Bidspirit auction | (ISRAEL, LAND OF). Horowitz, Chaim

(ISRAEL, LAND OF). Horowitz, Chaim ben Dov-Ber Halevi. Sepher Chibath Yerushalayim [descriptions of the Holy Sites of Eretz Israel]. Woodcut printer’s device on title depicts the holy sites including the Western Wall, Temple Mount and Mount of Olives. ff. (3), 63 (i.e. 60). Stained, stamps excised, opening leaf taped. Contemporary boards, rebacked. Sm. 4to. Vinograd, Jerusalem 29. Jerusalem, Israel Bak, 1844. The first book about the Holy Land printed in Jerusalem. Chibath Yerushalayim is a Jewish traveler’s guide to the Holy Land. The author describes the present state of each site along with all associated sources from both rabbinic literature as well as from earlier traveler reports. This is one of the first Hebrew books published in Jerusalem (the earliest being 1841) printed by Israel Bak on the new press sent to him from London by Sir Moses Montefiore, as referenced to on the title page.