Essential Reference Books in and on Yiddish.

    A list of particularly important works in Yiddish. With the exception of Stutchkoff's Yiddish Rhyming Lexicon these are all essential books for serious scholarly libraries. For the linguist there are many very important items. As the Gemara often says, "Learn from this."

Aronson (Chil Aron), Chil. Bilder un Geshtaltn fun Monparnas/ Scenes et Visages de Montparnasse. Paris, 1963. Folio, green cloth, xxiv, 672 pp., 314 b/w illustrations of paintings and sculptures.  Very Good. In Yiddish with a French language table of contents and list of plates at the rear. Includes sections on Montparnasse life, Parisian Cafes, the Jewish writers of Montparnasse but is predominently comprised of the plates and short essays on the artists who are Naoum Aronson, Jules Pascin, Amadeo Modigliani, Chaim Soutine, Marc Chagall, Maurice Utrillo, Pable Picasso, George Kars, Leopold Gottlieb, Otto Freundlich, J.B. Ryback, Moise Kagan, Lasar Segall, George Merkell, Louis Marcoussis, Moise Kisling, Eugene Zak, Abraham Mintchin, Henri Glicenstein, Zygmunt Menkes, Leon Weissberg, Maurice Mendjizki, Chana Orloff, Jacques Lipchitz, Efraim Mandelbaum, Adolphe Feder, Henri Epstein, Jacques Shapiro, Mane-Katz, Pinkhas Kremegne, Adolphe Milich, Michel Kkoine, Simon Segal, Joachim Weingart, Roman Kramsztyk, Yankel Adler, Ezechiel Kirschenbaum, Jacques Loutchansky, Alfred Aberdam, Adlen, Zarfin, Leon Indenbaum, Constant, Maurice Blond, Georges Goldkorn, Leopold Kretz, Isaac Doubrynski, Fiszel Zylberberg-Zber, Isaac Pailes, Joseph Hecht, Marc Sterling Abraham Rosenbaum, Maryan, Aron Haber-Beron, Jacob Macznik, Samuel Schvede, Simon Mondzian, M. Bagel, Erna Dem, Gabriel Zendel, Joseph Pressmane, Atlan, Benn, Jacob Markiel, Robert Pikelny, Lazare Volovick, Isaac Antcher, Aria Merzer, Yankel, Zygmunt Schreter, Gleb, Arthur Kolnik, Ossipe Zadkine, Felicia Pacanowska, Nathan Rapoport, Ester Carp, Marek Halter, David Garfinkiel, Moli Chwat, Marie Chabchay. Preface by Marc Chagall. There is no more important publication on the Jewish artists of Paris and the French Avant Garde.  (11105)      $300.00

Harkavy, Alexander. Yiddish-English-Hebrew Dictionary/ Yidish-English-Hebrayish Verterbukh. New York, Schocken/ YIVO, 1988. A Reprint of the Expanded Second Edition. ISBN: 0-8052-4027-6. Octavo, blue cloth with gold lettering, frontispiece photo, xlvi, 583 pp. Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish, Hebrew and English. With a New Introduction by Dovid Katz (32115)      $20.00 

Kagan, Berl. Sefer Ha-prenumerantn/ Hebrew Subscription Lists: With an Index to 8,767 Jewish Communities in Europe and North Africa. New York, The Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary in America and Ktav Publishing House, Inc., 1975. Quarto, blue cloth, xx, 384, xii pp., index of the books, index of the subscribers names. Hardbound. Very Good. Introduction in English at the rear. In Hebrew. "It was the custom among writers of the past few hundred years, especially among writers on rabbinic subjects, to obtain assistance in publishing work by soliciting advance funds from potential customers. ... The common procedure was for the author to approach the rabbi of the city in which he found himself, and where he expected to find subscribers for his work, and show him the manuscript. If the author had already received written letters of approval for his manuscript from other rabbis, or if the rabbi himself perceived that the work was in the spirit of Jewish tradition and worthy of appearing in print, he would appoint one or two upstanding Jews to accompany the author as he collected subscriptions for his as yet unpublished volume. An enlightened author, of course, went to a Haskalah Jew in town, who led him, in turn, to other Haskalah Jews." from the author's English language introduction. In other words, this is the map to Jewish intellectual associations in the 18th and 19th centuries.    (12013)      $95.00 

Kingman, Gordon and Rontch, Isaac E., edited by. Di Yidishe Landsmanshaften fun Nyu York/ The Jewish Landsmanschaften of New York. Tsugegreyt durkh der Yidisher Shreyber-Grupe oyf'n Federalen Shreyber Proyekt Works Progress Administration in the City of New York. New York, I.L. Perets Shreyber Fareyn,1938. Quarto, grey cloth with black lettering, inner hinges weakened, 400 pp., b/w photos, Roster of Landsmanschaft Organizations, index, English directory. Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish (21908)  The basic reference on Landsmanshaften.    $175.00

Korman, E. Yidishe Dikhterins: Antologye. Chicago, Farlag L.M. Stein, 1928. Royal Octavo, edgeworn blue cloth with gold lettering, soiled front pastedown endpaper, lxxxii, 390 pp., tipped-in b/w photos of books and manuscripts and small tipped-in portraits and drawings of the poets, b/w chapter head and tail devices by Todros Geller, notes, index. Hardbound. Good. In Yiddish. OCLC Number: 16074308. A fine collection of selected, poems by Yiddish women poets from Roizl Fishl in the 1500s on into the 1920s. Includes Anna Blokh, Roza Gutman, Ida Glazer-Andrus, Celia Dropkin, Leah K. Hofman, Pesi Hershfeld, Rashel Veprinski, Roza Yakubovitsh, Yudika, Malka Lee, Kadia Molodowsky, Bertha Kling, Zelde Knizshnik, Anna Rapport, Sore Reyzen, Miriam Ulinover. OCLC Number: 16074308. (60157)      $75.00 

Mark, Yudel & Joffe, Judah, edited by. Groyser Verterbukh fun der Yidisher Shprakh/ Great Dictionary of the Yiddish Language. In Four Volumes. Incomplete, but all published. New York, Yiddish Dictionary Committee, Inc., 1961, 66, 71, 80. Quartos, red cloth with gold lettering, light soiling, xxxii, 508 + xxxii, 509-1096 + xxiv, 1097-1708 + xxiix, 1709-2333, vii pp.  Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish. This massive work reached only the conclusion of Aleph, but because of the significance of that letter yielded 80,000 entries, one third of the entire Yiddish vocabulary. The work was planned to go thirteen volumes, but the deaths of Joffe and then Mark as well as many of their over 300 correspondent brought the work to a half. Perhaps someone will come along and work with whatever notes remain for the rest of the Yiddish vocabulary. Until then we will have to make do with this great achievement as is.  (13542)      $200.00

Niger, S., edited by. Der Pinkas: Yohrbukh far der Geshikhte fun der Yudisher Literatur un Shprakh far Folklor, Kritik un Bibliografye. Ershte Yorhgang. Filologishe Shriftn. Vilna, Vilner Farlag fun B. A. Kletskin, 1923. Quarto, black cloth with gold lettering, faded lettering on panels on the spine, 410 columns two to the page, 72 columns, index. Yellowed paper. Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish. Includes as a separate section at the rear "Di Biblioteyk funm Yidishn Filalog/ Firhundert Yor Yidishe Shprakhforshung," by Ber Borokhov. (33585)      $125.00

Rejzen, Zalman [Reisen, Zalman]. Leksikon fun der Yidisher literatur, prese un filologye: Ingantsn Ibergeorbete Farmerte un Farfulshtendikte Oysgabe.  In Four Volumes. Vilna, Vilner Farlag fun B. Kletskin, 1928, 1927, 1929, 1929. Volume One: Drite Farbeserte Oyflage. Others first printings. Quartos, half red cloth with gold lettering and blind-stamped designs over green cloth covered boards with lettering outlined in gold, x, 1288 columns (two to a page), small b/w photos + vi, 1044 columns, b/w photos + vi, 796 columns, b/w photos + viii, 912 columns, b/w photos. Yellowed paper, but as good as copy as I have seen over the years. Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish. A Basic reference work. (33583)  Can't tell the players without a program.    $650.00

Schaechter, Mordkhe. Plant Names in Yiddish: A Handbook of botanical terminology/ Di Geviksn=Velt in Yidish. New York, YIVO Institute for Social Research, 2005. First Edition. ISBN: 0-914512-49-8. Octavo, glossy paper covers, civ, 384 pp. Softbound. New. In Yiddish and English. In addition to being a very useful reference work it also answers to Isaac Babel's claim that Jews knew the names of only two flowers, the Rose and the Violet. (34609)      $30.00

Stutchkoff, N., compiled by. Yidisher Gramen-Leksikon (35,000 Verter)/ Jewish Rhyming Lexicon. New York, Farlag Leksik, 1931. Octavo, red cloth with raised lettering on a brown panel, 330 pp.  Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish. (35446)      $75.00 

Stutchkoff, Nahum. Der Oytser fun der Yidisher Sprakh/ Thesaurus of the Yiddish Language. New York, YIVO, 1950. 1991 Reprint edition. Royal octavo, green cloth with gold and black lettering, lvi, 932 pp., notes, index. Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish. "The Thesaurus of the Yiddish Language" comprises over one hundred and fifty thousand words, idioms, phrases and proverbs. It consists of three sections: introductory part (I-LVI); the material proper arranged, according to concepts, into groups from 1-620a (pp. 1-730); alphabetical index (731-932). (17441) The only item of it's kind as popularized by Henry Sapoznik.    $35.00 

Sunshone, Andrew, Weinreich, Uriel, Weinreich, Beatrice S. and Neumann, Robert. The Language and Culture Atlas of Ashkenazic Jewry: Prepared and published under the aegis of an Editorial Collegium Marvin Herzog (Editor-in-Chief), Vera Baviskar, Ulrike Kiefer, Robert Neumann, Wolfgang Putschke, Andrew Sunshine and Uriel Weinreich. Volume II: Research Tools/ Der yidisher shprakh- un Kultur-atlas. Tsveyter Band: Forsh-Getsayg. New York/ Tübingen, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research/ Max Niemeyer Verlag, 1995. First Edition. Oblong quarto, blue cloth with black lettering, 106, 88 pp., bibliography. Hardbound. Very Good. In English and Yiddish. THIS VOLUME ONLY. The Language and Culture of Ashkenazic Jewry is based on the investigation entitled Geographic Differentiation in Coterritotial Societies. The investigation was designed by Uriel Weinreich and directed by him until 1967. Since 1967 it has been directed by Marvin Herzog. The principle researchers were Vera Baviskar z"l, Marvin Herzog, Steven Lowenstein, Mordkhe Schaechter, Beatrice S. Weinreich and Uriel Weinreich z"l. (45127)    $125.00

Weinreich, M. and Raisen, Z., edited by. Filologishe Shriften: Tsveyter Band/ Studies in Philology: Second Volume. Vilna, Vilner Farlag fun B. Kletskin, 1928. Quarto, edgeworn black cloth with gold lettering, 518, xxviii pp., b/w plates, addenda and corrigenda, English language summaries of the articles at the rear. Yellowed paper. Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish. Articles are "Velevele of Zbarazh and His Letters," Bernhard Wachstein, "Israel Axenfeld, New Data on His Life and Work," Sh. Ginsburg, "New and Old Words in the Yiddish bible Translation by Yehoash," Khaim Spivak, "The Struggle for Yiddish in the Old Yiddish literature," Israel Zinberg, "Assimilation of Consonants in the Yiddish Sentence," Theodore Gutmann, "The Shire-gris," J. Willer, "The Three Yiddish Books of Michael Adam," N. Shtif, "A Lamentation of the 'Meshorers' of Frankfurt," A Freimann, "Proper Names and Their Importance in Yiddish," Tsvi Shpirn, "On the use of Cases in Yiddish," E. Kaganoff, "The Slav Element and Slav Influence in Yiddish," Alfred Landau, "The First History of Yiddish Theatre," Jacob Shatzky, "Notes on Yiddish in the Burgenland," R. Stalek, "Beliefs and Customs in Connection with Death," Kh. Khayes, "The Date of Birth of Ayzik Mayer Dik," P. Kon, "A Dutch-Yiddish Bride Song of the End of the 18th Century," I.M. Hillesom, "Yiddish Elements in the Early German Jargon," Rudolf Glanz, "Notes on the Polish-Yiddish Vocabulary," Moshe Lerer, "Rare Yiddish Books in the Library of the University of Harvard," A.A. Roback, "The Song of Mobilization," W. Anderson, "On the Terminology Used in Various Trades," S. Winter, "Notes on the Ahaseurus Drama," M. Weinreich, "Contributions to Word Formation in Yiddish," Z. Raisin, "Peretz and Frishman in Their Personal Relations," N. Mayzel. (53303)      $110.00

Weinreich, M and Raisen, Z., edited by. Shriftn fun Yidishn Visnshaftlekhn Institut Filologishe Shriftn. Driter Band/ Publications of the Yiddish Scientific Institute Studies in Philology. Third Volume. Vilna, Vilner Farlag B. Kletskin, 1929. Quarto, original wraps bound in quarter buchram with dull brown marbled paper covered boards, 622, xxviii pp., slightly yellowed paper. Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish with a short section at the rear in English. Articles are "The Historical Allegory of Rabbi Meir Schatz," Isaac Rivkind, "The Lamentation (Kloglid) on the Destruction of Worms," Jacob Shatzky, "Philip Krantz and His Literary Acquaintances," Moshe Starkman, "The Genealogy of Haikl Hurwitz," Menasheh Unger, "Death in the Popular Beliefs of the Jews. A Questionaire," compiled by Sh. Ansky, "The First Hebrew-Yiddish Text-Book of Polish and its Author the Bishop Jan Chryzostom Gintyllo," Pinkhas Kon, "Lilith," I. Zoller, "An Idioticon of Lojvitch (Kowicz)," Isaiah Taub, "Thirty Unpublished Letters of Sholem-Aleichem," "From the Old Yiddish Literature. Bibliographical Notes," I. Zinberg, "New Ideas on Grammar," A Zaratzky, "Etymological Notes," Daniel Leibl, "The Yiddish Medrash 'Vajosha,'" Leo Landau, "A Newly Discovered Manuscript on the Ritual Murder Accusation in Metz (1669)," Meir ben Abraham Halevy, "Street Advertisements," Mejlekh Gromb, "Yiddish Songs in Hungary and Slovakia," Israel Taglicht, "Yiddish Surnames in the Ukraine," Sh. Weissenberg, "'Hadrath Skenim' of Rabbi Azaria de Rossi in Yiddish Translation, An hitherto Unknown Manuscript of Moshe Eisenstadt-Katzenelenbogen," Bernard Wachstein, "A Supplement to Mr. Shpirn's Article on the Importance of Proper Names in Yiddish," A.A. Roback, "Letters from J.L. Peretz to Sholem-Aleichem," Nakhman Maizel, "The Polish Folk Song 'Wojna Zydowska' ('The Jewish War')," N. Veinig, "Some remarks on the Yiddish Syntax," Eugene Kagarov, "Jehuda Joseph Lerner, a Forgotton Nihilist," Sh. Borovoi, "Transcriptions of Yiddish," Salomo Birnbaum, "Jokes and Anecdotes of 'Maskilim' and of 'Lomdim,'" Sh. Beilin, "Paul Helicz's 'Elemental oder Lesebuchlen,'" Nahum Schif, "The Yiddish Press in Roumania from 1854 to 1926," Sh.S. Roman, "Two Yiddish Songs Ridiculing the Jews," Max Weinreich, "The First Yiddish Comedy," Max Erik, "Some Yiddish Place-Names in Poland," Sam Winter, "Adjective Formation in Yiddish," Zalman Raisen, Addenda et Corrigenda (36215)     $125.00

Weinreich, Max. Geshikhte fun der Yidisher Shprakh: Baginen, Faktn, Metodn/ History of the Yiddish Language. In four Volumes. New York, YIVO, 1973. Octavos, grey cloth, xiv, 355 + xii, 399 + xii, 383 + xii, 395 pp. Volume three and four consists of the notes for the previous volumes.  Hardbound. Very Good. In Yiddish. OCLC Number: 1344347. (68847)     $150.00

Weinreich, Max. History of the Yiddish Language. In Two Volumes. New Haven, Yale University Press, Published in cooperation with the YIVO Institue for Jewish Research, 2008. Second English language edition. ISBN: 978-0-300-10887-3. Octavos, blue cloth with gold lettering, xiv, 348, 357A pp., maps and tables, + vi, 349-733, 358A-988A pp., a few maps and figures, cumulative index. Hardbound. Very Good. Translated by Shlomo Noble, with the assistance of Joshua A. Fishman. With a new introduction to this edition by Paul Glasser who edited this second edition. His introduction explains the many differences between this edition and the previous one published by the University of Chicago in one volume in 1980. I had always wondered how the four volumes of the original Yiddish language edition had been squeezed into one volume. In fact only small pieces of the extensive notes (Volumes three and four) had appeared in the Chicago edition. Here there are presented in their entirety (The pagination ending in A indicated the notes), nearly one thousand pages. It is unclear whether the notes were translated by Joshua Fishman, Paul Glasser or some other hand. The notes are translated with a more contemporary eye to transliteration and are improved on where Weinreich's brevity in notation was excessive. The original index prepared by Bella Hass Weinberg has been revised and augmented by Nancy Zibman. Each volume includes an Appendix: Parallel Paragraph numbering of Max Weinreich (1973): 'Geshikhte fun der Yidisher Shprakh' and Max Weinreich (2008): 'History of the Yiddish Language,' and a Select Bibliography of Max Weinreich's Works. (69271)      $100.00

A nod to Black History Month

The shortest month of the year, but it is a whole month. Black studies and Africa used to be a larger part of my business. My first print catalog was of Africa and included over seven hundred items. Outside of my business interests both areas continue to be of daily interest to me. Below are a few interesting items from my current holdings. As would be expected they have a link to Jewish interests. Feel free to email me if you are interested in receiving a complete list of my holdings.

Caplan, Marc and Linzer, Lori, edited by. Research Report. Uncommon Ground: The Black African Holocaust Council and Other Links Between Black and White Extremists. New York, Anti-Defamation League, 1994. Quarto, paper covers, 21 pp. Softbound. Very Good.  (68225)     $15.00

 Fisk, Alfred & Thurman, Howard. The First Footprints. The Dawn of the Idea of the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples: Letters Between Alfred Fisk & Howard Thurman 1943-1944. San Francisco, California, 1975. Octavo, paper covers with minor soiling and wear to the covers, light wear to the free front endpaper, iv, 55 pp. Softbound. Good. Foreword by Howard Thurman. Inscribed by Thurman to Rabbi Saul White and his wife Ruth White. (70236)  Fisk and Thurman were important and popular Christian ministers in San Francisco. Together they created the first inter-racial ministry. They were very active in Ecumenical relations. A history of their church can be found at: http://www.fellowshipsf.org/history.html. Rabbi Saul White was the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco for almost fifty years. He was a constant frustration to the local Jewish establishment, never willing to forgive their anti-Zionism and their lack of concern for the Jews of Nazi Europe. He was well-enough regarded by Thurman that we was invited on a number of occasions to preach at the Fellowship.    $35.00

Green, Ber, edited by. Zamlungen. Fertlyor-Shrift far Literatur Kritik un Kultur-Gezelshaftlekhe Shtudyen. Harbst 1964, Tsenter Yorgang, 31. Gevidmet dem Kamf fun Neger-Folk far Galykhe Recht. [Commemorating the African-American Struggle for their Civil Rights]. New York, Yidishn Shreyber-Fareyn beym YKUF, 1964. Octavo, paper covers, 128 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish. (66455)      $18.00

Japtok, Martin. Growing Up Ethnic: Nationalism and the Bildungsroman in African American and Jewish American Fiction. Iowa City, the University of Iowa Press, 2005. ISBN: 0-87745-923-1. Octavo in dust jacket, xii, 201 pp., notes, works cited, index. Hardbound. Very Good.  

           "Growing Up Ethnic examines the presence of literary similarities between African American and Jewish American coming-of-age stories in the first half of the twentieth century; often these similarities exceed what could be explained by socio-historical correspondences alone. Martin Japtok argues that these similarities result from the way both African American and Jewish American authors have conceptualized their “ethnic situation.”

         The issue of “race” and its social repercussions certainly defy any easy comparisons. However, the fact that the ethnic situations are far from identical in the case of these two groups only highlights the striking thematic correspondences in how a number of African American and Jewish American coming-of-age stories construct ethnicity. Japtok studies three pairs of novels-James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man and Samuel Ornitz's Haunch, Paunch and Jowl, Jessie Fauset's Plum Bun and Edna Ferber's Fanny Herself, and Paule Marshall's Brown Girl, Brownstones and Anzia Yezierska's Bread Giver—and argues that the similarities can be explained with reference to mainly two factors, ultimately intertwined: cultural nationalism and the Bildungsroman genre." text from the dust jacket. (36126)      $20.00

 Jiggetts, J. Ida. Israel To Me: A Negro Social Worker in Israel. New York, Bloch Publishing Company, 1957. Octavo in dust jacket with minor edgewear, xxiv, 274 pp., b/w photos, bibliography. Hardbound. Very Good-. Preface by Abraham I. Katsh. Signed by the author on the free front endpaper. The first account of the new state of Israel from an African-American point of view. Ralph Bunche could have written something very interesting but never did. (8597)      $35.00

 Lazerson, David. Sharing Turf: Race Relations after the Crown Heights Riots. Miami Beach, Florida, Ballad Productions, 2004. ISBN: 0-9753663-0-0. Octavo, glossy paper covers, vi, 278 pp., b/w photos. Softbound. Very Good.  (32436)   For more on Lazerson see his own website at:  http://www.drlaz.com. A very interesting person.  $18.00

Melnick, Jeffrey. A Right to Sing the Blues: African Americans, Jews, and American Popular Song. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 1999. First Edition. ISBN: 0-674-76976-7. Octavo in dust jacket, x, 277 pp., notes, index. Hardbound. Very Good. An essential treatment of the complicated relationship between Jewish and African-American interests in the history of American Popular Music. (38517)      $18.00

 Michelson, Richard. As Good As Anybody: Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. First Edition. ISBN: 978-0-375-83335-9. Quarto in dust jacket, 40 pp., color illustrations by Raul Colon. Hardbound. Very Good. Winner of the 2009 Sydney Taylor Jewish Book Award. (50304) $8.50

Novik, P. Di Rol fun Yidn in di Neger-Kamfn: Vos Kumt For Tsvishn di Neger? Vos Darf Zeyn Di Rol fun Yidn? Vos iz Forgekumen in Los Andzsheles? Faktn -Tsifern - Bilder. New York, Morning Freiheit, 1965. Small octavo, stapled paper covers, 22 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Yiddish(43573)      $25.00  

Saul, Shura. The Right to be Different: Twenty-Five sketches of those who sought a better world. [Chicago], Friends of the Family of Lionel Picheny in the Midwest Section, National Jewish Welfare Board, 1961. Royal octavo, thick stiff paper covers, 160 pp., b/w photos and drawings. Third edition, 1967. Softbound. Very Good. Designed and illustrated by Peggy Lipschutz. Edited by Elias Picheny. A text to teach Jewish leadership. Closes with chapters on Martin Luther King and on Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman.  (28301)      $18.00

Schorsch, Jonathan. Jews and Blacks in the Early Modern World. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2004 [2009]. First paper edition. ISBN: 978-0-521-52723-1. Octavo, paper covers, xiv, 546 pp., a few b/w illustrations, Names of Slaves Belonging to Sephardic Jews of Barbados (Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries), Names of Slaves Belonging to Sephardic Jews of Jamaica (Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries), Names of Slaves Belonging to Sephardic Jews of Surinam (Eighteenth Century), Names of Slaves Belonging to Sephardic Jews of Curacao (Eighteenth Century), Names of Slaves Belonging to Sephardic Jews of Jamaica (Died Before 1800), Names of Slaves Belonging to Sephardic Jews in Curacao (Died Before 1800), glossary, notes, works cited, index, remainder mark. Softbound. Very Good.  (65212)      $17.98

 Stock, Ernest. Ha-Tsibur ha-Yehudi Nokhah ha-Antishemiyut ha-Kushit/ American Jewry Confronts Black Anti-Semitism. Jerusalem, the Institute of Contemporary Jewry/ Sprinzak, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1970. Duodecimo, paper covers, 60 pp. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew (18963)     $18.00

Haggadot and Illuminated Manuscript Facsimiles

 A selection of new arrivals: facsimile editions of printed Haggadot and illuminated manuscript Haggadot as well as an illuminated Megilat Esther and an illuminated Birkat Ha-Mazon. All are available for sale on the hollanderbooks.com website. 

Abravanel. Seder Hagadah shel Pesah ... Ha-Dafsnu'ah Ba-Biurim u-Peirushim Ne'imim ve-Aravim Le-Koreihem ha-loh hemah Ha-Abravanel Sh-nitarekh Biuro Be-Mekomot Ha-Tsrikhin lo Leha-kol ha-Meayin Le-Haveinu Be-Ma'at Ha-Iyon [Amsterdam Haggadah].           

Jerusalem, Makor Publishing Ltd., 1972. Quarto, tan cloth with brown lettering and designs on the spine and front board, marbled gold and olive green endpapers, illustrated half-title page, 62 pp., illustrated capitals, eighth page and third page sized illustrations throughout as well as some small illustrations where appropriate to the text, fold-out map at the rear. The type is regular Amsterdam type, Rashi type and a third sharp angular type. With an 8 pp. stapled paper covered pamphlet by Bezalel Narkiss in Hebrew and in English, entitled, "The Illustrations of the Amsterdam Haggadah and Its Place in the History of Hebrew Printing."  Hardbound. Very Good. In Hebrew. A facsimile of what Cecil Roth believed was the most beautiful printed Haggadah (Yaari 73, Yudlov 120). This is a numbered copy in an edition of 1300 numbered copies. The original edition was published by Proops in Amsterdam in 1712. The fold-out map for which this Haggadah is also quite famous, one of the horizontal maps of the holy land, is reproduced nicely here on clay coated paper.

The magnificent Amsterdam Haggadah was the most famous and most influential of all Passover Haggadahs.  The first illustrated Haggadah to be published with fine copperplate engravings rather than the woodcut illustrations heretofore used in Haggadah illustration, the Amsterdam Haggadah of 1695 and the improved and more richly illustrated 1712 edition which ours is, were destined to become the classical prototypes of  the illustrated Passover Haggadah. 

                The Haggadah illustrations of the proselyte Abraham ben Jacob, many of which were based on the biblical engravings of the Swiss Christian artist Mattheus Merian published in 1625-1630, were copied and imitated more than those of any other in the history of the illustrated Haggadah.   So popular was the Amsterdam Haggadah, that scribes who were hand-writing illuminated Haggadahs in the 18th century would frequently pride themselves by writing on the frontispieces of  their Haggadahs that they were basing their artistry on that of the Amsterdam Haggadah.

                The frontispiece of this lavishly illustrated Haggadah consists of the large figures of Moses and Aaron standing on a stage flanking the introductory text and surmounted by a depiction of Moses before the Burning Bush.  The book opens with ten vignettes depicting the various symbolic acts conducted in the Jewish home during the Passover Seder, and continues with numerous illustrations relating to the text.  There are many large, attractive initial letters, each containing a vignette depicting someone occupied in an observance of the Passover festival.

                The most notable feature of the Amsterdam Haggadah of 1695-1712 is the famous fold-out map of Eretz Israel, the earliest map of Israel in Hebrew, included in our edition.  Laid out horizontally showing the divisions of the land by tribe, the map lists the 41 way-stations of the Israelites during their 40-year-journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, and is introduced by these words:  “This is to inform all intelligent people the route of the travels of the Israelites over forty years, and the breadth and length of the Holy Land from the Nile river to the city of Damascus and from the River Arnon  to the Great (Mediterranean) Sea, and within it the territory of each and every tribe and its portion . . .”

                There are vignettes of the story of Jonah and of cows and a house with beehives - references to Israel being a land of milk and honey, and an eagle along with an inscription of the biblical promises to take the Jews to the land of Israel “on the wings of eagles.”  (30553)      $95.00 

"Israel at Sinai"

Abravanel. Seder Hagadah shel Pesah ... Ha-Dafsnu'ah Ba-Biurim u-Peirushim Ne'imim ve-Aravim Le-Koreihem ha-loh hemah Ha-Abravanel Sh-nitarekh Biuro Be-Mekomot Ha-Tsrikhin lo Leha-kol ha-Meayin Le-Haveinu Be-Ma'at Ha-Iyon [Amsterdam Haggadah].           

Jerusalem, No publisher, 1973. Octavo, illustrated paper covers fold-out map, 62 pp., half-title page illustration is repeated on the front cover, there is a large emblem on the lower half of the title page, illustrated capitals, eighth page and third page sized illustrations throughout as well as some small illustrations where appropriate to the text. The type is regular Amsterdam type, Rashi type and a third sharp angular type. Softbound. Very Good. In Hebrew. A small format facsimile of one of what Cecil Roth believed was the most beautiful printed Haggadah (Yaari 73, Yudlov 120). The original edition was published by Proops in Amsterdam in 1712. The fold-out map for which this Haggadah is also quite famous, one of the horizontal maps of the holy land, is reproduced here. (20561)      $15.00

Benjamin, Chaya, introduction by. The Copenhagen Haggadah: Altona-Hamburg, 1739. Facsimile Edition. Illustrations by Uri Pheibush son of Isac Eisak Segal. 

New York, Rizzoli, 1987. ISBN: 0-8478-0820-3. Quarto, dark brown leatherette with gold decorations on the boards and spine, 68 pp. which reproduces the original entirely in color. With an 8 pp. stapled pamphlet (small quarto) in English. This is the Benjamin introduction. There is a description of the plates and bibliography in addition to the introductory remarks. In an illustrated paper covered slipcase which matches the endpapers, Hardbound. Very Good. In Hebrew. A facsimile of a lavish 18th century illuminated Haggadah executed by Uri Pheibush son of Isaac Eisik Segal in the manner of the illustrations of the Amsterdam Haggadah of 1695, but in color. Though the Amsterdam Haggadah was the model for this Haggadah it has a great variety of detail and idiosyncratic addition (4108)      $60.00

Dreznitz, Samuel Ben Zevi Hirsch, design, illustration and lettering by. Seder birkat ha-mazon: im berakot ha-nahenin: va-im tikun keri'at sema: demut zevua shel Kod. Hebr. XXXII she-be-Sifriya ha-malkutit be-Kopenhagen/ Grace after meals, and other benedictions: facsimile of Cod. Hebr. XXXII in the Royal library, Copenhagen.   

Copenhagen, 1969. 32mo, full red leather with gold lettering and designs, aeg, 42, 12, 12 pp., color illustrations. Hardbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew and Yiddish (Ivri-Taytsh) with an introduction in English and Hebrew by Rafael Edelmann. (70457)      $75.00

Early Passover Haggadas. 

Jerusalem, Makor Publishing Ltd., 1972. Three quartos in tan paper covered boards, in a one piece box with a pastedown illustration covering the front panel, three volumes, Trieste Haggadah - 43 pp., b/w illustrations, Adir Hu with musical notation, Offenbach Haggadah - 60 pp., b/w headpieces and illustrations, Prague Haggadah - 76 pp., b/w illustrations in the margins. Very Good. A nice set, in a limited edition (one of/1000) of three of the most interesting printed Haggadot that appeared before the Twentieth Century. (1864, 1722, 1526). Inquire for the specific number. (6947)      $150.00

Four Haggadot: From the Treasures of the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem. Facsimile Edition. 

Tel Aviv, W. Turnowsky Ltd., Ca. 1985-1990. Four small duodecimos in a custom box with two pamphlets in a separate slot on the top of the box. The facsimiles reproduce the outward appearance of the originals.

The first is a Yemenite Haggadah dated from the 19th century written by Yosef ben Yosef Hammani. It has paper covers which I assume reproduces soft leather and comes with string for a wrap (which I guess is how the original is kept). 38 pp., with some decorative elements, but not illuminated. Ms. Heb. 8o 6606. Hebrew manuscript No. 8-6606.  Agad’ta D’Pisha - The Passover Hagadah According to the Yemenite Rite, soft cover.  Ornamented with geometric “crown” illuminations at the tops of all pages, and at the end a depiction of an imaginary animal supporting a canopy in which the scribe writes his name, Joseph son of - Mori - my teacher, Joseph Hamami. 

The second is a hardcover from an Italian-rite Siddur, Mantua, 1480 written by Avraham Farisol from Avignon. 56 pp., with some illuminated initials Ms. Heb 8o 5492. Hebrew Manuscript 8-5492.  Part of a manuscript compendium of Hebrew prayers, Sidur HaShalem miKol haShana, written by the Biblical exegete and commentator Abraham Farisol of Avignon in 1480 in Mantua, in honor “of the esteemed and glorious among the ladies. . .” apparently a patron of this brilliant scholar.  (The lady’s name was erased by subsequent owners of the manuscript.)

Some pages are decorated in color and in gold with geometric and scrollwork illuminations.  The final page consists of Psalm 67 written micro-graphically to form a 7-branched Menorah.

         

  The third is a hardcover in the Ashkenazi rite, from mid-15th century Italy written by Yehuda (?) and illuminated by Yoel ben Shimon Ms. Heb 4o 6130. 94 pp., with illluminated first words and initials and with drawings in the margins throughout. The un-rubricated letters are written in red and black. Hebrew Ms. 4-6130, Hagadah according to Ashkenazic rite, northern Italy, 15th century.  The text is accompanied by colored illuminations, mostly textual illustrations and illuminated initial words. From style and pattern it is clear that it is the work of Joel ben Shimon, known as Feibush Ashkenazi of Cologne, the famed artist-illustrator of Hebrew manuscripts, who worked in Germany and northern Italy.  The scribe was probably “Judah,” as he emphasized the word, which occurs in the middle of a chapter in the Hallel portion of the Psalms related in the Haggadah, by placing it at the top of the page and coloring it in red - something he otherwise does only with chapter beginnings - and crowning it with leaves.  The text is written in a fine square Germanic medieval script.

                The textual subjects the illuminator chose to illustrate are for the most part those frequently chosen by other Passover illuminators - e.g., the Talmudic sages in the Ma’ase b’Rabbi Eliezer section of text; the Jews constructing Pithom and Raamses; the individuals performing the Passover Seder ceremonials; Matzah zu - “This unleavened bread;”  Maror zeh - “This bitter herb;” the baking of matzah; the Exodus from Egypt, etc. 

Some of the illuminations depart radically from the norm and manifest the singular concepts of the artist-illuminator and testify to the artist’s originality, such as, for example, his choice of a highly unconventional and non-traditional depiction of a nude woman to adorn the words  v’at erom v’erya - and you were naked and bare.  Another unconventional depiction by the artist is of a gentile man - someone in non-Jewish dress - drinking wine while roasting what looks like a pig over a fire.  Another radical departure from tradition is the depiction of a woman raising her cup to illustrate the text of Sh’foch hamatcha - “Pour out Thy wrath upon the nations.”  But the full text of the verse as we know it today is missing, apparently it not yet having been included in the Passover seder liturgy.

                The Haggadah text ends on a humorous note following the blessing over the fourth cup of wine, when it is incumbent upon the Seder participant to finish the last cup completely, with the words in medieval German-Yiddish:  Nu, trink oys - loosely translated as  “C’mon, drink up already!” followed by Salik Mah-Nishtanah - The traditional Mah Nishtanah Four Questions recited by the youngest in the household at the beginning of the reading of the Passover Hagadah as a pedagogical means of  telling the story of Passover the “answers” which embody the rest of the text - are over, i.e., answered.

                This illuminated manuscript Haggadah was part of the collection of Baron Edmond de Rothschild of Paris and was stolen by the Nazis during World War II.   Somehow it came into the hands of a collector, E.T. Murphy, who presented it to Yale University, his alma mater, in 1948.  In 1980, a researcher in art history at Yale discovered the true owners of the manuscript and alerted the authorities, who contacted the Rothschilds.  Whereupon Baroness Dorothea de Rothschild, widow of Baron James de Rothschild, presented the manuscript to the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem.

The fourth is a Central European Haggadah from 1719 by the Scribe/Illustrator Simmel from Polin (Moravia). 56 pp., with text within lined boxes and notes on the Hebrew text in brown ink in Taytsch. Illustrations are within these lined boxes and look much like the illustrations in some of the nicer early printed Haggadot. Hebrew Manuscript 8-5573.  Written in both square Ashkenazic script and in Rashi script, and including directions for the conduct of the Seder ceremonials written in old Yiddish.  The imposing frontispiece with a pictorial frame made up of depictions of Moses and Aaron, and David and Solomon on the sides and a family Passover Seder scene at the bottom, the upper portion with two lions of Judah rampant flanking an ovular cartouche with the Binding of Isaac frames an introductory text by the scribe, who states that the Haggadah was written in honor of the venerated, worthy and generous Nathan son of Isaac Oppenheim of Vienna.

                The illuminations in this richly decorated Haggadah were strongly influenced by, and in large part based upon, those of the famed Amsterdam Haggadah of 1695-1712.  The Haggadah begins with three pages of illuminations consisting of twelve miniatures, each depicting a ceremonial observance of the Passover Seder, followed by a depiction of a family in elegant contemporaneous dress at a family Seder.  

                The pamphlets, which match the Haggadot in size are both stapled wraps. A 16 page pamphlet describes the four Haggadot in both English and Hebrew. The second pamphlet is 32 pp. and offers a standard translation of the Haggadah into English.

All four are housed in a box which is the size of a very large quarto or a small folio and has a paper label over the front panel of the box which illustrated the covers of the four original Haggadot. Hardbound. Very Good. In Hebrew in the facsimiles except as noted and in English in the pamphlets except as noted.

There are significant differences in the text of the Yemenite Haggadah from those of traditional Ashkenazic and Sephardi Haggadot, specifically in the Kiddush - sanctification - over wine and in a number of other sections. (18786)       $80.00

Goldstein, David, introduction, notes on the illuminations, transcription and English translation by. The Ashkenazi Haggadah: A Hebrew Manuscript of the mid-15th Century from the Collections of the British Library. Written and Illuminated by Joel Ben Simon Called Feibush Ashkenazi. With a Commentary Attributed to Eleazar Ben Judah of Worms. 

New York, Abradale Press, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, 1985 (1997). ISBN: 0-8109-8192-0. Folio in dust jacket, 40, 98 pp., b/w illustrations in the introduction, bibliography, transcription and translation. The latter 98 pages are a fine color facsimile of the original manuscript. Hardbound. Very Good.  (15388)      $25.00

Hagadah shel Pesah/ Prague Haggada. 

Jerusalem(?), No Publisher, 1970s. Octavo, large quarto, brown cloth with red lettering and an illustration on front and rear board in black ink, 73 pp., illustrations, polychrome lettering and illustrations. Issued without a title-page. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. A facsimile of the Prague Haggadah of 1526, originally printed by Gershom Cohen. It was the first illustrated haggadah (Yaari 6, Yudlov 7). (70454)      $60.00

 "Opening page of the Prague Haggadah"

"Pour out your wrath - Sefokh al ha-Moftim"

Hagadah shel Pesah [Prague Haggadah]. 

Jerusalem, No Publisher, 1973. Octavo, stapled paper covers, 79 pp., b/w illustrations. Softbound. Very Good. In Hebrew. A facsimile of the the Prague Haggadah of 1526, originally printed by Gershom Cohen. It was the first illustrated haggadah (Yaari 6, Yudlov 7). (20562)       $12.50

  

             Kaniel, Michael and Narkiss, Bezalel, commentery by. Kaniel Megillah Esther Rolle. Vollständige Faksimile-Ausgabe im Originalformat aus den Besistz von Michael Kaniel [Kaniel Megillah Esther Scroll. Complete facsimile edition of the original from the collection of Michael Kaniel]. Facsimile and Commentary volume.  

 

Graz, Austria, Akademische Druck -u. Verlaganstalt, 1984. Scroll: Cloth backed scroll with printed text on brown wooden rollers housed in a gray cloth covered canister with a red leather label with gold lettering. Scroll length approximately fourteen feet. Commentary Volume: Royal octavo, gray cloth with gold lettering, 33 pp., b/w photos. Very Good. This is one of 500 numbered copies. The original manuscript (and thus the facsimile) is a "Ha-Melekh" scroll. Commentary volume is entirely in English with the exception of the title-page.

The "Kaniel Megillah" is an illuminated manuscript with an illustration on the opening pull and has illustrations reflecting the story both above and below the text blocks which are set within a illustrations of columns. The text and illustrations continue along as if one were viewing an arcade. There are no known examples of illuminated Esther scrolls from before the sixteenth century. It is unclear whether there were earlier scrolls but there was some precedent in the ways in which the subject matter could be handled provided by Purim related illustrations in illuminated prayer books. However, with the onset of printing the illuminated Esther Scroll became a popular subject and different approaches to the subject appeared. The Kaniel scroll combined aspects of the different approaches. The illustrations are tied closely to the text that they frame. Though the work is not dated specifically it is likely from the 1740s or 1750s. Images and copy number available upon request. (70459)      $395.00

Kashilsberg, Shlomo, revised and edited by. Hagadah shel Ha-Ir Bazel. Seder Hagadah shel Pesah: im targum Ashkenazi. 

Bene Berak, Hotsaat Shmuel Mor, 1973/4. Royal octavo in dust jacket, 54 pp., 24 b/w illustrations. Hardbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew with Ivri Taytsh. Originally published Basel, Switzerland, Bi-defus Vilhelm Haas al-yad R., 1816. In an edition of 500 copies. Contact us for the specific number of the copy. The first Ashkenazi translation written in Hebrew letters. (70455)      $75.00

Morpurgo, Avraham Hai, commentary by. Hagadah shel Pesah im tsiyurim [The Trieste Haggadah]. 

B'nei Brak, Israel, Hotsaat Shmuel Mor, 1971. Folio, light brown cloth spine with a darker brown cloth covering the boards, title and a large illustration of old Prague on the front board, new half-title page which reproduces the illustration from the front cover, 42 pp., b/w illustrations throughout, decorative capitals. Printed on a paper that mimics the look of vellum. In a blank mylar jacket. Hardbound. Very Good. In Hebrew. One of 500 numbered copies in this edition. A facsimile of the original Trieste edition of 1864 which was illustrated by C. Kirchmayr. The original publisher was Jonah Cohen. This edition is at the actual size or approximate of the original. (20568)      $85.00

Morpurgo, Avraham Hai, commentary by. Hagadah shel Pesah im tsiyurim [The Trieste Haggadah]. 

Jerusalem, No publisher, 1973. Octavo, stapled paper covers, 42 pp., b/w illustrations throughout, decorative capitals. Softbound. Very Good. Text is in Hebrew. A facsimile of the original Trieste edition of 1864 which was illustrated by C. Kirchmayr. The original publisher was Jonah Cohen. This edition is much reduced from the size of the original (20560)      $15.00

Roth, Cecil, text by. The Sarajevo Haggadah. 

Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Jugoslavija, 1973. Octavo in dust jacket, (off-white cloth with gold lettering on the spine and a design in gold on the front cover), 48, 152 pp. The first 48 pages are the English language text by Roth which includes notes and a bibliographical note. The facsimile comprises the remainder of the volume. The Haggadah is divided into two portions. The first portion is a series of thirty-four pages each with two panels one above the other. These illustrated pages face each other and between them are facsimiles of the blank pages (68 pages altogether). These pages illustrate the bible story beginning with the creation of the world through the life of Moses and the story of the exodus and ending with the creation of the Temple in Jerusalem (skipping from the Manna to a full page illustration of a group of people leaving what looks like a synagogue with the ark open. The second section is the actual Haggadah text which is illustrated in color and illustrated lead words throughout. There are no blanks in this section (eighty four pages with one final blank leaf). Housed in a cloth covered slip-case which uses the same cloth that binds the volume. Hardbound. Fine.

Roth's text is in English and the Haggadah is in Hebrew. “One day in 1894. . . a child belonging to a family named Cohen, long established in the ancient Sephardi community of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, came to the Jewish communal infant school bearing an old Hebrew service-book under his arm.  His father had recently died, leaving the family in straitened circumstances, and it was necessary for them to realize what was possible from the sale of this volume.  Thus in due course it passed into the possession of the newly-established Bosnian National Museum in the city. . .”  From the introduction - “The Sarajevo Haggadah and its Significance in the History of Art” During the siege of Sarajevo the Haggadah was hidden and preserved. During that time it appeared in public only for the community seders. (20558)      $50.00

Seder Hagadot shel Pesah:  Mantovah 320. Yotsat Me-Hodesh Mahadurah tsilumit Mekudeshet le-zikhro shel Dr. Renato Yarak Milano 1910- Jerusalem 1945/ Mantua Haggadah.     

Jerusalem, Hotsaat Dvir, 1970. Large quarto, gold lettering against a brown panel on the spine, 80 pp., ilustrated throughout. With two additional items one laid in and the other in pocket at the rear, Berakhat ha-Mazon Ba-Nusakh Sefardi ve-Italiani im ha-Shirim Ehad-Mi-Yodeah ve-Had Hadya; Hagadat Mantovah by Re’uven Bonfil. In a illustrated paper covered cardboard slipcase. Hardbound. Very Good. In Hebrew. (23529)      $150.00 

Steinhardt, Jacob, Woodcuts by. Hagadah shel Pesah im pituhe-ets Yakov Steinhardt/ The Pessach Haggadah. 

Tel Aviv, The Dvir Publishing House, 1979. ISBN: 965-01-0013-X. Quarto, off-white cloth covers with gold lettering, mild soiling to the boards, short tear to the spine near the top, 50 pp., b/w woodcuts throughout.  Hardbound. Very Good. In Hebrew. Lettering by Franzisca Baruch. With a brief introduction in English and Hebrew by Z. Mishai-Maisels language. In an edition of 1000 copies which was published together with an edition of 50 Deluxe numbered copies on Arches paper.

                “The original limited edition of 200 copies was immediately sold out and was so well received that in 1923 a publisher decided to reprint a smaller, more popular version. The present facsimile edition is based on Eric Goeritz’s original publication and preserves both its size (with slightly smaller margins) and the quality of its execution."

“Jakob Steinhardt (1887 - 1968), a major figure in modern Jewish art, is best known for his expressive use of the woodcut.  He worked from 1912 on in the German Expressionist style he had begun to use in Berlin, refining it with technical innovations after settling in Jerusalem in 1934.  The [Steinhardt] Haggadah, which he produced with Franzisca Baruch at the peak of the renaissance of Jewish art and culture in Berlin in the early 1920s, has long been one of his most popular works. . .

                “Steinhardt [originally] decided to decorate the Haggadah with etchings, his preferred medium at this time. . .”  After examining the etchings, Franzisca Baruch, a young art student who was to execute the Hebrew lettering and design, convinced Steinhardt that woodcuts would be a better medium, and he created a striking group of dramatic woodcuts, “creating a compellingly modern interpretation of the scenes, whose intense play of flickering lights shooting across the dark backgrounds differentiate them from the long tradition of woodcut illustrations to the Haggadah.  

 

Opening page of the Steinhardt Haggadah

 "Avadim Hayenu Le-Faro"

 "The five Rabbis at Bene Berak"

                “Baruch then began months of study of medieval Hebrew lettering types, finally selecting a bold style which perfectly balanced the dark woodcuts.  She hand-lettered the entire book and arranged the layout of each page to preserve the compositional tension and expressiveness of the woodcuts.  The result is a book seemingly executed by a single hand, and united in a style of its own to the point that the spectator is unaware that Steinhardt’s woodcuts have been set beside Baruch’s lettering. . .” (Quoted remarks from the introduction.) (20566)      $125.00