Auction 94 Rare & Excellent Hebrew Printed Books: From the Library of Arthur A. Marx
Jun 17, 2021
The Brooklyn Navy Yard, 141 Flushing Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205, United States

Post-Auction Report: Sale 94, June 17, 2021


    Kestenbaum & Company was privileged to again offer an auction comprising of premier Hebrew printed books. As it comprised of an especially remarkable single-owner collection of Hebrew printed books, this sale garnered high levels of interest and activity from hundreds of participants and spectators.

 Interest was spread across all categories of the literary categories on offer.


    In Biblical works, the beloved First Edition commentary to the Pentateuch, Kli Yakar, brought in $6,000 (Lot 140), beating its initial estimate of $3,000-4,000. A Zhitomir edition of Psalms garnered $7,500 (Lot 460) and the Vilna Gaon’s commentary to Mishlei fetched $7,500 (Lot 119). Midrashic works fared just as well, with a First Edition Mechilta realizing $12,000 (Lot 349) and a Second Edition Sifra- Torath Kohanim accomplishing $5,500 against an estimate of $1,000-$1,500 (Lot 353).


    Medieval Pietistic compositions proved exceedingly popular in this sale. The First Edition of Rabbeinu Yonah’s Sha’arei Teshuvah was hammered in at $40,000 (Lot 168) while the First Edition of Sepher HaChassidim achieved $16,000, against its estimate of $4,000-6,000 (Lot 226). The First Edition of Orchoth Tzaddikim sold for $6,500 (Lot 386) and two copies of Chovoth HaLevavoth both sold for more than twice their estimates (Lot 42 and Lot 43) testifying to the notable interest in this field.


    Liturgical works also fared well. An immaculate Basle prayerbook dating to 1579 brought in $50,000 (Lot 261) and a miniature set of Festival Prayers printed in Jerusalem fetched $11,000 (Lot 306). Perhaps the most impressive lot in the sale, the First Edition incunable of Abudarham, printed in Lisbon, 1489, was hammered in at $90,000 (Lot 7). Finally, a Selichoth printed at Slavita garnered $9,500- nine times more than its original estimate of $1,000-1,500 (Lot 301).


    Competitive bidding was also seen for classic Halakhic texts. The Bomberg Edition of Alfasi’s Rif- Sepher Halachoth sold for $34,000 (Lot 14) while Maimonides’ Mishnah Torah, printed with Joseph Karo’s Keseph Mishnah for the first time, achieved $15,000 (Lot 373). The First Editions of Israel Isserlein’s Terumath Hadeshen and Pesakim U’Kethavim brought in $5,500 (Lot 213). The First Edition of Solomon Luria’s Yam Shel Shlomo to Bava Kama garnered $3,400 (Lot 328) and Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller’s Ma’adnei Yom-Tov fetched $3,600 (Lot 194).


    In Kabbalah, the First Edition of the Zohar accomplished $20,000- five times its initial estimate (Lot 414). Likewise, the First Edition of Moses Cordovero’s Tomer Devorah realized $12,000 (Lot 101) and the esoteric Megaleh Amukoth was hammered in at $9,500 (Lot 425).


    More broadly focused works of Jewish Philosophy saw the First Edition of Shnei Luchot Haberith achieve $10,000 (Lot 195). The entirety of the Maharal of Prague’s First Edition works were snatched up (Lots 317-324), while RaMBaN’s Torat Ha’Adam brought in $13,000 (Lot 374). Both major historiographical texts in this sale were also accounted for- Moses Zacuto’s Sepher Yuchasin was sold for $32,000 (Lot 474) and Joseph Cohen’s Divrei Hayamim garnered $20,000 (Lot 475).


    We look forward to our next sale of Fine Judaica, which will take place in late July 2021. For further information, or any other queries, please contact us at 212-366-1197 or Info@Kestenbaum.net.


More details
The auction has ended

LOT 306:

(LITURGY).
Sepher Mo’adei Hashem Ukeri’ei Mo’ed [prayers for three Festivals with Hagadah for Passover]. ...

Sold for: $11,000
Start price:
$ 8,000
Estimated price:
$8,000 - $10,000
Buyer's Premium: 25%
sales tax: 8.875% On lot's price, no sales tax on commission
tags:

(LITURGY).
Sepher Mo’adei Hashem Ukeri’ei Mo’ed [prayers for three Festivals with Hagadah for Passover]. According to Sephardic rite.



Two volumes. Both with large woodcut vignettes of Jerusalem on titles. Vol. I with additional letterpress title. Contains the Haskamoth (approbations) of the Rishon LeTzion, Hayim Abraham Gaguine and the Chief Rabbi of Damascus, R. Jacob Antebi. A mint set.
ff. 185; 179. Original calf-backed boards, gilt Hebrew titles on spine. Handsome custom solander box. Lg. 4to. Vinograd, Jerusalem 22, 33; Halevy 19, 20.
Jerusalem: Israel Bak 1843


The first Machzor printed in Jerusalem. This two-volume first edition in Unusually fine condition, with wide margins. For nearly two millennia, Jews around the world could only dream to one day make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for one of the three Regel festivals: Pesach, Shavu’oth and Sukoth. The present work nods towards how the Jewish position in the Land of Israel was shifting, increasingly becoming more firmly established and materially productive. With a lengthy introduction by R. Ya’akov Antebi recounting his involvement in the Damascus Blood Libel Affair of 1840. Includes a special prayer for Queen Victoria, with English translation, likely in thanks for her Government’s positive involvement in the affair. The title proclaims the book was executed upon the printing-press of Moses and Judith. Sir Moses and his wife Lady Judith Montefiore of Ramsgate, England donated the press and so established a publishing industry in Eretz Israel. On ff. 51b. and 52a of Vol. I and f. 42b of Vol. II the blessing and prayer for the Monarch is dedicated in Hebrew and English to: “Our most Gracious Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria; Adelaide, the Queen Dowager; Albert Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family.” This variant issue of the Machzor, with the English prayer is exceptionally rare, apparently Bak produced only a small handful of such copies for the personal use of Sir Moses Montefiore and his entourage. Most other copies contain the blessing for the Turkish Sultan. See Halevi, no. 20, p. 12.