Bidspirit auction | BODENSCHATZ, JOHANN CHRISTOPH GEORG. Kirchliche

BODENSCHATZ, JOHANN CHRISTOPH GEORG. Kirchliche Verfassung der heutigen Juden sonderlich derer in Deutschland [“The Religious Condition of Contemporary Jews, Especially those in Germany.”] First Edition. Four parts bound in one volume. German text interspersed with much use of Hebrew. 29 engraved plates of contemporary German-Jewish custom and life-style. ff. 622. Occasional light browning. Contemporary boards, rebacked. 4to. Frankfurt, etc Widow of Joh. Fried. Beckers, 1748-49. Provenance: Christie’s New York, Hebrew Printed Books: Duplicates from the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 22nd May 1986, Lot 71. Johann Bodenschatz (1717-97) made the sociological study of Judaism his academic specialty, producing this truly monumental work which did much to secure for Judaism a more favorable consideration in German-speaking lands.  The work is rightly famed due to the many expressive engravings from which much can be learnt of contemporary Jewish lifestyle.