Bidspirit auction | (GERMANY). SCHUDT, JOHANN JAKOB.  Jüdischer

(GERMANY). SCHUDT, JOHANN JAKOB.  Jüdischer Merkwürdigkeiten [“Jewish Curiosities.”] FIRST EDITION. Four parts bound in two volumes. Text in German with numerous passages in Hebrew and Yiddish. Frontispiece portrait of the Author and ten further engraved plates  including the rare and deeply offensive “Juden-Sau” (missing in most other copies). Text illustrations. German marginalia in a neat contemporary hand. * Vol. I - Pt. I: pp. (24), 159, 180-582, (2). * Pt. II: pp. (8), 432, 383, (1). * Vol. II - Pt. III: pp. (8), 358, (1). * Pt. IV: pp. (32), 320; (2), 3-447, (1); (2), 3-192, (38); (2), 3-48, (2). Browned, trace wormed. Contemporary vellum, scuffed. Thick 4to. Frankfurt and Leipzig, Samuel Tobias Hocker, etc. 1714-18. Rare First Edition of collected Frankfurtiana. Despite the author’s prejudices, “Jewish Curiosities” is a valuable source of information on the Jews in Germany, introducing one of the most comprehensive studies on Judaism until then. Containing some 3,000 pages documenting the minute details of Jewish life, dress, language, prayers, holidays and customs. A native of Frankfurt, Johann Schudt (1664-1722), a German Orientalist, was inspired to write this chronicle following the mass fire in 1711 that caused great damage to the Frankfurt Ghetto. The work is particularly comprehensive in relation to Frankfurt Jewry in detailing local custom and way of life. The author also discusses the state of Jewry in other parts of Europe, as well as in Africa, Asia and the United States of America. Part III contains several distinctive Judeo-German texts including: Megillas Vinz (Das Vinz Hantz Lied) by Elchanan ben Abraham Helin, commemorating the delivery of Frankfurt Jewry from Vincent Fettmilch (pp. 9-35); the comedy “Achashverosh Spiel” (pp. 202-25); and the drama “Mechirath Yoseph” (“Die Verkauffung Josephs”) [“The Kidnapping of Joseph] (pp. 226-327). Also contained in Part III is the legislation pertaining to the Jews of Frankfurt: Der Juden zu Franckfurth Stättigkeit und Ordnung (pp. 119-98), complete with the pictures of the Jews’ hats (p. 127) and “Der Juden Zeichen” (the Jew Mark), the badge Jews were forced to wear on their clothing (p. 155).