Auction 112 Rare Hebrew Books, from the Library of the late Dr. Michael D. Paul.
By Kestenbaum & Company
Jun 12, 2025
Brooklyn, NY, United States

Rare Hebrew Books,

Including Six Incunabula

From the Collection of the late 

Dr. Michael D. Paul of 

St. John’s, Newfoundland.

* With a Fine Isidor Kaufmann Portrait Painting.


Montreal born Dr. Michael David Paul (1954-2024) was a respected professor of medicine specializing in nephrology who devoted himself to the citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador for more than forty years.


Alongside his teaching and medical practice, Dr. Paul served as the long-time President of the small Jewish community of St. John’s. His many interests included travel, philanthropy, but especially book-collecting - alongside related study and research.


Of all the many clients I have been privileged to know in my forty year book career, Dr. Paul was among the most learned and certainly the most interesting.


May his soul receive its eternal reward and may his memory forever be blessed.


DEK

Spring, 2025.


* Most of the books offered here from Dr. Paul’s library, contain his small embossed stamp, generally affixed to the title-page.






More details
The auction has ended

LOT 4:

ABRABANEL, DON ISAAC.

Sold for: $10,000
Price including buyer’s premium and sales tax: $ 13,609.38
Start price:
$ 3,000
Estimate :
$5,000 - $7,000
Buyer's Premium: 25%
sales tax: 8.875% On the lot's price and buyer's premium
Auction took place on Jun 12, 2025 at Kestenbaum & Company
tags:

ABRABANEL, DON ISAAC.


Rosh Amanah [on the principles of faith].


FIRST EDITION. Initial text page with a poem by the Author’s eldest son, philosopher Judah Abrabanel (Leone Ebreo) enclosed by a metalcut, white-on-black historiated border of animals designed by the Marrano, Alfonso de Cordoba.

Extensive manuscript notations throughout in Latin and Hebrew in a 16th-century hand.


ff. (20). Stained, opening page trimmed and laid onto larger leaf. Modern gilt-tooled emerald crushed morocco. Sm. folio.

Vinograd, Constantinople 9; Mehlman 1189.


Constantinople, David & Samuel ibn Nahmias, 1505.


Rosh Amanah is Abrabanel’s most important work on philosophical-theological questions. The work is devoted to championing the Maimonidean Thirteen Articles of Faith against the attacks of Chasdai Crescas (Or Hashem) and Yoseph Albo (Sepher Ha’Ikarim).


The elaborate metal-cut border around the opening pages of this work was the first decorative border to be used in a Hebrew book.