notes of the printer, Jacob Marcaria. — $6,000 - $8,000
• Lot 89: (ITALY, 1603). Seder Hagadah shel Pesach. With commentary by R. Joseph of Padua. — $1,000 - $2,000
• Lot 90: (ITALY, 1716). Seder Hagadah shel Pesach. According to Roman rite. Hebrew with translation into Judeo-Italian. — $2,000 - $3,000
• Lot 91: (JERUSALEM, 1843). Chukath HaPesach. Prefaced by “Ke’arath Keseph, ” a lengthy panegyric by R. — $4,000 - $6,000
• Lot 92: (JERUSALEM, 1863). Hagadah shel Pesach. With commentary by the Vilna Gaon ; — $500 - $700
• Lot 93: (LADINO). Seder Hagadah shel Pesach. According to Spanish rite. Hebrew with translation into Judeo-Spanish (Ladino). — $4,000 - $6,000
• Lot 94: (LADINO). Seder Hagadah shel Pesach. With translation into Ladino. Woodcut illustrations in red. pp. 84. — $100 - $150
• Lot 95: (SALONIKA, 1569). Chukath HaPesach. Instructions in Judeo-Español. Ya'avetz’s printer florets on title. — $12,000 - $15,000
• Lot 96: (VILNA GAON). Seder Hagadah shel Pesach. First edition. With commentary, laws and elucidation by Elijah, — $4,000 - $5,000
• Lot 97: (NEW YORK). Otzar Pirushim VeTziyurim el Hagadah shel Pesach. Edited by Yehuda Dovid Eisenstein. — $120 - $180
• Lot 98: (NEW ZEALAND). Hagadah shel Pesach (non-traditional). Typed, hand-drawn illustrations, all lithographed. — $300 - $500
• Lot 99: (PARIS). La Haggada ou Cérémonies Religieuses des Israélites. — $200 - $300
• Lot 100: (ROMANIA). Hagadah shel Pesach. Hebrew text with full translation into Rumanian. Illustrated. pp. 64. — $100 - $200
• Lot 101: (SOVIET JEWRY). Hagadah - агада Песах. Hebrew and Russian on facing pages. — $100 - $150
• Lot 102: (WORLD WAR II). Camp Upton, New York. “Passover Feast.” Single printed page folded into four; — $100 - $200
• Lot 103: (WORLD WAR II). Passover Seder Menu. Presided over by Chaplain Samuel Blinder. Printed card folded into four; — $100 - $200
• Lot 104: (YEMEN). Manuscript. Seder Ha’asiyah BeLeilei Pesach [“The Order of Seder Actions on the Passover Evenings. — $400 - $600
• Lot 105: (MANUSCRIPT). Zecher LeYetziath Mitzrayim. — $4,000 - $6,000
• Lot 106: (MINIATURE). Hagadah shel Pesach. With commentary “Birchath HaShir” by R. Aryeh Leib Zuenz. — $1,200 - $1,800
• Lot 107: (PARODY). Sharkanski, Avrom-Mechel. Di Niye Amerikanische Hagodah. First edition. Yiddish text. New York, — $300 - $500
• Lot 108: (ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT FACSIMILE). Die Darmstadter Pessach-Haggadah…aus dem Vierzehnten Jahrhundert. — $400 - $600
• Lot 109: (ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT FACSIMILE). The Golden Haggadah. One of 500 numbered copies. — $600 - $900
• Lot 110: (ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT FACSIMILE). The Washington Haggadah. One of 550 numbered copies. Facsimile edition. — $700 - $1,000
• Lot 111: (ILLUSTRATED FACSIMILE). The Prague (1527) Hagadah. Facsimile edition. — $1,000 - $1,500
• Lot 112: (ILLUSTRATED FACSIMILE). The Venice 1629 Hagadah. Facsimile edition. — $600 - $900
• Lot 113: (ILLUSTRATED FACSIMILE). The Amsterdam 1712 Hagadah. Facsimile edition. — $600 - $900
• Lot 114: (ART). The David Moss Hagadah: Deluxe Artist’s Edition. Two volumes. — $300 - $500
• Lot 115: (ART). The Avner Moriah Hagadah. “With resplendent colors and images from Egyptian and Assyrian wall paintings, — $3,000 - $5,000