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]. The first book about the Holy Land printed in Jerusalem. Woodcut printer’s device on title depicts the holy sites including the Western Wall, Temple Mount and Mount of Olives. With historic marginal note (see below). ff. (3), 60. Some staining. Contemporary half-calf marbled boards, scuffed, gutter split. Sm. 4to. Vinograd, Jerusalem 29; Halevi, Jerusalem 23 (illustrated) p. 15. Jerusalem, Israel Bak, 1844. 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 on the title page. On f. 40r, an important historical handwritten marginalium states: ”Today, the Jews of Holland and Germany residing in Jerusalem have a synagogue to call their own: 'Ahavath Zion' (founded 1852), wherein there is preserved the Aschkenazic rite of prayer…and upon his visit to Jerusalem, the philanthropist Samuel Rothschild donated 200 Francs to our synagogue.”