{"lots":[{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114473/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"devar shmuel [responsa]. with supplement (often lacking): zichron leb\u2019nei yisrael [concerning the pseudo-messiah shabthai tzvi - see below]. \n \n first edition. title within woodcut architectural border. printed on thicker paper. signature on title-page of yehuda mesaro. opening and closing endpapers with seven pages of hebrew manuscript commentary to chumash-rashi in a contemporary italian hand. \n ff. (6), 104. lightly browned in places. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards. sm. folio. vinograd, venice 1533. \n venice: vendramin 1702 \n \n in the spring of 1668, shortly following the scandalous conversion to islam by shabthai tzvi, his \u201cprophet\u201d nathan of gaza appeared in venice on a clandestine mission heading toward rome. nathan was intercepted and subjected to a tribunal consisting of three judges: rabbis jacob halevi, samuel aboab, and solomon chai saraval. the cross-examination took place on the night of the 13th of the omer 1668, at the conclusion of which nathan was forced to sign a retraction of his beliefs concerning sabbatianism. the proceedings, entitled \u201czichron leb\u2019nei yisrael,\u201d were then forwarded by the venetian rabbis to jewish communities abroad, in order to discredit the erstwhile \u201cprophet\u201d who had so ignominiously promoted shabthai tzvi messianism. the historical record of these deliberations are preserved at the conclusion of aboab\u2019s responsa here (ff. 95b-97b). see g. scholem, sabbatai sevi: the mystical messiah (1975) pp. 763-69."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"1","title":{"en":"aboab, samuel."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114473/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book title page, likely from the 17th or 18th century, as suggested by the printing style \"In Venezia, Nella Stamp Vendramina\". The text is primarily in Hebrew, featuring the name \"aboab, samuel\". The page is decorated with an ornate architectural woodcut border, including classical columns, a pediment, and decorative wreaths and finials, giving it a grand, monumental appearance. The visible paper has some age-related discoloration and a slight tear or fold in the upper left corner, indicating its historical nature.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.914Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114473,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114474/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114474/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"atereth zekenim [\"crown of the elders\": philosophy]. appended short essay by abrabanel: \"tzuroth hayesodoth\u201d [medieval science] \n \n first edition. title within wreathed architectural columns with warriors standing at base; on f. 40v. printer\u2019s device (yaari, hebrew printers' marks pp. 20-1). few words censored. \n ff.40, (4). bound in valmadonna-custom mahogany blind-tooled calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, sabbioneta 44. \n sabbioneta: tobias foa 1557 \n the departure point for this slim tract is the passage in exodus 24:9-11 which treats of the mystical vision of the seventy elders of israel. maimonides contends - as did the midrash - that the apprehension of these elders was improper, and that they eventually received their just punishment at taberah (see guide of the perplexed i, 5). don isaac abrabanel takes umbrage, writing this tract in defense of the elders - hence the title \"crown of the elders.\"===see discussions in m. kellner, science in the bet midrash: studies in maimonides (2009), pp. 202-3; 313, n. 82; s. regev, \"the vision of the nobles of israel in the jewish philosophy of the middle ages,\" jerusalem studies in jewish thought 4 (1984-85) pp. 281-302."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"2","title":{"en":"abrabanel, isaac."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114474/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book title page, attributed to \"abrabanel, isaac,\" likely dating from the early modern period given its style. The primary language is Hebrew, displayed within an elaborate and intricate woodcut border. This border features full-length figures of soldiers in classical armor flanking the central text, with detailed floral and foliate motifs, garlands, and a decorative archway at the top. The page exhibits some signs of age, including slight discoloration and minor annotations or marks.","soldPrice":2600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.916Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114474,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114475/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114475/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"abudraham [commentary to prayers, including the passover hagadah]. \n \n letters of title historiated. printer\u2019s device on title (yaari, hebrew printer\u2019s marks 16). printed in double columns. wider margins. marginal notations. title-page with previous owner\u2019s notations including one by \u201cluzzatto of asti.\u201d censored in places with officiating signatures at end, including one by boniforte del asinari in both latin and hebrew. \n ff. 86. margins slightly frayed, stained in places, first and last leaf neatly remargined, previous owner\u2019s marks, signatures on title-page. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut calf, blind-tooled with elegant gilt piping. sm. folio. vinograd, venice 259. \n venice: cornelio adelkind for marco antonio giustiniani 1547 \n unfortunately, few facts have survived concerning the biography of r. david abudraham. this work, his magnum opus, was completed in seville in 1340 and is considered by critical scholars as a highly important repository of spanish and provencal tradition which, without it, would otherwise have been lost. it was first printed in lisbon, in 1490."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"3","title":{"en":"abudraham, david"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114475/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book page, attributed to \"abudraham, david,\" showcasing a text in Hebrew script. The page features a unique decorative element at the top with six framed Hebrew letters, possibly an acrostic or initial words, and a smaller ornate vignette at the bottom resembling a classical urn or fountain. The paper shows significant signs of age, including uneven toning, some foxing, and visible handwritten annotations and marginalia in a darker ink, suggesting a history of use and study.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.918Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114475,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114476/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"abudraham [laws of and commentary to the prayers]. \n \n deluxe copy, printed entirely on blue paper. title-page with signatures including chaim moshe loewenstein. \n ff. (3), 140. later marbled boards, rebacked, valmadonna-custom gilt title on spine. 8vo. vinograd, amsterdam 1270. \n amsterdam: moshe frankfurt 1726 \n << rare, bibliophilic edition. printed entirely on blue paper.>>===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 37."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"4","title":{"en":"abudraham, david."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114476/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book title page attributed to \"abudraham, david,\" distinguished by its pale blue paper, which is less common for early printed works. The text is entirely in Hebrew, presented within a simple rectangular frame. The typography is clear, and the page includes publishing details in Hebrew, along with a date that appears to be in the Hebrew calendar. Handwritten annotations in a darker ink are visible at the top left, indicating prior ownership or commentary. The page shows signs of wear, including creasing and some discoloration.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.920Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114476,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114477/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"she\u2019iltoth [homilies]. \n \n first edition. with the rare 4-leaf indices often missing from other copies. title within architectural arch. first words of five divisions of the chumash richly historiated. last leaf with hebrew manuscript medical remedy written in an italian hand. \n ff. 58, (4). lightly foxed in places. bound in valmadonna-custom morocco-backed marbled boards. sm. folio. vinograd, venice 294. \n venice: daniel bomberg 1546 \n the first work attributed to an author subsequent to the close of the talmudic era.===written for the thoughtful laymen, it is a collection of homilies based upon the order of the the weekly readings of the torah and focusing on moral duties and ethical law."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"5","title":{"en":"achai gaon."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114477/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book title page, attributed to \"achai gaon,\" likely from the early modern period. The page is primarily in Hebrew and is framed by an impressive architectural woodcut border, featuring an arched entryway flanked by classical columns with intricate bases and capitals. The top portion of the frame includes a decorative frieze and a pediment-like structure, all adorned with stylized floral and geometric patterns. The overall impression is one of solemnity and classical design, characteristic of early printed religious texts.","soldPrice":1700,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.921Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114477,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114478/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"divrei rivoth [responsa]. \n \n first edition. wide-margined copy. \n ff. 220 (of 227) opening seven leaves provided in facsimile, variously stained, paper repairs to f. 8 with loss, final two leaves remargined. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut morocco. folio. vinograd, salonika 107. \n salonika: david ben abraham azubib 1582 \n the author (1510-1584?) rabbi of the lisbon jewish congregation in salonika, was a disciple of r. joseph taitatzak and a colleague of r. samuel de medina (the maharashda\u201dm). in this important collection of responsa adarbi often takes exception to the latter\u2019s rulings. see ej, vol. ii col. 254."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"6","title":{"en":"adarbi, isaac ben samuel."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114478/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an antique page from a Hebrew book, attributed to \"adarbi, isaac ben samuel,\" featuring dense Hebrew text arranged in a single column with a wider margin. The content appears to be scholarly or religious, indicated by the layout and script. The page has a classic, unadorned typography, typical of early printed Hebrew texts. The paper shows signs of age, with slight discoloration and visible texture, and a portion of the binding on the left edge is visible, suggesting it's an inner page of a bound volume.","soldPrice":500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.922Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114478,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114479/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher ha\u2019agudah [halachic compendium arranged in order of the tractates of the talmud]. \n \n first edition. title within elaborate architectural arch. letters of initial words set within vignettes. printed in double columns. a wide-margined copy. \n ff. 4, 250. touch browned in few places, final leaf with neat paper repairs. bound in valmadonna-custom maroon blind-tooled calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, cracow 32. \n cracow: isaac prostitz 1571 \n the sepher ha\u2019agudah is a widely-popular, authoritative code, cited extensively by r. jacob halevi moellin (mahari\u201dl) and r. moses isserles (ram\u201da). it was published from a manuscript with corrections supplied by joseph hakohen (author of responsa she\u2019erith yoseph and brother-in-law of the ram\u201da). the author of sepher ha\u2019agudah (d. 1348), was a disciple of r. isaac of dueren and served as rabbi in cologne, worms and frankfurt. see ej, vol. ii, cols. 585-6."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"7","title":{"en":"alexander suesslin hakohen of frankfurt"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114479/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book title page, attributed to \"alexander suesslin hakohen of frankfurt,\" featuring a grand architectural woodcut frame. The main text is in Hebrew, set within an archway supported by intricately carved columns. The upper part of the frame includes a pediment with a central cartouche depicting a scene, possibly mythological or allegorical, crowned by an eagle with outstretched wings. Decorative putti adorn the corners of the upper structure, enhancing the elaborate Baroque-influenced design. Handwritten Hebrew script is visible along the left margin, indicating previous annotations.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.924Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114479,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114480/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"torath moshe [commentary to the pentateuch]. \n \n third edition. title within architectural arch. final page with woodcut device featuring the temple in jerusalem. \n ff. 330. trimmed and browned, title remargined, upper edges of final few leaves frayed. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled maroon calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, prague 265. \n prague: abraham heide 1616"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"8","title":{"en":"alsheich, moses"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114480/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This item is a printed book, specifically an illuminated title page from a Hebrew text by Moses Alsheich. The design features an architectural archway, flanked by two spiraling columns adorned with foliage. Above the arch, an ornate pediment displays decorative motifs and crowns. The main text is in Hebrew script, centrally placed within the arch, and the overall aesthetic is typical of early modern European printing.","soldPrice":750,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.925Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114480,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114481/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"ma\u2019aloth hamidoth. \n \n second edition, first with this title. few words censored and subsequently replaced in an early hand. \n f. 83. stained and soiled in places with occasional loss of a word or two, few paper repairs, two small tears on title. bound in valmadonna-custom full calf with blind-tooled central elements on upper and lower covers, spine with gilt-tooled morocco title labels. sm. 4to. vinograd, cremona 1; benayahu, cremona 2; mehlman 977; st. cat. bodl. 5660:2 (ed. maximae raritatis); not in adams. \n cremona: vicenzo conti 1556 \n << the first hebrew book printed in cremona.>>===anav\u2019s ma\u2019aloth hamidoth is renowned for its ethical insights and enumeration of the twenty-four steps necessary for character development. later rabbinic luminaries such as r. ya\u2019akov emden highly regarded the work - evident from the fact that he included entire chapters of it in his own migdal oz. ma\u2019aloth hamidoth was particularly venerated by the adherents of the mussar movement of novardok and it was republished many times. it should be noted that when it first appeared (constantinople, 1511) the work was known as beith midoth.===it has been noted there are many significant textual changes between the first and second editions. as weiner's koheleth moshe notes (no. 1332), the author's introduction first appeared in the second edition and it seems apparent, each printer worked from a different manuscript. see s.h. kook, iyunim u'mechkarim vol. ii, pp. 268-9."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"9","title":{"en":"anav, yechiel ben yekuthiel."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114481/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a printed book, likely a religious or philosophical text, titled \"Sefer Ma'alot ha-Midot\" by Yechiel ben Yekuthiel Anav. The page is an opening or title page, featuring Hebrew script in various fonts and sizes. It includes an emblem, possibly a printer's mark, depicting a crown over an ornate vase. The paper shows signs of age with some staining and discoloration.","soldPrice":1600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.926Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114481,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114482/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114482/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"mizmor lethodah [commentary to selected psalms, with vocalized text]. \n \n first edition. title within wreathed columns. opening letters within decorative woodcut vignettes. wider margins. marginal notations. \n ff. 184. trace dampstained. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut calf, blind-tooled central panels with elegant gilt piping. 4to. vinograd, venice 614. \n venice: giovanni di gara 1576 \n the author (c. 1540-post 1586) interprets the esoteric verses of selected psalms in many differing styles, from peshat to zoharic."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"10","title":{"en":"aripul, samuel."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114482/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique page from a Hebrew book, attributed to \"aripul, samuel,\" featuring dense Hebrew text. The page layout includes two distinct sections of text, possibly a main body and commentary, typical of scholarly or religious Hebrew works. A decorative element, an olive branch or laurel sprig, is visible above the larger Hebrew script. The paper exhibits characteristics of age, such as slight discoloration and a visible binding edge, suggesting it is an internal page of a historical volume.","soldPrice":1700,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:01.928Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114482,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114483/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114483/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"yosef lekach [commentary to the book of esther, with text]. \n \n first edition. title within historiated woodcut architectural arch. wider margins. signed by censors at end. \n ff. 83. previous owner\u2019s marks, few stains. bound in valmadonna-custom maroon blind-tooled calf embellished in gilt extra, titled in gilt on spine. sm. 4to. vinograd, cremona 47. \n cremona: christopher draconi 1576 \n eliezer aschkenazi (1512-85) held influential positions in widely scattered jewish communities from egypt, cyprus and italy to the major centers in poland (posen and cracow), where he died. his biblical exegesis is permeated with the contemporary rationalistic spirit of rabbinical scholarship.===this edition of yosef lekach, was the last hebrew book printed in cremona, which for a little over twenty years was a center of jewish learning and printing, amidst the rigid censorship of the inquisition. see d. amram, the makers of hebrew books in italy (1963) pp. 306-19.===for an analysis of typographical variances found in this edition, see m. benayahu, hadephus ha\u2019ivri be\u2019cremona (1971) pp. 232-33."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"11","title":{"en":"aschkenazi, eliezer ben elijah harof&egrave;"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114483/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book title page, attributed to \"aschkenazi, eliezer ben elijah harofè,\" featuring a decorative architectural woodcut frame. The main text is in Hebrew, surrounded by an ornate border with classical elements, including columns with leaf-like capitals and a pediment at the top. Two cherubs or putti are depicted at the top corners, and two figures, possibly also putti, appear to be climbing or supporting the columns. The page shows signs of age with some discoloration and a few minor stains.","soldPrice":900,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.160Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114483,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114484/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114484/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(editor). margalioth tovah [super-commentaries to abraham ibn ezra on the chumash: ohel yoseph, mekor chaim and megilath setarim] \n \n first edition. deluxe copy, printed entirely on blue paper. \n ff. (4), 156. final plate in facsimile. bound in valmadonna-custom gilt-tooled chestnut calf, spine in compartments and elaborately tooled in gilt. folio. housed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, amsterdam 1192. \n amsterdam: isaac de cordova 1722 \n << rare, bibliophilic edition. printed entirely on blue paper.>>===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 33."},"estimateMax":1800,"lotNumber":"12","title":{"en":"aschkenazi, yekuthiel."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114484/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1200,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book page, specifically a title or dedicatory page, attributed to \"aschkenazi, yekuthiel.\" The text is entirely in Hebrew, printed on pale blue paper, enclosed within a decorative border of text, forming a frame. The layout is somewhat dense, featuring multiple blocks of text of varying sizes and styles. The page, likely from an early modern period, shows some creasing and general wear consistent with age, indicating its historical provenance as a printed work.","soldPrice":1200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.161Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,200 - $1,800","currency":"USD","id":114484,"estimateMin":1200},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114485/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"devek tov [super-commentary to rashi on the pentateuch] \n \n second edition. woodcut map of the travels of the children of israel on f. 112v, geographical depiction of land of israel, egypt and surrounding seas on f. 53r, jacob\u2019s ladder in juxtaposition to the land of israel on f. 28v. early marginal notations in several hands. \n ff. 112 (of 128) final 16 leaves supplied in facsimile. title and few other leaves stained, previous owner\u2019s marks. bound in valmadonna-custom full maroon calf. housed in fitted slip-case. 4to. vinograd, cracow 130. \n cracow: isaac protitz 1590"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"13","title":{"en":"auschenberg, shimon."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114485/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a manuscript page featuring a hand-drawn map or plan, likely by Shimon Auschenberg. The map depicts a layout of spaces or buildings, with labels in Hebrew script. Various rooms and areas are outlined, and some include numerical or textual annotations. The paper shows signs of age, including some smudging and a circular stamp with Hebrew text, possibly indicating a library or collection mark.","soldPrice":850,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.163Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114485,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114486/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114486/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(abu ali al-hussein ibn abdallah ibn sina). hakanon hagadol - canon medicinae. translated from arabic into hebrew by nathan of cento (hame'ati). \n \n first edition. five parts bound in one. double columns. early annotations in hebrew and latin several hands. a wide-margined copy. \n ff. 477 (of 480) opening three leaves provided in facsimile. previous owner\u2019s marks, few initial leaves stained or soiled, one leaf laid to size, occasional expert marginal repairs, otherwise an attractive copy. bound in valmadonna-custom deep-cherry blind-tooled morocco, spine titled in gilt, with twin clasps and hinges, thick folio. housed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, naples 26; goff heb-4; offenberg 6; steinschneider, p. 767, no. 4486-1; thes. a71; wineman cat. 41; friedenwald, p. 45. not in cambridge university. \n naples: azriel ben joseph aschkenazi gunzenhauser 1491-2 \n << the first medical text printed in hebrew.>>===the persian ibn sina, or avicenna (980-1037) as he was referred to in the west, was one of the greatest physicians and philosophers of the muslim world. in the latter realm he would exert a profound influence on maimonides. avicenna wrote a work on cardiology, al-adwiya al-qalbiyya (\u201con remedies for the heart\u201d), but by far, his most important contribution to the field of medicine is this work: al-qanun fi al-tibb (\u201ccanon of medicine\u201d), which was translated into hebrew by nathan hame'ati in 1279. in this truly encyclopedic undertaking, avicenna drew upon the earlier teachings of hippocrates and galen, and upon his own empirical observations.===the five parts of the canon were originally published in naples in 1491-92 as a set of three volumes. the contents range from common ailments to life-threatening diseases, and provide an extensive pharmacopeia. the canon remained one of the basic works of instruction in european medical schools until the beginning of the 16th-century.===see s.m. afnan, avicenna, his life and works (1958); n. berger ed., jews and medicine (1995), p. 56; ej, vol. iii, cols. 955-960.===the naples canon is somewhat notorious among hebrew bibliographers due to the difficulty in presenting a precise collation of the work. no consensus seems to exist."},"estimateMax":70000,"lotNumber":"14","title":{"en":"avicenna."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114486/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":50000,"aiDescription":"This item is a large, open printed book attributed to Avicenna, likely a Hebrew translation of a medical or philosophical work. The pages are laid out in a multi-column format with dense Hebrew text. The binding appears to be dark brown, and the book is held open by what looks like a leather or metal clasp on the left, indicating a substantial volume. The paper shows a creamy, aged patina, consistent with antique printing.","soldPrice":60000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.164Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$50,000 - $70,000","currency":"USD","id":114486,"estimateMin":50000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114487/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114487/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"biur al hatorah [commentary to the torah] \n \n title within architectural arch. title of each of the five books within an elaborate woodcut border incorporating the elephant-and-castle printer\u2019s mark of cavalli (yaari, printer\u2019s devices 33). \n ff. 251. stained in places, opening few leaves neatly remargined, signatures on title. bound in valmadonna-custom mahogany calf inlaid in blind and gilt. folio. vinograd, venice 514. \n venice: giorgio di cavalli 1566 \n bachiah ben asher ben chalawa (13th-century), dayan of saragossa, was a kabbalist of the school of r. solomon ibn adret of barcelona (the rashb\"a). his commentary is one of the most influential encyclopedic works on the torah utilizing a wide variety of sources. noteworthy are his kabbalistic references, midrashic interpretations as well as citations from lost midrashim. the immense popularity of rabbeinu bachiah\u2019s work is attested to by the dozen or so super-commentaries that have been written upon it."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"15","title":{"en":"bachiah ben asher"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114487/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a printed book, featuring an ornate title page for a work by Bachiah ben Asher. The page is designed with an elaborate architectural frame, including two large columns and a decorative entablature with putti, foliage, and an eagle. Hebrew script forms the central text, providing details about the book and author. The page exhibits some handwritten annotations in the margins, and the paper has a warm, aged tone.","soldPrice":1800,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.165Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114487,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114488/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"shulchan (shel) arba [on proper conduct at the table, benedictions, the banquet in the world to come and resurrection of the dead] \n \n third edition. printer\u2019s device on title (yaari, hebrew printer\u2019s marks no. 16). censor\u2019s signature at end (dated 1601), with his ink deletions in places. \n ff. 11. touch stained. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut morocco, spine in compartments, titled on spine in gilt. housed in fitted slip-case. folio. vinograd, venice 296. \n venice: cornelio adelkind for marco antonio giustiniani 1545 \n extensive research into rabbeinu bachiah\u2019s rabbinic approach and thought was undertaken by ephraim gottlieb: the kabbalah in the writings of r. bahya ben asher (jerusalem, 1970)."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"16","title":{"en":"bachiah ben asher."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114488/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":700,"aiDescription":"This item is a printed book page, likely a title page or opening page, from a work by Bachiah ben Asher. The page features Hebrew text in various sizes, including a prominent title \"Sefer Shulhan Arba\". A printer's mark or emblem is centrally located at the bottom, depicting an urn-like structure with banners. The paper is aged, showing some discoloration and minor staining, and there's a handwritten notation at the top left.","soldPrice":850,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.167Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$700 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114488,"estimateMin":700},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114489/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"kad hakemach [philosophy] \n \n second edition. title within garlanded architectural arch and featuring printer's device of giustiniani (see yaari, hebrew printers' marks 16). opening words within magnificent engraved surround. \n ff. 83. stained in places (especially ff. 76-7). bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut blind-tooled morocco, spine in compartments, titled on spine in gilt. housed in fitted slip-case. folio. vinograd, venice 268. \n venice: cornelio adelkind for marco antonio giustiniani 1546 \n arranged alphabetically, kad hakemach is a virtual encyclopedia of ethics replete with homiletic interpretations of biblical verses and aggadic passages. see m. waxman, jewish literature, vol. ii pp. 275-6; ej, vol. iv, cols. 104-5."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"17","title":{"en":"bachiah ben asher."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114489/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a printed book, showcasing an elaborately decorated title page from a work by Bachiah ben Asher, possibly \"Sefer Kad ha-Kemah\". The page features an intricate border design composed of floral garlands, architectural elements like columns, and decorative scrolls. A central printer's mark or emblem, similar to a crowned urn with banners, is present at the bottom. The text is in Hebrew, framed by the decorative elements, and the paper shows signs of age.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.168Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114489,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114490/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"chovoth halevavoth. translated by judah ibn tibbon. \n \n title set within architectural arch. opening and rear blanks with lengthy manuscript entries comprising extracts from the zohar and talmud. \n ff. 103. few light stains. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut blind-tooled calf, titled in gilt on spine. sm. 4to. vinograd, mantua 62. \n mantua: n.p. 1559 \n an attractive copy of this classic work, with new corrections plus seven leaves of indices to bible and talmud.===throughout the ages, chovoth halevavoth enjoyed wide popularity in a variety of circles, although in later centuries eastern european jews would shy away from the introductory sha\u2019ar hayichud, which is of a decidedly philosophical nature, and instead focus on the remainder of the work, centered upon ethical guidance."},"estimateMax":1800,"lotNumber":"18","title":{"en":"bachiah ben joseph ibn paquda."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114490/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1200,"aiDescription":"This item is a printed book, featuring a highly decorative title page for \"Sefer Hovot ha-Levavot\" by Bachiah ben Joseph ibn Paquda. The design presents an architectural archway with spiraling columns and ornate details, reminiscent of a synagogue ark. Hebrew script forms the central text, providing the book's title and author information. The page exhibits a classic, aged paper appearance, with some minor discoloration.","soldPrice":1900,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.169Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,200 - $1,800","currency":"USD","id":114490,"estimateMin":1200},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114491/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"gedulath mordechai [novellae on the mordechai\u2019s halachic output]. appended: agudath ezov. \n \n first edition. signatures on title-page including r. moshe mintz of radavyl (see otzer harabanim no. 14912). \n ff. 116. heavily foxed. bound in valmadonna-custom mahogany blind-tooled calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, hanau 14. \n hanau: hans jacob henna 1615 \n << rare.>> the contemporary author, a native of gnessen (gniezno, vicinity of posen) records in the present introduction that he wrote this text after arriving in prague and encountering there three manuscripts on the mordechai written by three leading rabbinic scholars: the mahara\u2019l, r. yitzchak chajes (pachad yitzchak) and r. eliezer aschkenazi (ma\u2019aseh hashem). he utilized all these works, to make one new composition \u201clacking nothing - for a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.\u201d===see m. j. heller, the seventeenth century hebrew book, vol. i, pp. 314-5."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"19","title":{"en":"baruch ben david."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114491/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This item is a printed book page from a work by Baruch ben David, possibly a prayer book or religious text. The page features a decorative border around the main body of Hebrew text, which is set in multiple font sizes. At the bottom, there is a printer's device, possibly a signature or an emblem, along with the Latin phrase \"Cum licentia Imperiorum\". The paper shows significant aging, with an uneven, darkened patina and some stains.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.170Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114491,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114492/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"derech emunah [philosophy]. \n \n first edition. a wide-margined copy. few marginal notes. \n ff. (102). recently foliated in pencil, previous owner\u2019s signatures, title with two-word title laid down, final page lightly soiled. bound in valmadonna-custom full calf. folio. vinograd, const. 127; mehlman 1193; deinard, atikoth yehudah p. 16. \n constantinople: n.p. 1521 \n as the title suggests, derech emunah is a presentation of the jewish religion whose ultimate goal leads to the highest understanding of god, and ultimately, eternal happiness.===many biblical and rabbinic passages are explained here, yet the author also takes note of christian and mohammedan theology. he quotes greek philosophers such as plato, aristotle, and pythagoras, also euclid and ptolemeus, galen and themistius, as well as arabic thinkers: averroes, avicenna, alfarabi and gazzali and even the fable-book \u201ckalila we-dimna.\u201d of jewish writers he often quotes not only rationalists like maimonides, nachmanides, and other such philosophers, but also many kabbalistic works (je).===abraham bibago was born in the spanish province of aragon and resided in huesca and saragossa. he likely died just prior to the expulsion of jews from spain. according to isaac arama, bibago was \u201cone of the most important scholars and philosophers of our people\u201d (akeidath yitzchak, gate 80).===see a. lazaroff, the theology of abraham bibagio: a defence of the divine will, knowledge and providence in fifteenth century spanish-jewish philosophy (1981)."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"20","title":{"en":"bibago, abraham ben shem-tov."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114492/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This item is an open printed book, presenting a page from a work by Abraham ben Shem-Tov Bibago. The page features Hebrew text arranged in a two-column format with differing line spacing. Headings or chapter titles are highlighted with larger font sizes. The paper appears aged, with a yellowish hue, and shows some minor imperfections, consistent with early printing.","soldPrice":5000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.172Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114492,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114493/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114493/006/006.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew. five scrolls, daniel, ezra, nehemiah). chamesh megiloth [song of songs, ecclesiastes, esther, ruth, lamentations]. <<* and:>> daniel, ezra, nechemiah. \n \n with commentary of rashi (except lamentations which has the commentary of joseph ben simeon kara). biblical text in square type with nikud. commentary in rabbinic type without nikud. initial words panel within decorative white vine metalcut border. wider margins. \n ff. 62. few leaves provided from another copy, final leaf with loss to outer margin with loss of few words provided in facsimile, previous owner\u2019s marks including pencil foliations and censor\u2019s annotations, trace stained, expert marginal paper repairs. bound in valmadonna-custom maroon blind-tooled crushed morocco, spine in compartments and tiled in gilt. sm. folio. housed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, naples 2; goff heb-26; thes. a-59; offenberg 46; bmc xiii, p. 51; iakerson 46. \n naples: [joseph ben jacob aschkenazi gunzenhauser] 1487 \n << first edition of kethuvim in hebrew.>>===these eight biblical books form the heart of the final section of the hebrew bible (hagiographa).===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, incunables no. 32.===one of the peculiarities of this incunable edition of the five megiloth is the fact that the commentaries are not identified. while the commentary of rashi was chosen to grace the books of ecclesiastes, esther, ruth and song of songs, that of r. joseph kara was chosen for lamentations. gerson cohen speculates that this was the first edition of the five megiloth to contain these commentaries. see g.cohen, hebrew incunabula\u2026yeshiva university (1984), p.109, no.40.===according to joshua bloch: \u201cvery few copies of the naples hagiographa were known in the 18th-century. in fact, when in 1735 dr. theo. pellet presented a copy of the naples kethuvim to the library of eton college, he described it as unique\u201d (see hebrew printing and bibliography, in: studies by joshua bloch (1976) p.124, n. 32)."},"estimateMax":18000,"lotNumber":"21","title":{"en":"withdrawn - (bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114493/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":12000,"aiDescription":"This is a page from a biblical text, likely a Hebrew Bible or a commentary thereof. The subject matter is religious scripture, presented in Hebrew script. The page features a decorative border around the title, characteristic of early printed books. The text is arranged in multiple columns, with the main title prominently displayed at the top within an ornate frame. The page exhibits some signs of age, including slight discoloration and minor wear along the edges.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.150Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$12,000 - $18,000","currency":"USD","id":114493,"estimateMin":12000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114494/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"polyglot. psalms). psalterium in quatuor linguis hebraea graeca chaldaea latina. text printed in four columns across double-page. hebrew, greek, amharic (ethiopian- not chaldee) and latin. edited by johann potken, with the assistance of johann soter. \n \n title within elaborate woodcut arabesque and floral border. inscription on title. dense scholarly notes throughout the work. short dutch description on opening free endpaper. \n ff. (144). trimmed, few stains, title lightly worn. 19th-century gilt-tooled straight-grain morocco by w. carbentus court binder to the hague, all edges gilt, head and foot of spine expertly repaired. sm. folio. housed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, cologne 1; darlow & moule 1413; adams b-1371; d.s. berkowitz, in remembrance of creation (1968) no. 175. \n cologne: [johannes potken] 1518 \n << the first hebrew book printed in cologne. the first biblical polyglot with an ethiopic translation. only the second book ever printed with ethiopic type.>>===the title of this work is misleading; \u201cchaldaea\u201d not being aramaic but ethiopic. the editor, johann potken learned ethiopic from abyssinian monks in rome and edited the first ethiopic psalter printed in 1513. the present edition is the first appearance of the ethiopic version in a polyglot edition."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"22","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114494/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This item is a printed page from a Psalterium, or book of Psalms, presented in four languages: Hebrew, Greek, Chaldean, and Latin. The date 'MDXVIII' (1518) is visible on the title page, indicating it is an early 16th-century work. The page features an elaborate, intricate woodcut border with floral and geometric patterns, framing the multilingual title. This design is typical of Renaissance-era printing, showcasing both textual and decorative craftsmanship.","soldPrice":8000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.152Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114494,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114495/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew). complete, bound in ten volumes. \n \n printer\u2019s device on all titles, with nikud (vowel points), initial words within engraved cartouche. ruled in red throughout. * vol. i: genesis, ff. (146); exodus, ff. (123). * vol. ii: leviticus, ff. 88; numbers, ff. 122; deuteronomy, ff. 107. * vol. iii: five scrolls, ff. 80; joshua, ff. 77; judges, ff. 73. * vol. iv: samuel, ff. 176. * vol. v: kings, ff. 184. * vol. vi: isaiah, ff. 131; jeremiah, ff. 168. * vol. vii: ezekiel, ff. 144; minor prophets, ff. 117. * vol. viii: psalms, ff. 160. * vol. ix: proverbs, ff. 53; job, ff. 61; daniel, ff. 80; ezra, ff. 47; nehemiah, ff. 73. * vol. x: chronicles, ff. 183. \n touched discolored. bound in uniform 18th-century gilt-ruled calf, covers tooled with initials above cross, spines in compartments tooled in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. expertly rebacked, spines darkened. 16mo. housed in valmadonna-custom fitted box. vinograd, paris 18; darlow & moule (noted only, not listed) below no. 5089; adams b-1224. \n paris: robertus stephanus 1545-46 \n << splendidly printed pocket renaissance hebrew bible. attractively bound.>>===\u201ca typographical jewel\u201d see f. schreiber, the estiennes, an annotated catalogue (1982) no. 82."},"estimateMax":9000,"lotNumber":"23","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114495/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":7000,"aiDescription":"This lot consists of multiple volumes of a biblical text, likely a complete set or a substantial portion thereof. The books are bound in a uniform brown leather with gilt tooling on the covers and spines, typical of religious texts from the early modern period. One volume lies open, displaying an illustrated title page for 'Leviticus' in Hebrew and Latin, featuring a small, simple woodcut illustration of a tree. The spines have labels, with the open book's title page suggesting a bilingual presentation.","soldPrice":10000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.153Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$7,000 - $9,000","currency":"USD","id":114495,"estimateMin":7000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114496/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew). chamisha chumshei torah [pentateuch-end]. \n \n title within architectural arch. divisional titles. various manuscript notations and translations by former owners. rear cover tooled in gilt: \u201csheriff court, edinburgh.\u201d \n ff. 369, 124. fore-edges blackened. later calf, heavily rubbed, rear cover detached. 4to. vinograd, venice 432. \n venice: giustiniani-adelkind 1551-52 \n << with important association to scotland.>>===front pastedown inscribed in a 19th-century hand: \u201cthis volume was brought to the sheriff court at edinburgh, to remain there, to be used in the proper and efficient putting upon oath of jewish witnesses.\u201d===although jews have been present in scotland since at least the late 17th century, edinburgh\u2019s jewish community dates back to 1817.===<< accompanied by:>> newspaper report relating to the exhibition of this volume in edinburgh, and correspondence between the custodian of the valmadonna trust and the sheriff clerk\u2019s office, edinburgh."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"24","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114496/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is a title page from a Hebrew Bible, specifically identifying as 'חמשה חומשי תורה' (The Five Books of Torah). The page features an elaborate architectural woodcut border with classical columns adorned with grapes and leaves, framing the title and a central illustration of a building, possibly a temple or synagogue. The text is primarily in Hebrew script, and the overall style suggests an early modern printing period with decorative religious iconography. The page shows signs of age, including discoloration and slight wear on the edges.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.155Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114496,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114497/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"five scrolls. with commentaries by isaac arama, rashi and targum. with introductions by arama (the ba\u2019al akeidah) and commentary to esther by his son. \n \n first word of each book within decorative border. marginalia throughout. censored in places and signed by censors at end. final page with acquisition detail by joseph-baruch lampronti, dated 1703. \n ff. 46, 14. stained, few marginal repairs. bound in valmadonna-custom deep maroon blind-tooled crushed morocco, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, riva di trento 29; mehlman 45. \n riva di trento: jacob marcaria 1561 \n supplement to the marcaria chumash, 1561."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"25","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114497/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a page from a biblical text, likely a Hebrew Bible, presented in multiple columns. The text is in Hebrew script. A prominent rectangular frame with an ornate, flowing border contains a central title or section heading, indicating a new portion of the scripture. The page exhibits a classical layout for religious texts, with clear divisions and decorative elements. The paper shows natural aging and a rich patina.","soldPrice":850,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.156Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114497,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114498/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"haphtaroth. according to both aschkenazi and sephardi custom. with commentary of r. david kimchi (rada\u201dk). \n \n title within large architectural arch, with signature of moshe wertheim and his son, meir wider margins. \n ff. 38 (of 42), final four leaves provided in facsimile. worn and stained in places, corners of few leaves repaired with loss of text. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards. tall folio. vinograd, venice 543; habermann, di gara 5. \n venice: giovanni di gara 1568 \n supplement to the di gara chumash, 1567-8."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"26","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114498/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a title page from a biblical text, featuring a grand architectural woodcut border. The design depicts an elaborate archway supported by classical columns, adorned with decorative motifs, framing the Hebrew title. The text is in Hebrew script, suggesting it is part of a Hebrew Bible or a related religious work. The page has a classic, ornate style common in early modern European printing for significant religious publications.","soldPrice":650,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.158Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114498,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114499/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew). derech hakodesh - via sancta. prepared by elias hutter. ff. (6), pp. 1572 (i.e. 1568). <<* bound with:>> hutter, elias. cubus alphabeticus sanct&aelig; ebr&aelig;&aelig; lingu&aelig;. ff. (30). \n \n divisional titles. woodcut charts. manuscript interlinear latin translation of several books. \n lightly worn and occasionally stained. bound in valmadonna-custom full calf, spine titled in gilt. lg. folio. vinograd, hamburg 4; adams b-1235 and h-1244. \n hamburg: jacob wolf - johann saxon 1587-88 \n \u201cin this edition the root letters are printed in thick type and the inflectional letters in hollow type; and when a root letter in any word does not appear, it is printed in small type above the line.\u201d darlow & moule 5108.===<< \u201can extraordinarily ambitious feat of scholarship.\u201d>> see d.s. berkowitz, in rememberance of creation: evolution of art and scholarship in the medieval and renaissance bible (1968), no.171."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"27","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114499/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is the title page of a 'Biblia Sacra' (Holy Bible) by Elia Hvtero Germano, printed in Hamburg in 'Anno M. D. LXXXVII' (1587). The prominent subject matter is the Bible, presented in a unique typographic style, notably with large, decorative Hebrew characters at the top and a cross-shaped arrangement of Hebrew text towards the bottom. The language is Latin and Hebrew, suggesting a scholarly or polyglot edition from the late 16th century, designed for clear distinction and study of the sacred language.","soldPrice":3000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.159Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114499,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114500/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"polyglot). biblia sacra. genesis-ruth (all published). \n \n prepared by elias hutter. title within woodcut historiated border featuring vignettes of biblical scenes including the tree of knowledge, noah\u2019s ark, and the binding of isaac. divisional title. text arranged in six columns across two pages in the following languages: hebrew, aramaic, greek, latin, german, italian. formerly in the library of paul von fleischl-marxow (whose brother ernst was a mentor to sigmund freud). \n pp. (6), 287, 851, 319. initial leaves frayed, variously worn and stained in places, occasional light worming. contemporary lavishly blind-tooled vellum over thick wooden boards, with valmadonna-custom gilt-tooled morocco spine-labels. thick folio. cf. vinograd, n&uuml;rnberg 2; darlow and moule 1426; david s. berkowitz, in remembrance of creation, pp. 179-80. \n n&uuml;rnberg: for elias hutter 1599 \n << hutter\u2019s hexaglot bible, an extraordinarily ambitious feat of scholarship.>>===text in six columns extending across opposite pages. featuring (from left to right): aramaic, hebrew, greek, latin, german and italian (in place of french as stated in title).===hutter produced four issues of this polyglot, with the sixth language differing - sloven, italian, low-german, and french - depending on the intended audience. in the words of david s. berkowitz, \u201cthe parade of linguistic learning is (little) short of stupefying\u201d (remembrance of creation, p. 104)."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"28","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114500/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a bound volume of a 'Bible Polyglot,' as indicated by the label on its spine, printed in Nuremberg in 1599. The book is bound in a worn, brown leather with decorative blind-stamped tooling visible on the covers. The spine features raised bands and two labels, clearly identifying the content and date. The overall appearance is consistent with a significant scholarly or liturgical work from the late 16th century, showing considerable age and use.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.160Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114500,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114501/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew, latin and greek). biblia hebraica. - novum testamentum graecum. interlinear latin translation by arias montanus. individual title-pages each with elaborate woodcut devices. \n \n two volumes bound in one. \n pp. (26), 183, (1), 283, (1), 84, 203, (3), 134, 186, (8). lightly worn and stained, lower corners of opening three leaves repaired. contemporary vellum, with valmadonna-custom gilt-titled morocco spine labels, new endpapers, backstrip starting. folio. vinograd, geneva 7; darlow & moule 4662 and 5113. \n geneva: capa elon (i.e. p. de la rouvi&egrave;re) 1609 \n the hebrew old testament with latin interlinear; bound with the new testament and apocrypha providing the greek text with latin version."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"29","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114501/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is the title page of a 'Biblia Hebraica' (Hebrew Bible) with a 'Latina Pagina Interpretatio' (Latin page interpretation) by Xantis Pagnini, and mentions Benedicti Aria Montani as editor, along with Apocrypha. The page features a large, decorative cartouche illustration depicting a biblical scene, possibly a judgment or a pastoral setting, framed by an ornate border. The text is presented in both Latin and Hebrew, indicating a polyglot or bilingual edition. The overall appearance suggests a scholarly biblical edition from an early modern period.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.162Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114501,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114502/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew). chamishah chumshei torah [-end]. \n \n printer\u2019s device on opening title. three divisional title pages and additional sectional blanks. initial words within woodcut historiation. printed in double columns, with nikud (vowel points). chapters and verse delineation in a red calligraphic hand. occasional marginal notations in latin. \n ff. 369, (1), 124. touch stained, previous owner\u2019s inscriptions on title-page. later gilt-tooled sheep, with valmadonna-custom gilt-titled morocco spine-label, rubbed. thick 4to. vinograd, geneva 11; darlow & moule 5118. \n geneva: capa elon (i.e. pierre de la rouvi&egrave;re) 1617-18 \n << bound with:>> novum testamentum graecum. pp. (8), 453, 16. geneva, pierre de la rouvi&egrave;re, 1620. [darlow & moule, see note below 4667]"},"estimateMax":1000,"lotNumber":"30","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114502/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":700,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew Bible, specifically a Pentateuch (Five Books of Moses), dating to an early modern period. The text is in Hebrew, featuring a title page with a decorative printer's mark depicting a figure with a staff on a shore, overlooking water and a landscape. The page shows signs of age, including some staining and handwritten annotations in ink and possibly pencil at the bottom.","soldPrice":850,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.163Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$700 - $1,000","currency":"USD","id":114502,"estimateMin":700},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114503/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114503/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew). magna biblia rabbinica. with targums and the major classic rabbinic commentaries. edited by johannes buxtorf. \n \n complete in two volumes. divisional titles within architectural woodcut borders, headings within woodcut cartouches. wide margins. vol. i bound with: buxtorf. tiberias. ff. 114. basle, 1620. extensive and detailed scholarly manuscript notations throughout written in latin and occasionally hebrew. \n ff. (7), 481. * ff. (1), 482-946, 67, (2). foxed, few stains, leaves frayed in places. contemporary blind-tooled vellum, with valmadonna-custom gilt-titled spine labels, rubbed and worn. tall folio. vinograd, basle 248; darlow & moule 5120. \n basle: ludwig koenig 1618-19 \n << the sixth, and most scholarly edition of the early rabbinic bibles.>>===the publisher employed jewish as well as christian scholars, printers and correctors in his endeavor to print the most grammatically correct bible edition in full accordance with the mesorah.===<< provenance:>> benjamin niederhofheim - pastor sengelmann - the newman school of missions, thabor jerusalem - university of cambridge: emmanuel college, carus greek testament prize (1912) to l.e. binns - valmadonna trust library."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"31","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114503/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is the title page of a 'Biblia Sacra Hebraica Chaldaica' (Holy Hebrew Chaldaic Bible), featuring an elaborate architectural woodcut border. The design depicts a monumental structure with columns and a decorative pediment, framing the title and publication information. The text is in Hebrew and Latin, indicating a polyglot edition. The overall style suggests a significant religious publication from the early modern period, aimed at scholarly readers of biblical texts in their original languages and an Aramaic translation.","soldPrice":6000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.306Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114503,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114504/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"<<the london polyglot>>). walton, brian, (ed.) old and new testament and apocrypha. text in nine languages: hebrew, samaritan, chaldean (targum onkelos), greek, latin, syriac, ethiopic, arabic, and persian. \n \n complete in six volumes. frontispiece engraving of walton by pierre lombart. engraved title, maps and plates by wenceslaus hollar. title within architectural columns, between which stand moses (left) and aaron (right), while pedestals bear vignettes of adam and eve in paradise (left) and noah\u2019s ark (right). extensive engravings include the temple in jerusalem (both exterior and interior), the sacred vessels, and a relief map of ancient jerusalem. all hebrew texts provided with nikud (vowel points). printed in a variety of exotic types. * vol. i (pentateuch): pp. (16), 53, 38, (2), 102 [i.e. 106], (2), 865. * vol. ii (joshua, judges, ruth, samuel, kings, chronicles, ezra, nehemiah, esther): pp. 889, (1), 29, (1). * vol. iii (job, psalms, proverbs, ecclesiastes, song of songs, isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel, daniel, twelve minor prophets): pp. 447, (1), 389, (1), 227, (1), 149, (1). * vol. iv: (apocrypha) pp. 87, 128, 23, (1), 20, 159, (1); (targum jonathan ben uziel and targum yerushalmi, and persian - to pentateuch) pp. 390. * vol. v (new testament): pp. 983, (1). * vol. vi (appendix - contains critical essays, tables, variant readings, annotations and indices): pp. (2), 72, 56, 98 (i.e. 68), 80, 196, 140, 24, 58, 36, 36, 96 (i.e. 74), (2). \n ruled in red throughout. some staining and light wear, previous owner\u2019s marks. uniform contemporary gilt-tooled calf, rebacked with valmadonna-custom gilt-titling along spines, rubbed. lg. folio. vinograd, london 7; darlow and moule 5130 and 1446; berkowitz, in remembrance of creation 182; laor, maps of the holy land 339. \n london: thomas roycroft 1655-57 \n the fourth and the last of the great polyglots, known as the london, or walton\u2019s polyglot. a monument of english scholarship and typography.===the original (\"republican\") version of this tremendous bible appeared with a lengthy preface in volume i discussing oliver cromwell\u2019s role in the importation of paper for this edition. following the restoration, copies not yet sold were given a \"loyalist\" preface, which omitted mention of cromwell\u2019s help in the production of this bible. the present set is the post-restoration version, with the \u201cloyal\u201d preface in volume i, omitting mention of oliver cromwell, but does not contain the dedication to charles ii.===<< the most accurate and best-equipped of the great polyglots>> (see darlow & moule 1446)."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"32","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114504/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This lot contains a multi-volume set of a polyglot Bible from the early modern period, likely the 17th century based on the internal illustration date. It is a textual work featuring multiple languages. The image displays a volume open to reveal a detailed engraved frontispiece portrait of Brian Walton, and an elaborate architectural title page with biblical scenes and text, indicating its comprehensive scholarly nature. The set is bound in what appears to be contemporary leather or vellum, with the spines showing age and wear.","soldPrice":6500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.308Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114504,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114505/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew and yiddish). sepher hamagid: nevi\u2019im u\u2019kethuvim [prophets and writings]. with rashi and yiddish translation and commentary. \n \n complete in three volumes. end-papers with family-records in yiddish and dutch. \n ff. (1), 247; (1), 294; (1), 264. uniform contemporary calf with ties, valmadonna-custom gilt-tooled morocco spine-labels, rubbed. lg. 4to. vinograd, amsterdam 1482. \n amsterdam: abraham athias 1738"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"33","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114505/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This early modern Hebrew Bible comprises the Nevi'im Rishonim (Former Prophets). The textual work is in Hebrew, and its title page features a decorative border composed of repeated floral or geometric patterns. The page itself exhibits a classic, aged appearance with the Hebrew text printed clearly. The binding appears to be a worn, dark material.","soldPrice":900,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.309Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114505,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114506/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew). chamishah chumshei torah [pentateuch]. with five megiloth and haftaroth. \n \n two parts bound in one. two titles, each printed in red and black within type-ornament border. \n ff. (1), 240, (1), 82. closely shaved, browned. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards, spine titled in gilt. 8vo. vinograd, venice 1783. \n venice: vendramin 1740"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"34","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114506/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This early modern Hebrew textual work is titled 'Sefer Haftarot kol ha-shana,' a collection of Haftarah readings for the entire year. It is written in Hebrew script with some red accents for emphasis. The title page is adorned with an ornate border of interwoven floral or calligraphic motifs. The book's spine is visible, showing pages with slightly browned edges and some marbled paper on the interior cover, typical of the period.","soldPrice":500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.310Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114506,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114507/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114507/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher hachaim [ethics]. \n \n first edition. title within woodcut architectural arch. with signature of rabbi shmuel helman of metz. \n ff. 51, (1). browned and stained in places, previous owners' marks, closely shaved occasionally affecting footers. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled chestnut calf with gilt embellishments. sm. 4to. vinograd, cracow 155; mehlman 1011. \n cracow: isaac prostitz 1593 \n r. chaim ben bezalel (1530-88) was the brother of the celebrated mahara\"l of prague. he studied in lublin under r. solomon luria (the maharsha\u2019l) and r. shalom shachna before being appointed rosh yeshivah of worms, later he served as the rabbi of friedberg."},"estimateMax":4000,"lotNumber":"35","title":{"en":"chaim ben bezalel."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114507/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This early printed textual work is 'Sefer Ha-Hayyim' by Chaim ben Bezalel, a significant rabbinic work from the early modern period. The book is in Hebrew, featuring a grand, architecturally framed title page with columns, ornate capitals, and an imperial eagle motif at the center. The page exhibits browning and some handwritten marginalia at the top.","soldPrice":3250,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.312Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $4,000","currency":"USD","id":114507,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114508/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"vikuach yosef vehashevatim [\u201cthe debate between joseph and the tribes.\u201d] \n \n first edition. complete as issued without title-page. the solomon of dubno copy, with his signature (and others) on opening page. \n ff. 12. browned. bound in valmadonna-custom morocco-backed marbled boards. sm. 4to. vinograd, amsterdam 169. \n amsterdam: immanuel benveniste 1650 \n the goal of this ethical work is to explain the biblical account of joseph and his brothers in a way that presents both sides as acting righteously, as one would expect the sons of jacob to do. also contains eulogies.===the author was rabbi of the polish town of gniezno (gnesen) located in the poznan (posen) west-central region of the country."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"36","title":{"en":"chanoch ben abraham."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114508/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":700,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed textual work by Chanoch ben Abraham, featuring a significant Hebrew text. The page displays a densely printed Hebrew text on aged paper, with marginal annotations, suggesting scholarly use. A distinctive feature is the marbled endpaper visible along the left edge, indicating a decorative binding element from the early modern period.","soldPrice":1050,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.313Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$700 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114508,"estimateMin":700},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114509/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"b\u2019nei shemuel [responsa and halachiv novellae]. \n \n first edition. two parts bound in one volume. wider margins. marginal notations. \n ff. 113, 144. light stains in places, damp-wrinkled, several leaves expertly laid to size. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards, corners vellum-tipped, spine gilt-titled. sm. folio. vinograd, salonika 175. \n salonika: n.p. 1613 \n r. shemaiah di modena composed the introduction to this work and relates that it is entitled \"bnei shmuel,\" as the author - (who was named after his grandfather, samuel di modena, the maharshda\"m), had no children of his own, hence his legacy is the present work of torah scholarship.===the afterword recounts the author's losses due to civil unrest in salonika in 1614. see y. mehlman, genuzoth sepharim, p. 92.===see also m. j. heller, the seventeenth century hebrew book, vol. i, pp. 296-7."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"37","title":{"en":"chayon, samuel."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114509/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an early modern Hebrew textual work by Samuel Chayon, likely a religious or scholarly text. The page shows a printed Hebrew text, sparse on the page, with clear and well-preserved script. The paper is light-toned with some age-related toning and minor spots, characteristic of early printed books. The overall appearance is simple, focusing on the textual content.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.314Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114509,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114510/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"kehunath avraham [poetical paraphrase of the book of psalms]. with b\u2019nei keturah [verse to perek shirah]. \n \n first edition. six parts in one volume, each part proceeded by individual title page (featuring cherubs sounding trumpets). additional engraved title depicting tamarisk plant surrounded by 14-part historiated border featuring king david with harp, priestly hands, angels and cherubs with musical instruments, etc. (see yaari, printer\u2019s marks no. 97). engraved plate prior to b\u2019nei keturah (between f. 52-3) entitled \u201cbarchu hashem kol tzva\u2019av\u201d - depicting celestial bodies and the animal kingdom, a circular engraving in praise of creation. \n ff. (1), 8, 49, 40, 30, 26, 52, (1), 53-64. lacking author portrait browned and slightly dampwrinkled. later sheep, expertly rebacked with titled gilt on spine. 4to. vinograd, venice 1660. \n venice: bragadin 1719 \n the author (1670 \u2013 1729) was a native of zante, one of the ionian isles of greece, then part of the venetian republic.===see m. benayahu, abraham hakohen of zante and the circle of physician-poets in padua, in: hasifrut, vol. 26 (1978) pp. 108\u2013140."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"38","title":{"en":"cohen, abraham ben shabthai."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114510/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This early modern Hebrew textual work by Abraham ben Shabthai Cohen features a striking circular woodcut illustration. The image depicts a tripartite representation of creation: the sun, moon, and stars in the sky; birds and land animals on earth; and fish in the sea. The surrounding text is in Hebrew, set in a traditional printed format, reflecting a blend of scientific and religious thought from the period.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.316Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114510,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114511/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(roberto francesco romolo bellarmino). limmud hameshihim bekitzur / dottrina christiana breve. \n \n first edition. text in hebrew and italian. hebrew prepared by giovanni battista jona. \n ff. (4), 64. lightly foxed. contemporary limp vellum, light wear. 4to. vinograd, rome 32. \n rome: sacra congregatione di propaganda fide 1658 \n giovanni battista jona, formerly, judah jonah of safed, was a jewish convert to christianity who, along with the censor domenico gerosolimitano (originally, rabbi samuel vivas of jerusalem), served as scribe to the vatican."},"estimateMax":600,"lotNumber":"39","title":{"en":"(christian missionary tract)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114511/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":400,"aiDescription":"This item is an early modern Christian missionary tract titled 'Dottrina Christiana Breve,' translated from Italian into Hebrew by Giovani Battifta Iona. Published in Rome in 1658, the textual work features both Hebrew and Latin script. The title page includes a prominent printer's device depicting figures in a religious scene, within an oval border, and the inscription 'In Roma, Nella Stamperia della Sacra Congregatione di Propaganda Fide, MDC LVIII.'","soldPrice":400,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-13T12:27:33.904Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$400 - $600","currency":"USD","id":114511,"estimateMin":400},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114512/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"reishith chochmah [\"beginning of wisdom\": ethics]. \n \n second edition. on title, printer's device of three crowns (yaari, hebrew printers' marks 18). section headings within engraved vignettes. last page with hebrew manuscript in an italian hand featuring a meditative prayer composed by nachmanides to be recited for husband and wife prior to sexual relations, along with a related kabbalistic incantation. \n ff. 391, (blank, 31, index). signatures removed from title, stained in places. bound in valmadonna-custom mahogany calf. thick 4to. vinograd, venice 788. \n venice : giovanni di gara 1593 \n elijah de vidas (1518\u201387) was a disciple of r. moses cordovero, doyen of the kabbalists in safed. despite its mystical overtones, reishith chochmah has become an important classic of ethical/pietistic literature. the work focuses upon the moral aspects of jewish life, linking the motifs of aggadic and mussar literature with that of kabbalah, thus broadly disseminating mystical ideas."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"40","title":{"en":"de vidas, elijah"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114512/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This early printed Hebrew textual work is by Elijah de Vidas, titled 'Reshit Hokhmah,' a significant work of Jewish ethics and Kabbalah. The title page, from the early modern period, features intricate woodcut illustrations of three crowns and decorative flourishes. The text is in Hebrew, printed clearly on aged paper, with some minor staining visible.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:04.317Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114512,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114513/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"[super-commentary to rashi on the pentateuch]. anonymous. \n \n first edition. letters of first word of title in white-on-black floriated vignettes. \n ff. 48. lightly browned. bound in valmadonna-custom full calf. housed in fitted slip-case. 4to. vinograd, riva 15. \n riva di trento: jacob marcaria for joseph ottolenghi 1560 \n the work focuses not only upon grammatical issues within rashi, but also clarifies certain ambiguous portions of the commentary itself.===opinions as to the identity of the author range from jacob marcaria and josef ottolenghi to elijah bachur. see p. krieger, parshandatha (2005) no. 144."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"41","title":{"en":"dikdukei rashi"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114513/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book, likely a religious text or commentary titled 'Dikdukei Rashi'. The title page features prominent blackletter type for the main title and three decorative, framed initial-like characters at the top, potentially indicating a publisher's mark or decorative element. The page has a cream-colored, aged appearance with some discoloration and minor wear along the edges, suggesting its antique nature. The text is entirely in Hebrew script.","soldPrice":1600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.866Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114513,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114514/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(maharsh\u201da). chidushei halachoth, mehedurah bathra [talmudic novellae] \n \n second edition. title within architectural arch. \n ff. (1), 39. previous owner\u2019s marks, lightly foxed. later cloth-backed marbled boards. folio. vinograd, prague 615. \n prague: moses katz 1692"},"estimateMax":500,"lotNumber":"42","title":{"en":"edels, samuel eliezer"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114514/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":300,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book, attributed to Samuel Eliezer Edels, featuring an elaborate architectural title page. The design prominently displays an archway supported by decorative columns adorned with floral and foliate motifs, topped with an ornate pediment. The central text block is framed within this arch. The paper is aged with some foxing and a visible stamp on the upper left, adding to its historical character. The script is entirely in Hebrew.","soldPrice":400,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.868Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$300 - $500","currency":"USD","id":114514,"estimateMin":300},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114515/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114515/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher haroke\u2019ach [ethics, rabbinic law and customs]. \n \n third edition. \n ff. (4) 91. stained in places, signatures on title-page. bound in valmadonna-custom mahogany blind-tooled calf, corners with gilt embellishments, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, cremona 14. \n cremona: vincenzo conti 1557 \n the valmadonna trust library possessed another copy of this edition printed entirely << on blue paper>> (subsequently sold by kestenbaum & company, highly important hebrew printed books, 9th november, 2017, lot 71).===renowned tosafist eleazar of worms (c. 1176-1238) was the last major figure of the hassidei ashkenaz movement. the present work is entitled \u201crokeach\u201d as its numerical value equals that of the author\u2019s name, eleazar (=308). the work follows the tradition of many of the works of the ba\u2019alei-tosafoth of france and germany, educating the reader in the specifics of halachic practice, as well as recommended custom and ritual. although r. eleazar does not explicate talmudic passages at length, he provides clear commentary on the talmudic basis of many aspects of the halachah. see i. zinberg, a history of jewish literature, vol. iii, p. 24."},"estimateMax":1000,"lotNumber":"43","title":{"en":"eleazar ben judah of worms"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114515/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book, attributed to Eleazar ben Judah of Worms, titled 'Sefer HaRokeach'. The title page is relatively unadorned compared to some contemporary prints, featuring a clean layout of Hebrew text. The paper shows significant aging, including staining and a cream-brown hue, with some handwritten annotations or marks in the upper left corner. The script is exclusively in Hebrew, presented in traditional block letters.","soldPrice":1200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.869Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,000","currency":"USD","id":114515,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114516/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"even ha\u2019ezer - sepher raba\u201dn [responsa, halachic novellae and discourses]. \n \n first edition. title within magnificent historiated woodcut border incorporating printer\u2019s device (yaari, printer\u2019s marks, no. 37). signature of dr. michael sachs on title-page. \n ff. 154. browned, fore-edges stained. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled crushed morocco, outer edges gilt. folio. vinograd, prague 186. \n prague: moses ben bezalel katz 1610 \n this work contributes much to our knowledge of the state of scholarship and way of life of the jews of france, bulgaria and especially germany in the 12th century. a native of mainz, the author (c. 1090-1170) was an important and well known figure of his age.===see m. j. heller, the seventeenth century hebrew book, vol. i, pp. 256-7."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"44","title":{"en":"eliezer ben nathan."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114516/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book, likely a religious text, by Eliezer ben Nathan, distinguished by its richly illustrated title page. The page features an elaborate architectural frame with columns, winged figures, and human faces at the bottom, and bird motifs at the top. The aged paper exhibits a warm, cream tone with some discoloration, and the text is presented in traditional Hebrew script. This ornate engraving suggests a significant early printing.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.870Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114516,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114517/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"oleloth ephraim [sermons for festivals and other occasions]. \n \n second edition. marginal notations. flap at end with photographic images of the british library copy. \n ff. 178 (of 180) opening two leaves supplied in facsimile. browned and stained, few leaves with paper repairs, trace wormed. bound in valmadonna-custom morocco-backed marbled boards, sm. folio. vinograd, prague 281. \n prague: abraham heide 1619"},"estimateMax":500,"lotNumber":"45","title":{"en":"ephraim (solomon) of luntschytz."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114517/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":300,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book attributed to Ephraim (Solomon) of Luntschytz. As no image is available, details about its visual features, materials, and exact period cannot be specified beyond the expectation of a typical early printed Hebrew text. It is likely a religious or commentary work written in Hebrew script.","soldPrice":400,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.872Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$300 - $500","currency":"USD","id":114517,"estimateMin":300},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114518/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"asarah ma\u2019amaroth [kabbalah]. with commentary \u201cyoel moshe\u201d by moses ben solomon halevi of frankfurt. \n \n deluxe copy, printed on blue paper. title within architectural arch. first edition of commentary. \n ff. 158. few stains, several leaves laid to size, some loss on few initial leaves and the final leaf. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. 4to. vinograd, amsterdam 160. \n amsterdam: judah ben mordechai 1649 \n << rare, bibliophilic edition. printed on blue paper.>>===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 27.===the author (1548-1620) of a well-to-do banking family in bologna, italy, was initially a follower of the cordoverian system of kabbalah but afterward, under the influence of the elusive r. israel sarug, switched his allegiance to the lurianic school. the propagation of kabbalah emanating from safed into europe was largely due to r. menachem\u2019s prolific efforts.===see robert bonfil, new information on rabbi menahem azariah da fano and his age, in: studies in the history of jewish society in the middle ages and in the modern period [jacob katz festschrift] (1980) pp. 98-135."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"46","title":{"en":"fano, menachem azariah da"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114518/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a section of an antique Hebrew book by Menachem Azariah da Fano, characterized by its distinctive light blue paper. The page features multiple columns of Hebrew text in traditional block script. Small decorative elements, like flourishes and framed designs, break up the text. The marbled pattern visible on the edge of the opposing page suggests a decorative binding or endpaper. The overall presentation indicates a published religious or scholarly work.","soldPrice":1200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.873Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114518,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114519/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"gedulei terumah. \n \n first edition. title within architectural border. \n ff. (6), 382. title laid down, stained in places with occasional minimal worming, few paper repairs, final leaves crudely remargined, previous owner\u2019s marks. modern full morocco. folio. vinograd, venice 1255; mehlman 858. \n venice: vendramin 1643 \n a valuable commentary to samuel sardi\u2019s sepher haterumah, the first halachic work devoted solely to civil law."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"47","title":{"en":"figo, azariah."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114519/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book by Azariah Figo, featuring a decorative architectural title page. The design includes an archway supported by classical columns, adorned with floral and scroll motifs, topped by an ornate crest. The text block is centrally placed within this framework. The paper is aged, showing signs of wear, tearing, and some discoloration, suggesting its antiquity. The language is Hebrew, with a small phrase in Latin, 'Con Licenza De Sup.', at the bottom.","soldPrice":700,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.875Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114519,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114520/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"kol bochim\u2026 kinath setarim [kabbalistic commentary to the book of lamentations, with text]. \n \n first separate edition with additional material, including an annotated commentary from the zohar. \n browned and stained, few neat marginal repairs, previous owner\u2019s marks, small loss to outer corner of title. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards. vinograd, prague 298; mehlman 1060. \n prague: moses ben bezalel katz 1621 \n brother and pupil of r. moshe galante, r. abraham (d. 1560) settled in safed as did his brother. both were disciples of moses cordovero. r. abraham distinguished himself among his brethren, earning the appellation \u201chakadosh.\u201d due to his wealth he had thje means to erect a splendid mausoleum over the tomb of r. shimon b\u2019r yocḥai admired to this day in meron."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"48","title":{"en":"galante, abraham."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114520/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":700,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book by Abraham Galante, displaying a densely printed title page framed by a decorative border of intertwined lines and floral elements. The text, in traditional Hebrew script, occupies the majority of the page, with some sections highlighted by decorative spacing or larger fonts. The paper is visibly aged with browning and some minor damage, and there are several ink stamps, indicating past ownership or cataloging. The overall appearance suggests a significant early printed religious or scholarly work.","soldPrice":800,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.876Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$700 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114520,"estimateMin":700},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114521/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"(ra\u2019n). shailoth u\u2019teshuvoth [responsa]. \n \n first edition. \n pp. 174, (34). repaired worming, stained in places, signatures on opening leaf. modern full calf. sm. 4to. vinograd, rome 18. \n rome: yitzchak deltash, antonio baldo & samuel sarfati 1545 \n only seventy-seven responsa from this great commentator on alfasi\u2019s code are extant, and, similar to most compedia of responsa, they reflect the jewish life of the period, especially the economic difficulties of the jewish community of barcelona during the second half of the 14th-century.===unlike venice, only occasional and short-lived hebrew printing presses arose in rome. sporadic bursts of such activity were quickly marred by assaults of ecclesiastical intolerance. the eternal city of rome produced just eighteen hebrew books throughout the entire 16th-century. antonio baldo was granted leave to print hebrew books in rome by the papal vicar in 1546 and the present responsa of r. nissim gerondi was his first endeavor. his jewish partner, solomon ben isaac of lisbon, assisted by samuel zarfati, did the work of editing, proofing and marketing the books. the press issued just five books in the two years it was operative.===for a chronicle of hebrew printing in rome see d. amram, the makers of hebrew books in italy (1909) pp. 235-51."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"49","title":{"en":"gerondi, nissim."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114521/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book, attributed to Nissim Gerondi, titled 'Sha'alot uTeshuwot Rav haGadol haRaban'. The title page features a decorative ornate header with scrollwork and a central floral-like motif. The text is entirely in Hebrew, presented in a traditional block script. The paper is aged to a cream color, with some visible foxing and handwritten annotations in the top left corner, indicating its historical context.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.877Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114521,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114522/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"(ra\u2019n). chidushei harav rabbeinu nissim [index of citations of maimonides\u2019 code]. \n \n first edition. edited by joseph ottolenghi. introduction by jacob marcaria. signed by censors at end. \n ff. 21. lightly foxed and stained in places. bound in valmadonna-custom morocco-backed marbled boards. folio. vinograd, riva di trento 6. \n riva di trento: jacob marcaria 1559 \n the editor, joseph ottolenghi (d. 1570), was the rabbi of cremona and provided much of the scholarship found in riva di trento hebrew publications. the printer, jacob marcaria, thanks ottolenghi profusely and gives him the honorific title of \u201chagaon\u201d in both the title and introduction. for more regarding ottolenghi, see benayahu, hadefus ha\u2019ivri becremona, pp. 111-14."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"50","title":{"en":"gerondi, nissim."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114522/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book, attributed to Nissim Gerondi, titled 'Hiddushei Rav haGadol Rabbenu Nissim'. The title page features a minimalist design, with the Hebrew text centrally aligned in traditional block script. There are no prominent illustrations or elaborate borders. The paper is aged to a light cream color with minor discoloration. The visible marbled pattern on the left edge of the book suggests decorative endpapers or a distinctive binding style.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.878Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114522,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114523/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"sha\u2019arei tzedek [kabbalah\u2013on the sephiroth]. \n \n first edition. initial letters of title historiated, initial word of text within elaborate frame. wider margins. \n ff. 52. lightly stained, previous owner\u2019s marks, signed by censors at end. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut calf, spine titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, riva 35. \n riva di trento: jacob marcaria the physician 1561 \n joseph ben abraham gikatilla (chiquatilla) (1248-c.1325), a profound spanish kabbalist, was a disciple of the founder of the school of \u201cprophetic kabbalah,\u201d abraham abulafia. later, he entered into scholarly relationship with moses de leon of guadalajara (who publicized the zohar) and composed some of the most detailed, yet lucid, expositions of kabbalistic concepts."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"51","title":{"en":"gikatilla, joseph."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114523/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is a historical printed book, specifically a work by Joseph Gikatilla, likely a Kabbalistic text. The genre is religious or philosophical literature. The subject matter pertains to Jewish mysticism or law, written in Hebrew. The date '1561' is prominently displayed at the bottom of the page, indicating a 16th-century print. The page features a decorative header with three outlined Hebrew letters, possibly an acronym or initialism, and displays signs of age and prior annotations.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.638Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114523,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114524/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"pirkei avoth [ethics of the fathers]. \n \n with commentary by michael elyasaf. printed on green tinted paper. \n ff. 40. stained. modern boards with original patterned wrappers bound in. 12mo. unknown to both weiss-pirkei avot and vinograd. \n salonika: isaac jahun 1858 \n the commentary was directed for the benefit of school-children, to study on sabbath afternoon, in accordance with the community custom of the jews of ioannina, greece."},"estimateMax":500,"lotNumber":"52","title":{"en":"(greece)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114524/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":300,"aiDescription":"This item is an antique Jewish religious book, likely a prayer book or commentary, given the Hebrew script and stylistic elements. The genre is religious literature, specifically a Hebrew text. The content appears to be a Hebrew text, possibly from Greece as indicated by the catalog text. The page is bordered with a repeating decorative motif and shows signs of age and wear. Notable visual features include handwritten annotations in the margins, and an erased section of text in the middle of the page.","soldPrice":1100,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.640Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$300 - $500","currency":"USD","id":114524,"estimateMin":300},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114525/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114525/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hagadah shel pesach - l\u2019haggada illustrata. \n \n edited by abraham vita morpurgo. hebrew only issue (see below). finely illustrated by c. kirchmayr with 58 copper-plates. musical arrangements on final page. with additional title-page printed on blue paper. \n pp. (2), 24 (sic, i.e. 42), (2). trace stained, few neat marginal repairs. bound in valmadonna-custom gilt-ruled mottled mahogany calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. folio. yudlov 1217; yaari 899. \n trieste: colombo coen (jonah cohen) 1864 \n \u201cthe trieste hagadah is undoubtedly the most distinguished illustrated edition produced in europe during the nineteenth century.\u201d (yerushalmi 102-105).===different in format and design from any edition that preceded it, the trieste hagadah\u2019s engraved illustrations, though inspired by the iconographic themes of the past, display a welcome freshness of design. two issues were published simultaneously, one entirely in hebrew and the other accompanied by an italian translation."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"53","title":{"en":"(hagadah)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114525/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a Hagadah, a Jewish liturgical text, featuring a blue cover with elaborate black ink illustrations. The genre is a religious text, specifically for Passover. The subject matter is the Jewish holiday of Passover, as indicated by 'Hagadah'. The date '1865' is visible at the bottom of the title page in Hebrew characters. The text is in Hebrew, framed by an ornate architectural archway design featuring columns, finials, and allegorical figures on pedestals, typical of 19th-century book design.","soldPrice":1400,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.642Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114525,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114526/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"she\u2019erith yoseph [responsa]. \n \n first edition. title within architectural arch. this copy with rare additional responsa on chalitzah bound here prior to f.5. \n ff. 92, (2); 32. browned, few stains, title and one additional leaf laid to size, previous owner\u2019s marks. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut blind-tooled calf, titled in gilt on spine. sm. 4to. vinograd, cracow 134; mehlman 724; y. rivkind, dikdukei seforim in: alexander marx jubilee volume (hebrew issue), (1950) pp. 422-3, no. 27. \n cracow: isaac prostitz 1590 \n mehlman notes that a handful of copies have the two additional unnumbered leaves containing four unnoted responsa. issued after the work was completed, these four responsa concerning chalitzah were not reprinted in later editions.===joseph ben mordechai gershon was the brother-in-law of r. moses isserles (rem\u201da) and served as a member of his beth din. she\u2019erith yoseph contains his responsa as well as expositions on the mordechai to the orders nezikin and mo\u2019ed, tractate berachoth, the minor tractates as well as the tur-choshen mishpat. most of his responsa deal with financial and commercial matters, area in which he was an expert. he was approached with problems from moravia, italy and even turkey as well as his native poland. he corresponded with r. meir katzenellenbogen (see responsum no. 1), and r. solomon luria (see responsum no. 17)."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"54","title":{"en":"hakohen, joseph ben mordechai gershon."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114526/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a Hebrew printed book, specifically a work by Joseph ben Mordechai Gershon Hakohen, possibly a collection of responsa or legal texts. The genre is religious literature or Jewish law. The text is in Hebrew, arranged within a decorative architectural frame on the title page. The frame features two ornate columns adorned with leaf-like garlands, supporting an archway and pediment, characteristic of Renaissance or early modern book ornamentation. The page shows signs of age and a slight blue ink stain.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.643Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114526,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114527/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"cheshek shlomo [commentary to the book of isaiah, with text]. \n \n first edition. title within wreathed architectural columns. various attractive printer\u2019s devices. wider margins, uncut. \n ff. 157. lightly stained, few neat marginal repairs, stamps removed. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled crushed morocco, outer edges gilt. folio. vinograd, salonika 154; mehlman, genuzoth sepharim 66. \n salonika: mattathias bath-sheva (bassevi) 1600 \n a native of salonika, the author (1532-1600) writes in the introduction that his grandfather, the physician maestro solomon halevi, a spanish exile by way of portugal, settled in salonika a century earlier.===this work continues the sephardic tradition in both its rationalist and mystical aspects: citing at times maimonides' guide, at other times, the zohar."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"55","title":{"en":"halevi, solomon ben isaac."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114527/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This item is a Hebrew book by Solomon ben Isaac Halevi, categorized as religious literature. The title page is framed by an elaborate architectural archway design featuring ornate columns, a pediment, and decorative urns, suggesting an early modern printing style. The text is in Hebrew, arranged in a central block within the archway. The paper shows signs of aging and minor discoloration, consistent with historical documents.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.644Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114527,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114528/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"shepha tal [kabbalah, a commentary to igereth hate\u2019amim]. \n \n first edition. title within textual border. letters of title historiated. several dramatic mystical text illustrations. important approbations. \n ff. 10, 94. lightly foxed, previous owner\u2019s marks, stamp removed from title. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut calf, blind-tooled with gilt florets at corners. folio. vinograd, hanau 13. \n hanau: hans jacob hanau 1612 \n an important work that seeks to present a systematic reconciliation of luriainic and cordoverian kabbalah.===the text concerns itself with themes relating to the concept of unity - that of god, the jewish soul, the jewish people, the land of israel and the deleterious ontological effect of exile. see m. j. heller, the seventeenth century hebrew book, vol. i, pp. 294-5.===the author (1565-1619) a physician who was born in prague, was a nephew of r. isaiah horowitz (the shela\u2019h hakodosh)."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"56","title":{"en":"horowitz, shabthai sheftel."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114528/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This item is a page from a Hebrew book by Shabthai Sheftel Horowitz, likely a Kabbalistic or mystical text. The genre is religious or esoteric literature. The most notable visual feature is a large diagram illustrating two human hands, each segmented with Hebrew letters, presumably for numerological or divinatory purposes. The surrounding text is in Hebrew, set in two columns below the diagram, with additional text at the top, indicating a complex symbolic or instructional content.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.646Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114528,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114529/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"juris hebraeorum leges cclxi \n \n first edition. hebrew and latin text \n pp. (12), 401, (13). browned and lightly stained, title remargined, neat marginal repair to final leaf. contemporary boards, valmadona-custom gilt-tiled morocco spine-label, rubbed. sm. 4to. freimann 140; fuerst i, 414. \n z&uuml;rich: joh. jacob bodmer 1655 \n swiss protestant theologian and hebraist, hottinger (1620-67) was one of the founders of modern oriental linguistics and bible exegesis (see ej vol. viii, col. 1047). the present work examines the 261 precepts that are expounded upon in aaron halevi\u2019s sepher hachinuch."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"57","title":{"en":"hottinger, johann heinrich."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114529/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is an antique printed book, specifically 'Juris Hebraeorum' by Johann Heinrich Hottinger. The genre is legal or theological treatise, focusing on Hebrew law. The title page is entirely in Latin, detailing the subject as Hebrew law and its relation to Mosaic order and Jewish thought. The publication date '1655' is clearly printed at the bottom, dating it to the 17th century. The page has a classic layout with a decorative printer's mark near the bottom, and shows significant age and staining.","soldPrice":550,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.647Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114529,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114530/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(ein ya\u2019akov) ein yisrael - beith yisrael [aggadic lore]. \n \n two parts in one. two titles, each within woodcut architectural arch. \n ff. 6, (23), 194; 191. trimmed, previous owner\u2019s marks, stained in places, final 5 leaves from a taller copy provided for replacement. bound in valmadonna-custom crushed morocco with gilt dentelles. folio. vinograd, venice 530; mehlman 194. \n venice: georgio di cavalli 1566 \n the ein ya\u2019akov is a compilation of all the aggadic material in the talmud, the aim being to familiarize the public with the ethical spirit of talmudic literature. the spanish author (1460-1516) died midway through production and the work was completed by his son, levi ibn habib."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"58","title":{"en":"ibn habib, jacob."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114530/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a printed Hebrew book, likely a religious or legal text, by Jacob Ibn Habib. The genre is religious literature, specifically a Jewish commentary or compilation. The title page is ornate, featuring a grand architectural archway with spiral, fluted columns adorned with floral motifs, supporting a pediment with a central cartouche. The primary text is in Hebrew, framed within this elaborate design. The paper shows signs of age and some faint discoloration.","soldPrice":1300,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.648Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114530,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114531/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(maharival). shailoth u\u2019teshuvoth mehar\u201di ibn lev [responsa]. part iii (only). \n \n first edition. title surrounded by florets. wide margins. signed by r. yechiel michael halperin of berzan on f.2. \n ff. 120,133-175 (i.e. 174), (1), 187-190, (5). some staining, previous owner\u2019s signatures and stamps, upper left corner of opening few leaves dampsoiled and with neat paper repairs, tear on final leaf with loss of few words. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled maroon calf, spine titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, const. 243. \n constantinople: solomon and joseph ya\u2019avetz 1573 \n born in macedonia and later settling in salonika and then constantinople, the author (1505\u201380) who taught in the in the yeshivah founded by do&ntilde;a gracia (mendes) nasi was one of the greatest scholars of his time. the chid\u201da in his shem hagedolim states that three scholars of that generation (all coincidentally named yoseph) were capable of penning a work of the magnitude of the beith yoseph: r. yoseph karo, r. yoseph taitatzak and r. yoseph ibn lev.===this multi-volumed responsa was first published in 1561, however for further bibliographic debate on the issue see mehlman 748; genuzoth sepharim p.106, no. 162 and areshet vol. v p. 485, no. 162."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"59","title":{"en":"ibn lev, joseph ben david"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114531/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a Hebrew printed book, likely a collection of responsa, authored by Joseph ben David Ibn Lev. The genre is religious literature or Jewish legal discourse. The title page is predominantly in Hebrew, with the prominent words 'Sefer Miteshuvot' (Book of Responsa). The page features a decorative border of repeating clover-like motifs and several faint blue ink stamps, possibly ownership marks or library stamps. The paper shows significant discoloration and wear, indicative of its age.","soldPrice":1400,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.649Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114531,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114532/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"ru'ach chen [introduction to philosophy]. \n \n title within woodcut historiated architectural arch flanked by cherubs. opening word within decorative four-part border with armory. few marginal notes in italian. signed by censor on final blank page. \n ff. 20 (collates as per adams and benayahu). signatures excised. bound in valmadonna-custom dark mahogany blind-tooled calf. sm. 4to. vinograd, cremona 44; benayahu, cremona 36; mehlman 1187; adams j-404. \n cremona: vicenzo conti 1566 \n expounds philosophical terms and concepts contained in maimonides' guide of the perplexed. the author states in the preface, the \"spirit of grace\" (ruach chen) emanating from the guide has caused me to explore and unmask its closed gates.\""},"estimateMax":1200,"lotNumber":"60","title":{"en":"ibn tibbon, judah"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114532/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is a Hebrew printed book, likely a philosophical or religious work, by Judah Ibn Tibbon. The genre is philosophical or religious literature. The title page features a highly decorative architectural frame with classical elements, including a pediment adorned with cherubs and two figures standing on pedestals flanking the central text block. The primary text is in Hebrew. The date '1566' is visible at the bottom, indicating a 16th-century print. The paper exhibits age and some staining.","soldPrice":1100,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:06.650Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,200","currency":"USD","id":114532,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114533/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"livyath chen [on grammar and prosody]. \n \n first edition. title within woodcut architectural arch. couple of marginal notations. title page with signature of yitzchak b. yehudah frankinsohn. \n ff. (8), 108. two introductory leaves shorter, few light stains. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut blind-tooled calf, titled in gilt on spine. sm. 4to. vinograd, mantua 39. \n mantua: jacob ben naphtali hakohen 1557 \n the author, a highly regarded italian kabbalist, helped facilitate the first printing of the zohar in mantua in 1558. a mystical element clearly influences the livyath chen, indeed passages from the zohar are found therein. see i. tishbi, kovetz perakim, vol. i, pp. 148-153."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"61","title":{"en":"immanuel ben jekuthiel of benevento."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114533/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book, likely a religious text, by Immanuel ben Jekuthiel of Benevento. The title page features a grand architectural woodcut border with an arched central opening, flanked by two spiraled columns on square pedestals and topped with ornate finials and an elaborate entablature. The text, in Hebrew, is printed within this arched frame and above it, suggesting a classical or Renaissance influence in its design. The materials are paper with black ink, and the visible script is Hebrew.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.908Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114533,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114534/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(manoello giudeo). sepher machberoth immanuel. \n \n second edition. title within woodcut architectural border. title-page with inscriptions by a mebers of the halfon family of france, as well as david vitali. \n ff (156). browned, lightly stained in places. bound in valmadonna-custom full limp vellum with twin silk ties, titled in gilt on spine. 4to. hosed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, const. 153; yaari, const. 119; adams i-53. \n constantinople: eliezer ben gershom soncino 1535 \n sepher hamachbaroth is the most important work of immanuel ben solomon of rome (ca. 1261-1328), poet, scholar and author of both hebrew and italian texts. combining poetry and prose on subjects as diverse as love, wine, and friendship, along with satires, epistles, elegies and religious poems, sefer hamachbaroth represents a unique example of the blending of traditional jewish together with secular italian literature that characterized much of the jewish literary output during the italian renaissance. with his linguistic artistry and use of skillful wordplay, immanuel sets a tone that is generally light-hearted and witty. due to certain lewd sections, r. joseph karo famously forbade the reading of this text and consequently, a further edition did not appear for another two centuries.===according to cecil roth, immanuel of rome was \u201cthe most remarkable and the most important figure of the renaissance period in the jewish world.\u201d see c. roth, the jews in the renaissance (1959) pp. 89-10."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"62","title":{"en":"immanuel ben solomon of rome."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114534/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book by Immanuel ben Solomon of Rome, likely a religious or literary work. The title page is adorned with a detailed architectural woodcut border, featuring an arched entryway supported by spiraled columns and crowned by a classical entablature with decorative elements. The Hebrew text is centrally placed within the arch and in the banner above it. The book is made of paper with black ink, showcasing the Hebrew script prominently.","soldPrice":3750,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.910Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114534,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114535/009/009.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114535/010/010.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114535/011/011.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114535/012/012.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"meir nathiv. \n \n first edition. complete with two title pages. opening title within architectural arch. initial word within elaborate cartouche. a wide-margined copy. bears stamp of grand rabbi avrohom matisyahu friedman of stefanest (botosani, romania) and his father r. (menachem) nochem friedman (a son of r. yisrael of rhizin). on an opening blank a chossid has recorded the names of his family in order for the rebbe to have them in mind during his learning. \n ff. (405). light wear, outer blank corner of one leaf repaired. contemporary lavishly blind-tooled vellum over thick wooden boards, brass bosses on all corners, twin clasps (repaired) and hinges, with valmadonna-custom gilt-titling on spine. tall folio. vinograd, venice 93. \n venice: daniel bomberg 1524 \n << first edition of the first hebrew concordance to the bible.>>===the author prepared this work to assist jews engaged in polemical debate with christians. the text is ordered according to the roots and stems of the words, and the biblical books are arranged according to the order of the vulgate."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"63","title":{"en":"isaac nathan ben kalonymos."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114535/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book by Isaac Nathan ben Kalonymos, possibly a religious or academic work. The title page displays a sophisticated architectural woodcut border with a central archway, supported by spiraled columns on pedestals and topped by an entablature featuring intricate designs and a pediment. Hebrew text is printed within this decorative frame and along the sides. The materials are paper and black ink, highlighting the elegant Hebrew script.","soldPrice":3500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.911Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114535,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114536/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114536/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"pithchei ya-h [kabbalah]. \n \n first edition. title-page serves as introduction. illustration featuring tree of the ten sephiroth on f. 10v. \n ff. (16). lightly browned, two small worm-holes through first three leaves. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled maroon morocco, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, prague 181. \n (prague): gershom ben bezalel katz 1609 \n << rare.>> r. yissachar baer of kremenetz (d. before 1648) was one of the first aschkenazi jews to compose kabbalistic works in the early-modern era. the present text is an introduction to the fundamentals of cordoverian kabbalah as set forth in the fundamental text \u201cpardess rimonim.\u201d the author writes in his introduction that in addition to being named for his father (petachiah), the work is also an opening (petach) leading from the threshold to the inner chamber of god (ya-h).===see andrea gondos, kabbalah in print: literary strategies of popular mysticism in early modernity (doctoral dissertation, concordia university, 2013) pp. 209-."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"64","title":{"en":"issachar baer ben pethachiah moshe of kremenetz."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114536/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book, attributed to Issachar Baer ben Pethachiah Moshe of Kremenetz, likely a religious or scholarly text. The visible page features dense Hebrew text printed in black ink on aged paper, without an elaborate border. The layout shows a main block of text, with some words or sections potentially highlighted or differentiated by size. The appearance suggests a utilitarian or scholarly publication, focusing on content over decorative elements.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.913Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114536,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114537/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"yesh sachar [halachic code based upon the zohar]. \n \n first edition. title within typographical border. the r. abraham joseph solomon graziano (ish ge\u2019r) copy with his signature on title. \n ff. 79. browned, signed by censors at end. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled maroon morocco, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, prague 170. \n prague: gershom ben bezalel katz 1609 \n focuses upon the role kabbalah plays in determining mainstream halachic practice - a subject that has been debated for centuries. as opposed to philosophy, seen by many as the zohar\u2019s opposite, kabbalah is on the one hand esoteric and thus not for the masses, yet intrinsically, it takes halachic positions based upon mainstream practice which is of course common to all."},"estimateMax":4000,"lotNumber":"65","title":{"en":"issachar baer ben pethachiah moshe of kremenetz."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114537/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book by Issachar Baer ben Pethachiah Moshe of Kremenetz, likely a religious or scholarly publication. The page features a decorative woodcut border composed of intricate floral and geometric patterns framing the main body of Hebrew text. The text is printed in black ink on light-colored paper, with some sections possibly in larger or bolder type. The ornate border suggests a more aesthetically considered design compared to plain textual pages.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.914Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $4,000","currency":"USD","id":114537,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114538/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"seder haha\u2019arachah vehanhagah [communal tax regulations and obligations for the years 1676-79]. \n \n title within architectural arch. an uncut copy. \n ff. (6). publisher\u2019s wrappers bound into valmadonna-custom chestnut morocco, spine titled in gilt. 4to. vinograd, mantua 259. \n mantua: sons of joshua of perugia 1676 \n from the beginning of the 16th century the the va\u2019ad haklali (the mantuan jewish community council) organized its financial obligations through the levying of taxes. these tax regulations chart the economic changes of mantuan jewry and the kinds of property and income that were taxable. every three years taxes of the jewish community would be reviewed after which a new set of regulations were published. see s. simonsohn, history of the jews in the duchy of mantua (1977) pp. 375-90."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"66","title":{"en":"(italy)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114538/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book, possibly originating from Italy, featuring a prominent architectural woodcut title page. The design centers on a grand archway flanked by spiraled columns on square pedestals, topped with an elaborate entablature and decorative elements. Hebrew text is printed within the arch and in a banner above. The book is made of paper with black ink, emphasizing the classical-inspired design and Hebrew script.","soldPrice":750,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.916Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114538,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114539/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"shefer hatikkunim [synagogue practices unique to the community of reggio] \n \n title within ornamental arched border. \n ff. (6). bound in valmadonna-custom morocco-backed marbled boards. 8vo. vinograd, mantua 278. \n mantua: sons of joshua of perugia 1688 \n \u201colder laws as well as new [are here written]\u2026 in order to preserve the ways of the synagogue of k.k reggio\u2026 so that truth will not be concealed from father nor son and in order to prevent any possible dispute between the congregants of the house of zera emunim.\u201d"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"67","title":{"en":"(italy)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114539/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book, likely from Italy, featuring a highly ornate woodcut title page. The design incorporates an architectural frame with allegorical figures or classical statues on either side of a central text block, topped by a frieze of putti or cherubs. The border includes rich decorative elements, such as urns and intricate patterns. Hebrew text fills the central panel and is printed in black ink on paper, reflecting a Renaissance aesthetic.","soldPrice":800,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.917Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114539,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114540/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"perush hatorah\u2026 (rimzei ba\u2019al haturim). \n \n second edition. few words censored. \n ff. 65 (1). lightly stained, few leaves rehinged and remargined. bound in valmadonna-custom crushed morocco, spine titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, venice 228. \n venice: j. de ferri 1544 \n this famed biblical exegesis consists of masoretic calculations and hermeneutical interpretations, i.e. gematria and notarikon. it is a standard component of all editions of the chumash that is accompanied by commentaries."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"68","title":{"en":"jacob ben asher."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114540/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book by Jacob ben Asher, likely a commentary or religious text. The page visible is a simple title page or interior page, featuring Hebrew text printed in black ink on aged, light-colored paper. There are no elaborate decorative borders or illustrations. Some handwritten annotations or numbers are visible at the top, indicating previous ownership or cataloging. The focus is on the textual content in Hebrew script.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.918Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114540,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114541/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"arba\u2019ah turim [\"four columns\" - code of law] \n \n deluxe copy, printed entirely on blue paper. title within elaborate architectural arch. this copy with the two rare leaves containing calculations pertaining to the calendar inserted between ff. 53-54. plus manuscript leaf in a clear ashkenazi hand dated 1686 at the end of yoreh deah (f. 66b) with formula and explanations in the form of two hands used to calculate the various tekufoth. \n ff. 6, 9-53, (2), 54-80, 1-66, 1-42, 1-104. variously stained in places, outer margineof title trimmed and neatly repaired with small portion of border added in pen-and-ink. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut calf decorated in blind and with gilt accents, spine titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, riva di trento 18. \n riva di trento: joseph ottolenghi 1560 \n << rare, bibliophilic edition. printed on blue paper.>>===a fundamental halachic treatise embracing all the laws and customs incumbent both on an individual and the community as a whole. the overriding authority of the arba\u2019ah turim has been accepted by rabbinic scholars for centuries.===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 18."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"69","title":{"en":"jacob ben asher."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114541/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book by Jacob ben Asher, likely a scholarly or religious work, presented open to two facing pages. The pages are filled with dense Hebrew text in multiple columns, and one page features complex hand-drawn diagrams, possibly astrological charts or kabbalistic tables. The pages are made of aged paper with black ink, and there are some handwritten annotations and numbers on the margins. The book appears to be bound in a red cover.","soldPrice":4000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.919Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114541,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114542/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"levushim [elucidations and novellea to the shulchan aruch]. two (of four) parts bound in one volume: even ha\u2019ezer: levush butz ve\u2019argaman ff. 87. <<*>> choshen mishpat: levush ir shushan ff. 162, (2). \n \n two titles, each with architectural arch. wide margins. \n stained in places. bound in valmadonna-custom full mahogany calf, spine titled in gilt. tall folio. vinograd, venice 1122 and 1125. \n venice: giovanni calioni 1620 \n a halachic work issued as a \u201cmidway between two extremes: the lengthy beith yoseph of karo on the one hand, and the shulchan aruch with isserles\u2019 mapah, which was too brief, on the other.\u201d ej, ix cols. 1263-4."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"70","title":{"en":"jaffe, mordechai."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114542/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a 17th-century printed book, likely a religious or legal text, by Mordechai Jaffe. The title page, written in Hebrew, features an elaborate architectural woodcut border with classical columns, decorative volutes, and an arched pediment. Below the main text, the imprint \"IN VENETIA MDCXIX\" indicates it was published in Venice in 1619. The book shows signs of age, including browning and a visible brown binding edge on the left.","soldPrice":850,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:08.921Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114542,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114543/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114543/006/006.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"<<reuchlin, johannes.>> de arte cabalistica. <<first edition.>> text in latin with extensive use of hebrew. large woodcut device on title. ff. (4), 79, (1). <<* bound with:>> johannes reuchlin. liber de verbo mirifico. ff. (61). \n \n two volumes bound in one. latin marginalia, lengthy handwritten note following introduction. the luis nu&ntilde;ez copy (marrano physician, 1553-1645). \n edges in red. 18th-century polished calf, spine in compartments tooled in gilt, valmadonna-custom gilt-titled morocco spine-labels. sm. folio. housed in fitted slip-case. adams r-381 and r-385; scholem, bibliographia kabbalistica (1933) p. 127. \n hagenau / t&uuml;bingen: thomas anshelm 1517 / 1514 \n << a fine copy of a classic of christian kabbalah.>>===born in pforzheim, baden in 1455, johannes reuchlin was one of the foremost figures of german humanism and a pioneer of greek and hebrew scholarship in germany. he first turned to the study of jewish texts in 1473 and his main interest was kabbalah. reuchlin sensed an affinity between the neo-platonic elements in kabbalistic teaching and the basic conceptions of the great german platonic philosopher, nicholas of cusa, whom he deeply admired. it was no doubt reuchlin's devotion to his kabbalistic studies that was the motivating factor behind his defense of jewish literature against the apostate johannes pfefferkorn during the so called \u201cbattle of the books.\u201d===de arte cabalistica is written in the form of a socratic dialogue between \u201csimon\u201d a jewish kabbalist, \u201cmarannus\u201d a muslim, and \u201cphilolaus\u201d a pythagorean mystical philosopher. parts one and three of the book discuss the kabbalah at considerable length, with a fair amount of sympathy. part two contains a long dialogue on pythagoras\u2019 philosophy.===de verbo mirfico, reuchlin\u2019s first major work, published originally in 1493, serves to study various names and words that are said to cause miracles to occur. the \u2018wonder-performing word\u2019 the title refers to is the pentagrammaton. reuchlin notes that many cultures have stories containing miraculous words, but nearly all of them derive their power through darkness - only judaism\u2019s impactful words draw from the light. see ej, vol. xiv, cols. 108-11."},"estimateMax":10000,"lotNumber":"71","title":{"en":"(kabbalah)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114543/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":7000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed book from the 16th century, titled \"IOANNIS REVCHLIN PHORCENSIS LL. DOC. DE ARTE CABALISTICA LIBRI TRES LEONI X. DICATI.\" The subject matter is Kabbalah, as indicated by the title. The title page features a prominent woodcut illustration depicting a helmet atop a pedestal filled with objects, surrounded by intricate scrollwork and a gear-like emblem with a cross. The text is in Latin, and the imprint \"Cum Privilegio Imperiali.\" suggests an imperial privilege for its publication.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.415Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$7,000 - $10,000","currency":"USD","id":114543,"estimateMin":7000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114544/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"chessed le\u2019avraham [kabbalistic prayer book based upon the mystical kavanoth of r. issac luria, the ar\u201di]. edited by abraham ben shalom tobeinah. \n \n printer\u2019s mark on verso of title. a fine copy. \n ff. (1), 140. bound in valmadonna-custom morocco-backed boards, spine titled in gilt. 8vo. vinograd, mantua 532. \n mantua: eliezer solomon d\u2019italia 1783 \n this kabbalistic prayer-book contains the prayers for the week, sabbath and the new month. many of the compositions were inspired by the controversial chemdath hayamim, thus protests were lodged against the work upon publication. see weiner, koheleth moshe no. 4295."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"72","title":{"en":"(kabbalah)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114544/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book related to Kabbalah, featuring a decorative woodcut border on its title page. The border consists of an intricate chain of floral and geometric motifs, framing the central Hebrew text. The text is printed in black ink on light-colored paper, with some sections potentially highlighted by larger font sizes. A line of Italian text at the bottom, \"Mantoua con licenza de superiori\", indicates its place of publication and official approval.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.417Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114544,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114545/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher hazohar al hatorah. attributed to shimon b\u2019r yochai. part iii (only, of 3): vayikra - bamidbar - devarim. with commentary by the r. isaac luria and r. moses cordovero. \n \n first edition. deluxe copy, printed entirely on blue paper. two title pages. \n ff. 299, (1), 9. lightly foxed. contemporary mottled calf with valmadonna-custom morocco spine-labels. 4to. vinograd, amsterdam 1319. \n amsterdam: solomon proops 1728 \n << rare, bibliophilic edition. printed entirely on blue paper.>>===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 42."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"73","title":{"en":"(kabbalah)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114545/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a printed book, likely from the 19th or early 20th century, focused on Kabbalah, specifically a volume of the Zohar. The title page is printed on light blue paper with text exclusively in Hebrew. The design features a decorative rectangular border with repeating patterns. The book appears bound, with the right edge of the pages visible, showing age-related discoloration.","soldPrice":1200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.419Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114545,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114546/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sha\u2019arei shamayim [philosophical sermons, poems and eulogies]. \n \n first edition. previous owner\u2019s marks including signatures of ish-ger (joseph solomon graziano); f.4 with prague purchase details. \n ff. 104. browned, neat paper repairs on title. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled calf, spine titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, prague 503. \n prague: sons of judah bek 1675 \n comprised of eighteen sections, including novellae from the author\u2019s uncle, the maharsh\u2019a."},"estimateMax":1200,"lotNumber":"74","title":{"en":"kalischer, yechiel michel ben aryeh leib segal"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114546/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is a printed book by Yechiel Michel ben Aryeh Leib Segal Kalischer, likely a religious text. The title page is written in Hebrew and features a decorative border composed of repeated floral or geometric motifs. The paper is discolored, suggesting its age. The print style is characteristic of early modern Hebrew printing.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.420Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,200","currency":"USD","id":114546,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114547/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114547/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"shulchan aruch [code of jewish law]. \n \n four parts bound into one volume. each part with individual title set within architectural arch along with printer\u2019s devices. * i: orach chaim: ff. 100. * ii: yoreh de\u2019ah: ff. (101)-194, (1). * iii: even ha\u2019ezer: ff. 56. * iv: choshen mishpat: ff. (57)-186. \n stained in places, trace wormed, opening three leaves neatly remargined. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut calf, blind-tooled central panels with elegant gilt piping. 4to. vinograd, venice 860. \n venice: giovanni di gara 1598"},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"75","title":{"en":"karo, joseph."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114547/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a 17th-century printed book, specifically a volume of Joseph Karo's \"Shulchan Aruch.\" The title page, written in Hebrew, is adorned with an ornate architectural woodcut border featuring twisted columns, decorative foliage, and an arched top with a crown motif. Additional crowns are depicted below the main title. The imprint \"IN VENETIA\" indicates publication in Venice, and the visible binding edge suggests a volume within a larger work.","soldPrice":6000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.421Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114547,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114548/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher leket shmuel [midrashic compilation]. \n \n first edition. title within decorative engraved border. \n ff. 64. dampstained in few places. bound in valmadonna-custom full calf. folio. vinograd, venice 1462. \n venice: vendramin 1694 \n the author was the city scribe in lublin from where he fled pogroms to the safety of vienna, whereupon in 1670 he was expelled from that city when vienna banned jews from its environs - he finally settled in eretz israel.===of related interest, in the present work it is stated (ff. 30b-31a) that the messiah disappeared in 1670 and will reappear 40 years hence. these words were in fact added to the book by followers of shabbtai tzvi, whose reign ceased in 1670.===see m. j. heller, the seventeenth century hebrew book, vol. ii, pp. 1266-67."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"76","title":{"en":"katz, samuel feibish."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114548/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an early modern printed book by Samuel Feibish Katz, titled \"Sefer Likutei Shmuel.\" The title page, written in Hebrew, is richly decorated with an ornate Baroque-style woodcut border featuring winged cherubs, decorative volutes, and classical architectural elements. The imprint \"Nella Stamperia VENDRAMINA Con Licenza de Superiori.\" indicates printing by the Vendramina press with official license, and the number \"1698\" suggests its publication date. The book has a dark binding edge on the left.","soldPrice":750,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.423Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114548,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114549/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(rada\u201dk). sepher hashorashim [\u201cbook of roots\u201d: biblical lexicon] \n \n second edition (first ed: rome, c. 1469-72). square hebrew type, excepting names of biblical books and pericopes in rabbinic type. previously the salman schocken copy (with his pencil bibliographic notations). some marginalia. \n ff. 133 (of 144), ff. 1-2 provided in manuscript, f. 9 and final 8 leaves provided in facsimile.trimmed, repaired worming with loss of few words. unbound. loose in schocken folding-boards and matching slip-case. sm. folio. vinograd, naples 12; steinschneider, col. 873, no. 43; thes. a-66; goff heb-39; offenberg 105; bmc xiii, p. 62; iakerson 53. \n naples: azriel ben joseph aschkenazi gunzenhauser 1490 \n r. david kimchi (1160?-1235?), also known by the acronym rada\u201dk, was the most prominent grammarian of the hebrew language in the medieval period, surpassing all others in terms of clarity, comprehensiveness, and methodical presentation of the subject matter. kimchi was born in provence after his family fled the almohad persecutions in spain. both his father and brother were accomplished grammarians in their own right and rada\u201dk\u2019s philological writings owe a great deal to their early influence.===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, incunables no. 46."},"estimateMax":18000,"lotNumber":"77","title":{"en":"kimchi, david."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114549/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":12000,"aiDescription":"This is a single page from a printed book by David Kimchi, featuring dense Hebrew text. The text is arranged in a main column with marginal commentary or annotations in smaller script, a common feature in scholarly religious texts. The paper is cream-colored and shows signs of age and handling, with slightly ragged edges and some light discoloration.","soldPrice":9000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.424Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$12,000 - $18,000","currency":"USD","id":114549,"estimateMin":12000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114550/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(rada\u201dk). sepher hashorashim [\u201cbook of roots\u201d: a biblical lexicon and grammar]. \n \n third edition. printed in two columns. square hebrew type, excepting names of biblical books and pericopes in rabbinic type. the moses gaster copy, his signature on verso of final manuscript leaf. copious marginal notes likely by elijah levita. \n ff. 152 (of 168). folios 1, 4\u201310, 15, 159\u2013162, 166\u2013168 reproduced in facsimile, ff. 2-3 inlaid affecting only a few letters of text, f.11, 163-165, and final added ms leaf mounted. soiled and stained in places, marginal tears repaired, some leaves strengthened at gutter. edges tinted red. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled maroon crushed morocco, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. folio. housed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, naples 19; steinschneider, col. 873, no. 44; zedner, p. 200; thesaurus a69; goff, h-40; offenberg, no. 106; bmc xiii, p. 58; iakerson, no. 59.; sclar, treasures 42; val. 1372. \n naples: [joshua solomon ben israel nathan soncino] 1491 \n the present copy of sepher hashorashim is heavily annotated with hundreds of marginal annotations that are regularly introduced with the initials \u201caleph aleph.\u201d this certainly stands for \u201camar eliyahu,\u201d indicating the glosses of elijah (bachur) levita (1469\u20131549) the famed hebrew philologist, grammarian, and lexicographer. born in germany, he spent most of his life in italy (padua, venice, and rome) where he taught hebrew language. it was largely through levita\u2019s nimmukim for sefer michlol (ed. venice, 1545) and for sepher hashorashim (ed. venice, 1547) that many of his pupils, including many renowned christian humanists, were able to access kimchi\u2019s grammatical writings.===the sheer number of manuscript annotations in the present volume is evident that it was once owned by a scholar who made assiduous use of its contents to master the finer points of hebrew grammar. an added manuscript leaf in an early hand, tipped in at the end of the volume reproduces the text on the printed ff. 166r-167r."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"78","title":{"en":"kimchi, david"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114550/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This is an open, printed book by David Kimchi, likely a commentary or scholarly work. The pages are filled with dense Hebrew text, arranged in multiple columns and varying font sizes, indicating different levels of commentary or cross-references. The book shows signs of age with browned pages and a visible dark binding on the left and right edges.","soldPrice":6500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.426Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114550,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114551/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114551/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(rada\u201dk). sepher michlol [grammar]. \n \n edited by elijah levita. two copies each with specific typographic variants. each volume with title set within architectural arch. each volume with latin marginalia in an early hand, extensive in second volume. \n ff. 268, (1). lightly stained. first volume (entitled on spine \u201ctype i\u201d) bound in valmadonna-custom deep cherry crushed morocco tooled in gilt; second volume (entitled on spine \u201ctype ii\u201d) bound in contemporary limp vellum with valmadonna-custom morocco spine lable and gilt-tooling. housed in slip-case. 12mo. vinograd, venice 246. \n venice: cornelio adelkind for daniel bomberg 1545 \n << two variant issues of the same edition.>>===the michlol was david kimchi\u2019s chief grammatical work. it treats verbs comprehensively, covering the rules governing changes of pronunciation and accents. it also contains complete tables of conjugations and is distinguished by its conciseness and clarity of style. indeed, these qualities resulted in the michlol\u2019s supremacy over previous works. for centuries it was considered preeminent in its field. see m. waxman, vol. i, p. 179."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"79","title":{"en":"kimchi, david."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114551/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed book by David Kimchi, titled \"Sefer Mikhlol.\" The title page is in Hebrew and features a grand architectural woodcut border with fluted columns and an arched pediment. Handwritten annotations in ink are visible on the top left margin, including names and a date \"1807,\" indicating prior ownership. The paper has aged to a cream color with some foxing and discoloration.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.427Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114551,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114552/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher agur [laws and precepts]. \n \n second edition. title within architectural arch. initial letters of opening word within white-on-black decorative woodcut vignettes. this copy contains the rare final four leaves of riddles (sepher chazon) following the index. few marginal notes. \n ff. 102. foliated in recent red ink, dampstained, title, laid down. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled chestnut calf, spine titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, rimini 6. \n rimini: gershom soncino 1526 \n << gershom soncino\u2019s issue of a fundamentally important code of halachah.>>===the final halachic code composed by a german rabbinic scholar prior to the compilation of the shulchan aruch. the sepher agur follows the order of the tur and contains 1,439 sections, primarily focusing upon ritual, the laws of the sabbath and the festivals. the author\u2019s purpose was to add the decisions of the later german scholars, such as jacob moelin and israel isserlein, which had been omitted by jacob ben asher\u2019s tur."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"80","title":{"en":"landau, jacob."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114552/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed book by Jacob Landau, titled \"Sefer Agur.\" The title page, written in Hebrew, is framed by an elaborate architectural woodcut border with twisted columns, an arched entry, and a decorated frieze. The book's pages show significant browning and wear, indicating its age. The overall appearance suggests a scholarly or religious text, possibly from the 16th or 17th century.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.428Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114552,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114553/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher agur [halachic code]. \n \n another edition. printer\u2019s device on title-page. with the rare final four leaves (sepher chazon) usually lacking from all other copies. title page with signatures and inscriptions, one of which is dated 1595. \n ff. 132, (4). stained. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled chestnut calf,spine titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, venice 261. \n venice: cornelio adelkind for marco antonio giustiniani 1546"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"81","title":{"en":"landau, jacob."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114553/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book, likely a religious or legal text by Jacob Landau, titled 'Sefer Agur'. It appears to be a work of Jewish law or commentary, given the mention of 'halakhot' in the Hebrew text. The book is printed on paper and features Hebrew script. A notable visual feature on the title page is an elaborate woodcut illustration of a domed structure, possibly representing a temple or a significant building, accompanied by decorative ribbons. Handwritten annotations in Hebrew are visible in the margins, suggesting historical use and study.","soldPrice":1600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.324Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114553,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114554/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"tavnith heichal - libellus effigiei templi salomanis. \n \n first hebrew edition. separate hebrew and latin titles. followed by a hebrew translation of the privileges granted by the united dutch provinces. \n ff. (2), 4-38. few leaves stained. bound in valmadonna-custom full morocco. sm. 4to. vinograd, amsterdam 179 (unseen); fuks, amsterdam 266 (\u201cthere exist different copies with somewhat different contents and foliation\u201d). \n amsterdam: marcus levi 1650 \n treatise on the exterior, interior and ritual objects of the temple of solomon in jerusalem."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"82","title":{"en":"leon, jacob judah (templo)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114554/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed book by Jacob Judah Leon (Templo) titled 'Libellus Effigiei Templi Salomonis'. Published in Amsterdam in 1650, this Latin text describes the fabric and instruments of Solomon's Temple. The book is printed on paper and features an ornate woodcut illustration on the title page, depicting a cornucopia of fruits and foliage within a decorative cartouche, topped by ribbons. The visual details, including the Latin title and publication information, suggest a scholarly work focusing on historical or religious architecture.","soldPrice":550,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.326Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114554,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114555/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114555/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"ralba\u201dg). milchamoth hashem [\u201cwars of the lord\u201d: philosophy] \n \n first edition. title within ornamental border and featuring device of cardinal madrucci, the patron of the printing enterprise (see amram pp. 296-97; yaari, hebrew printers\u2019 marks, no. 28, facsimile of title in ej, vol. xi, col. 93). \n ff. 75. title remargined. bound in valmadonna-custom deep cherry morocco, spine in compartments, titled on spine in gilt. housed in fitted slip-case. folio. vinograd, riva di trento 20. \n riva di trento: jacob marcaria 1560 \n levi ben gershom (1288-1344), a native of languedoc in the south of france, was a polymath, excelling in the fields of biblical exegesis, philosophy, mathematics and astronomy and was likely the last distinguished aristotelian not only in the jewish world, but in all of medieval europe.===milchamoth hashem analyzes philosophical matters pertaining to the immortality of the soul, the nature of prophecy, divine omniscience and providence, the nature of the heavenly spheres and the question of the eternity of matter.===for an analysis of gersonides\u2019 inquires found in milchamoth hashem alongside a critical comparison to aristotle\u2019s beliefs, see i. zinberg, a history of jewish literature, vol. iii, pp. 129-39; see also g. freudenthal (ed.) studies on gersonides: a fourteenth-century jewish philosopher-scientist (brill)."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"83","title":{"en":"levi ben gershon (gersonides /"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114555/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This item is a bound book, possibly by Levi ben Gershon (Gersonides). It features a dark brown leather cover with a finely embossed, intricate floral and geometric border design framing the central panel on the front. The spine is ribbed and includes gilt lettering, partially visible as 'MILCHAMOT HASHEM' and 'RIVA 1560'. This suggests a significant religious or philosophical text, likely from the 16th century, bound in a traditional and decorative style. The binding itself is a notable feature, indicating a valuable or important volume.","soldPrice":1900,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.327Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114555,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114556/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher tuv ta\u2019am [on cantillation points and grammatical accents] \n \n first edition. \n pp. 35. trace stained. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled chestnut calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. housed in fitted slip-case. sm. 4to. vinograd, venice 155. \n venice: daniel bomberg 1538 \n levita here puts forth the theory that the torah\u2019s cantillation points (\u201ctrop\u201d) were not sinaitic but rather of post-talmudic origin. this novel idea, which contradicted that stated in the talmud (see tb nedarim 37b and commentaries) became the subject of much controversy. see ej, vol. xi, col. 134. this work proved to be so popular that it was immediately republished in basle, 1539."},"estimateMax":1800,"lotNumber":"84","title":{"en":"levita, elijah bachur."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114556/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1200,"aiDescription":"This item is an early printed Hebrew book by Elijah Bachur Levita, titled 'Sefer Tuv Ta'am'. The book is a textual work, likely a linguistic or grammatical treatise concerning the Hebrew language, as suggested by the author's known scholarship. It is printed on paper using Hebrew script, with some handwritten marginalia. The page exhibits some light staining and foxing consistent with age, indicating it is an antique or historical publication.","soldPrice":1600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.329Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,200 - $1,800","currency":"USD","id":114556,"estimateMin":1200},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114557/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher masoreth hamasoreth [explication of masoretic rules] \n \n first edition. marginalia. tipped in note by the librarian of the valmadonna trust recording that the title-page here is a variant from that described by haberman (bomberg no. 150). signature on title-page of r. menachem mendel eckstein. \n pp. 1-12, 15-87. wormed in places occasionally repaired, few stains, lower blank portion of title filled in. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled mahogany calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, venice 156. \n venice: daniel bomberg 1538"},"estimateMax":1800,"lotNumber":"85","title":{"en":"levita, elijah bachur."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114557/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1200,"aiDescription":"This item is an early printed Hebrew book by Elijah Bachur Levita, titled 'Sefer Masoret HaMasoret'. The book is a linguistic or Masoretic work on the Hebrew Bible, evident from its title and the author's known scholarship. It is printed on paper using Hebrew script. The page shows significant handwritten annotations and marginalia, some of which are crossed out, indicating active use and study over time. The presence of these historical handwritten notes is a key visual and historical feature.","soldPrice":1600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.330Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,200 - $1,800","currency":"USD","id":114557,"estimateMin":1200},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114558/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114558/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"machzor mikol hashanah [festival prayers for the entire year]. according to aschkenazi rite. with kabbalistic commentaries. \n \n complete in two parts, bound here in one volume. part ii printed entirely on blue paper. title within architectural arch. printed in two columns. censors signatures at end. occasional marginal notations. in days of awe \u201chamelech\u201d and \u201ckol nidrei\u201d and two additional prayers all with type-ornament surround. some passages censored. \n ff. 389 (of 394), ff. 1-3 and 7-8 provided in facsimile, outer corner of f. 13 provided in manuscript, all leaves of part i (until f. 192) neatly laid to size. part ii with occasional stains and few neat repairs, penultimate leaf with loss of few words. bound in valmadonna-custom deep cherry blind-tooled calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. thick 4to. housed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, sabionetta 42 and cremona 30. \n sabionetta - cremona: tobias foa - jacob cohen of gazolo 1557-60 \n << rare, bibliophilic edition. second part printed entirely on blue paper>> (ff. 193-394). see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 12.===the publication of this important aschkenazic machzor has engendered much bibliographical discussion. begun in sabbioneta in 1557 in the house of tobias foa, it was completed in cremona on the eve of the new year [5]321 (1560) by vicenzo conti (as explained in the colophon at the end of the volume). from a typographical perspective, the machzor is something of a mystery. considering it was printed in two different cities, clearly the transition was hardly seamless. the great bibliographers, such as steinschneider, sonne, berliner, rivkind and benayahu have tried to make sense of the way in which various letters occur in the edition. for a thorough study in this regard, see benayahu, hadephus ha\u2019ivri becremona (1971) pp. 139-178."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"86","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114558/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew liturgical book, likely a prayer book or 'machzor' for Rosh Hashanah, as indicated by 'Yotzer Rosh Hashana' at the top of the page. The text is in Hebrew script, printed on light blue paper. A prominent visual feature is an ornate woodcut initial letter 'הכל' (hakol) within a decorative oval cartouche, adding an artistic element to the religious text. The page numbering and layout suggest it is part of a larger volume, possibly used for Jewish religious services.","soldPrice":6000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.331Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114558,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114559/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"seder tephiloth mikol hashanah [prayers for the whole year]. including special yotzroth for brith milah and weddings. also with a hagadah for passover, as well as the complete pirkei avoth. \n \n according to aschkenazic rite. with instructions in yiddish. title within architectural arch. opening of adon olam (f. 2a) and initial letters of pirkei avoth (f. 257a) historiated. aleinu prayer not censored. \n ff. 351 (of 352), final leaf provided in facsimile. title repaired with lower outer corner in facs., outer margins of few leaves frayed, lightly stained in places, opening and closing leaves neatly remargined. modern full vellum, gauffred edges. 12mo. vinograd, mantua 55. \n mantua: venturino roffinello for jacob ben naphtali hakohen & meir b. ephraim of padua 1558 \n the valmadonna trust library possessed another copy of this prayer-book printed entirely << on vellum>> (subsequently sold by kestenbaum & company, highly important hebrew printed books, 9th november, 2017, lot 141)."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"87","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114559/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew liturgical text, likely a prayer book, featuring an elaborate woodcut architectural title page. The decorative frame consists of two fluted columns with spiral motifs, supporting an arched entablature. Within the arch, two hands appear in a gesture of blessing, known as 'Birkat Kohanim'. The text is in Hebrew, indicating a Jewish religious work. The overall design suggests a traditional and ornate presentation common in early printed Hebrew books, with a focus on visual symbolism.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.332Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114559,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114560/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"machzor keminhag roma [festival prayers for the entire year]. according to italian rite. includes passover hagadah, ethics of the fathers, five scrolls and laws relating to festivals. \n \n parts i and ii bound in one volume. title replaced as facsimile, within architectural arch. initial letters within cartouches, f.48b (hagadah) with woodcut illustrations of cuffed hands pointing to matzah and bitter herbs. printed in two columns. marginalia throughout. \n ff. 209 (of 210), title-page provided in facsimile. stained in places, with occasional neat marginal repairs. later sheep, rebacked with valmadonna-custom gilt titling on spine. housed in fitted slip-case. sm. folio. vinograd, mantua 42. \n mantua: jacob cohen of gazolo 1577-60 \n the valmadonna trust library possessed another copy of this prayer-book printed entirely << on blue paper>> (subsequently sold by kestenbaum & company, highly important hebrew printed books, 9th november, 2017, lot 145)."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"88","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114560/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This item is an early printed Hebrew liturgical book, possibly a prayer book or 'siddur'. The text is in Hebrew script, arranged in two columns, printed on aged paper. A prominent feature is a decorative woodcut initial word 'ברוך' (baruch) within an elaborate, undulating cartouche, positioned at the top right of the right-hand column. The page exhibits some foxing and discoloration consistent with age. This is a religious textual work, likely used for Jewish prayers.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.334Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114560,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114561/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"machzor sephardim meyamin nora\u2019im [prayers for the days of awe]. \n \n title within ornate architectural arch. final page contains poem by the celebrated proofreader: leon de modena. the salman schocken copy with his stamps. endpapers with detailed records from families sanguini and finzi, dated from 1640-1837. \n ff. 311. trimmed and stained. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed patterned boards, spine titled in gilt. 12mo. vinograd, venice 1225. \n venice: giovanni calleoni 1638"},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"89","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114561/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew liturgical book, published in Venice in 1638 by Gio. Calleoni. The title page features a prominent woodcut architectural frame, consisting of two substantial columns with decorative bases and capitals, supporting an arched lintel. The Hebrew text within the arch identifies it as 'Seder Selichot', indicating a book of penitential prayers. The use of a grand architectural woodcut for the title page is a significant visual characteristic, typical of prestigious early printed religious works.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.336Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114561,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114562/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"seder tephiloth keminhag kahal kadosh b\u2019nei sefarad [selected prayers through the year]. according to sephardic rite. \n \n title within type-ornament border. printed in an uncommonly large type-face. \n ff. ff. 154, (2). stained, title-page repaired and with stamp. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards, spine titled in gilt. 12mo. vinograd, venice 1417. \n venice: bragadin 1678"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"90","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114562/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew liturgical book, likely a prayer book ('tefillot'), published in Venice in 1678 by Domenico Bona. The title page features a decorative border and Hebrew script. A notable visual feature is a clear circular printer's device or stamp at the bottom left, partially obscured, and handwritten notes including 'Ex domo D. Lafrati' and 'IN VENETIA, 1678'. The marbled endpapers on the left edge are also visible, suggesting a period binding. The book is a religious text in Hebrew.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:00.337Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114562,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114563/007/007.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114563/008/008.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114563/009/009.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"seder tephiloth [prayers for weekday, sabbath and select personal and festive events through the year]. according to sephardic rite. \n \n unusual engraved frontispiece including banner depicting a lion with the words, \u2018judah is a young cub\u2019 (gur aryeh yehudah)hanging from the temple ark as the four-headed vision from the book of daniel hovers overhead. eighty-year hebrew calendar at end, several contemporary manuscript calculations. prayer times through the year for the community of amsterdam recorded in spanish. endpapers with previous owner\u2019s annotations in hebrew and spanish. wider margins. finely bound. \n ff. (1), 243, (1). foxed, with few stains. contemporary gilt-tooled calf over wooden boards, twin clasps and hinges, darkened, expertly rebacked. 8vo. vinograd, amsterdam 1284. \n amsterdam: isaac ben solomon rafael judah leon templo 1726"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"91","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114563/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique liturgical book, identifiable by its title page featuring a prominent engraved illustration. The image is framed by what appears to be palm fronds and showcases a winged cherubic figure emerging from a vessel at the top. Below, a banner with Hebrew script and an illustration of a reclining lion are set above an altar with burning incense. The book is bound, likely in a dark material, and features metal clasps on its fore-edge, indicative of its period and binding style.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.522Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114563,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114564/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"seder leyamim nora\u2019im [prayers for the days of awe]. according to sephardic rite. \n \n engraved frontispiece depicting the yom kippur service in the temple. \n ff. 302. misbound but complete. foxed, presentation inscription on title-page excised in ink. modern morocco, valmadonna-custom morocco spine labels. 12mo. vinograd, amsterdam 1283. \n amsterdam: isaac ben solomon rafael judah leon templo 1726"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"92","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114564/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an antique printed book, likely a liturgical text, featuring a detailed woodcut or engraving on its title page. The subject matter depicts a significant religious scene, possibly a Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah observance, with figures gathered around a tabernacle and an altar from which smoke rises. A banner with Hebrew script, featuring cherubs, crowns the scene, and a large crowd is shown in prayer or worship. The book has visible red binding on the spine, suggesting leather or cloth, and the pages exhibit age-related toning.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.524Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114564,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114565/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114565/006/006.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"seder tephiloth [daily and sabbath prayers, with other selections]. according to sephardic rite. \n \n printed entirely on vellum. printer\u2019s device on title and final page. \n ff. 216. stained in places, light wear through usage, repairs to lower corners of ff. 103-10 (home prayers for friday evening) and with some loss of text. contemporary gilt-tooled calf, darkened, rebacked. valmadonna-custom slip-case, with gilt-tooled morocco spine labels. thick 24mo. vinograd, amsterdam 1794; freimannn, pergamentdrucke zfhb vol. 15 no. 152. \n amsterdam: sons of the late solomon proops 1760 \n << a luxury edition, finely produced in a neat lilliputian size, printed entirely on vellum.>>===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, vellum no. 39.===a moving display of the spiritual devotion harbored by the well-to-do patron of this miniature liturgical edition. for despite the expense necessitated in commissioning this prayer-book on vellum, the unknown devotee of fine printing clearly recited and sang his prayers on a regular basis from this very volume.===<< a first-rate example of the high quality inherent in the art of hebrew printing that the presses of amsterdam excelled in.>>===for another copy of this rare vellum siddur sold at auction, see christie\u2019s amsterdam, fine judaica, 6th december, 1989, lot 105."},"estimateMax":50000,"lotNumber":"93","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114565/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":30000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique bound book, likely a liturgical volume, presented in a dark, possibly leather, binding. The binding features embossed or tooled decorative elements, including a bordered design on the cover and distinct raised bands with decorative text or symbols on the spine. The pages show evidence of age, visible from the top edge, and the overall appearance suggests a historical publication with a durable, traditional binding.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.525Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$30,000 - $50,000","currency":"USD","id":114565,"estimateMin":30000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114566/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"no lot"},"lotNumber":"94","title":{"en":"no lot"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114566/view","tags":["judaica_books","judaica_all","judaica"],"aiDescription":"No description is available for this item as the image is unavailable and the catalog text explicitly states \"no lot.\" Without visual or textual information, no factual description can be provided.","lastUpdate":"2021-11-05T23:52:27.755Z","textCase":"lower","currency":"USD","id":114566},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114567/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(ramcha\u201dl). mesilath yesharim [\u201cthe path of the upright.\u201d] \n \n  \n ff. 35, 39-49. some staining. modern limp vellum with silk ties, titled in gilt along spine. 8vo. vinograd, mantua 516. \n mantua: eliezer solomon d\u2019italia 1781 \n immensely influential work of ethics, first published in 1740."},"estimateMax":600,"lotNumber":"95","title":{"en":"luzzatto, moses chaim."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114567/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":400,"aiDescription":"This is an antique printed book, specifically a work by Moses Chaim Luzzatto, likely a philosophical or ethical text within the genre of Jewish literature. The title page, written in Hebrew script, is framed by an ornate decorative border and includes publication information, noting 'Mantoua con licenza de superiori' at the bottom. The paper exhibits age-related discoloration, and a handwritten number '22' is visible in the upper left corner.","soldPrice":1100,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.526Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$400 - $600","currency":"USD","id":114567,"estimateMin":400},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114568/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"baruch ben jacob of schklov. derech yesharah [on personal hygiene]. \n \n first edition. with illnesses listed in both latin and hebrew. \n ff. 14. stained. bound in valmadonna-custom morocco-backed marbled boards, spine titled in gilt. 12mo. vinograd, hague 10. \n the hague: leib soesmanns 1779 \n this scarce work on personal hygiene describes \u201cthe straight path upon which one should conduct one\u2019s spiritual and physical actions in order to preserve one\u2019s health\u201d (preface).===the author (1740-1812) positioned himself between the worlds of traditional eastern-european learning and that of the budding maskilic community. he began his rabbinic career serving as a dayan in minsk but left to study medicine in england. r. baruch published works on astronomy, anatomy, medicine and translated euclid into hebrew - a work inspired by the vilna gaon\u2019s belief that important scientific texts should be translated and made available to the traditional jews of the study-hall."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"96","title":{"en":"(medicine)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114568/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique printed book, identified as a medical text due to its cataloging. The title page, predominantly in Hebrew script, is framed by a decorative border. The publication information indicates it was printed in Amsterdam by J.H. Munnickhuyzen. The paper has aged, showing discoloration, and handwritten numbers, possibly '39.20', are visible in blue ink at the top of the page, along with a '4' in the upper left corner.","soldPrice":1200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.527Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114568,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114569/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(mahara\u201dm of rothenburg). shailoth u\u2019teshuvoth [responsa] \n \n first edition. title within four-part historiated border. wider margins. signed by censors. ownership signatures including chizkiya b. shlomo anshel. \n ff. 108, (15). few leaves with slight marginal wear, stained in places, title with minute worming repaired on verso. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut blind-tooled calf, titled in gilt on spine. sm. 4to. vinograd, cremona 15. \n cremona: vicenzo conti 1557 \n the first of several, differing collections of responsa by this supreme arbiter of halachic authority in germany. for an exhaustive treatment of the mahara\u201dm and his influence from the 13th-century and on, see i. a. agus, rabbi meir of rothenburg (1947)."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"97","title":{"en":"meir ben baruch"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114569/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique printed book by Meir ben Baruch, likely a volume of responsa or a halakhic work. The title page features a decorative border composed of intricate mythological or allegorical figures and architectural elements. The text is primarily in Hebrew, with some Latin script like 'SPQR' and 'Valo' incorporated into the border design. The paper shows signs of age and handling, and the overall aesthetic suggests a 16th or 17th-century European printing.","soldPrice":1100,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.528Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114569,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114570/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114570/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"midrash hamechilta [halachic midrash to to the book of exodus]. attributed to rabbi ishmael. edited by r. jochanan treves. \n \n second edition. \n ff. 37. lightly foxed in places, stamp removed from title. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled chestnut calf decorated with gilt accents and tilted in gilt along spine. folio. vinograd, venice 244. \n venice: daniel bomberg 1545 \n the editor, r. jochanan treves (1490? -1557?), was the author of kimcha de-avishuna, a commentary to the prayer book according to the roman rite. a tireless proofreader at the press of daniel bomberg, treves labored to establish accurate readings, which thus gave rise to the fame of this celebrated venetian printing establishment. see ej, vol. xv, col. 1378."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"98","title":{"en":"(midrash)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114570/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is an antique printed book, identified as a Midrash, featuring an elaborate architectural title page. The design depicts a grand archway with ornate columns, intricately carved capitals, and a decorative frieze, framing the Hebrew title and text. A small, faded handwritten note 'J. Libehely 1797' is visible on the bottom right corner, suggesting a possible date of ownership or annotation. The book's pages show yellowing consistent with age, and a red binding is visible on the left.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.529Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114570,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114571/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"midrash chamesh megiloth rabbati [midrash on the five scrolls]. with commentary entitled matnoth kehunah by issachar baer ben naphtali katz of szczebrzesyn (shebreshin). \n \n first edition. title set within architectural arch. autograph signature on title of haham moses gaster (1856-1939). occasional marginalia. \n ff. 129 (of 130) final leaf supplied in facsimile. stained in places, trimmed, ff. 3-4, remargined. bound in valmadonna custom morocco-backed marbled boards. folio. vinograd, cracow 111. \n cracow: isaac prostitz 1588"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"99","title":{"en":"(midrash)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114571/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an antique printed book, identified as a Midrash, with a richly decorated title page designed as an architectural archway. The illustration features fluted columns, ornate capitals, and a pediment adorned with intricate carvings. The central text is in Hebrew script, presented within the arch, and the floor below the arch shows a checkered pattern. The book's pages exhibit aging, and a marbleized endpaper is visible along the left edge.","soldPrice":650,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.531Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114571,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114572/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher rabboth [on pentateuch and five scrolls]. with super-commentary matnath kehunah. \n \n title within woodcut architectural border. additional divisional title-page. \n ff. 302 and 126 (of 130), ff. 117-20 provided in facsimile. final ten leaves laid to size with loss of text. browned and stained in places, closely trimmed. bound in custom-valmadoona calf-backed marbled boards. thick folio. vinograd, cracow 283. \n cracow: isaac ben aaron prostitz 1608-9"},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"100","title":{"en":"(midrash)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114572/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is an antique printed book, identified as a Midrash, featuring a highly decorative architectural title page. The illustration showcases a grand archway supported by detailed columns and a richly carved entablature, enclosing the Hebrew text. The base of the arch presents a checkered floor pattern. The book exhibits significant age, with noticeable yellowing and some foxing on the pages, and a marbleized endpaper is visible on the left side, indicating its binding style.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:02.532Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114572,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114573/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114573/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(mahar\u201di mintz) \u2026pesakim shailoth u\u2019teshuvoth [responsa]. \n \n first edition. printer\u2019s mark on title. \n ff. 134. trace stained. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut blind-tooled calf, titled in gilt on spine. sm. 4to. vinograd, venice 460. \n venice: bragadin 1553 \n a three-part work including seder gitin vechalitzah by the author\u2019s son abraham minz, as well as a further 90 responsa by r. abraham\u2019s son-in-law, meir katzenellenbogen (mahra\u201dm of padua)."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"101","title":{"en":"minzi, judah."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114573/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book, likely a religious or scholarly text by Judah Minzi. The title page features Hebrew script, a common language for such works. A notable visual feature is the decorative woodcut illustration of three crowns arranged in a pyramidal fashion, suggesting a theme of royalty, wisdom, or spiritual authority. The book appears to be printed on paper, typical of historical texts, and shows some signs of age such as slight discoloration around the edges. It is a textual item with significant historical and religious context.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.630Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114573,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114574/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher mahari\u201dl [jewish laws and customs for the entire year according to aschkenazi rite]. \n \n second edition. inscriptions on title-page and signed by censors at end. leaves 105-7 with extensive marginalia concerning shechitah, and elsewhere. \n ff. 120. stained in places. bound in valmadonna-custom crushed morocco, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. sm. 4to. vinograd, cremona 23. \n cremona: vicenzo conti 1558 \n the most important source of aschkenazi ritual custom (minhag), both within and outside synagogue life. the work paints a most faithful picture of the religious and social worlds of german jewry of the 14th-15th centuries."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"102","title":{"en":"moellin, jacob ben moses halevi."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114574/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book by Jacob ben Moses Halevi Moellin. The page displays a classical layout with Hebrew text in varying font sizes, indicative of a scholarly or religious work. A decorative heraldic device, possibly a printer's mark or an emblem related to the author, is centrally placed on the page. The paper shows signs of age with foxing and water stains, contributing to its historical character. Handwritten annotations or marginalia are visible in the top left, suggesting previous ownership or scholarly engagement.","soldPrice":1200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.631Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114574,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114575/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114575/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"seder nezikin. with commentary by moses maimonides and obadiah bertinoro. \n \n deluxe copy, printed entirely on blue paper. title within architectural arch. few text illustrations. some censoring. \n ff. 116. previous owner\u2019s marks and inscriptions on many pages, expert marginal repairs, stained in places. bound in valmadonna-custom maroon blind-tooled crushed morocco, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. sm. 4to. housed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, mantua 80; mehlman 106. \n mantua: jacob cohen of gazolo 1562 \n << rare, bibliophilic edition. printed entirely on blue paper.>>===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 22.===the mantua volumes of this set of mishnayoth were the last books to be typeset by jacob cohen before he retired. he had originally served at the press of foa in sabbioneta, and came to mantua in 1556 where he established for himself a fine reputation for splendid typographical work. see amram, the makers of hebrew books in italy, pp. 288-93 and 325."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"103","title":{"en":"(mishnah)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114575/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This item is an antique Hebrew book, identified as part of the Mishnah. The title page showcases a prominent woodcut design depicting an ornate archway, flanked by decorative twisted columns and topped with finials. The entire design frames the Hebrew text, which is the primary language and script of the work. The paper has a light blueish hue, a notable visual feature for such period publications. This book is a religious or scholarly text, characterized by its detailed graphic frontispiece.","soldPrice":3500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.632Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114575,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114576/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"seder nashim. with commentary of moses maimonides and obadiah bertinoro. \n \n deluxe copy, printed entirely on blue paper. title within architectural arch. \n ff. 82. previous owner\u2019s marks, occasional expert paper repairs, stained in places. bound in valmadonna-custom maroon blind-tooled crushed morocco, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. sm. 4to. housed in fitted slip-case. vinograd, mantua 80; mehlman 106. \n mantua: jacob cohen of gazolo 1561 \n the first two orders of this set of the mishnah were printed by foa in sabbioneta and then completed in mantua.===<< rare, bibliophilic edition. printed entirely on blue paper.>>===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 20."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"104","title":{"en":"(mishnah)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114576/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This item is a historical Hebrew book, identified as part of the Mishnah, a foundational text of rabbinic Judaism. The cover page features an elaborate architectural woodcut design, reminiscent of a grand archway or temple entrance, intricately decorated with columns and ornamental motifs. The primary script is Hebrew, indicating its religious and scholarly nature. Printed on paper, the page has a light blue tint, which is a distinctive visual characteristic. The overall appearance suggests a significant religious volume, likely from an early printing period.","soldPrice":3750,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.634Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114576,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114577/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"kitzur mordechai v\u2019simanav [abridgment of sepher mordechai]. prepared by joshua boaz baruch. \n \n first edition. \n ff. (2), 56. stained. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut calf, blind-tooled with gilt florets at corners. folio. vinograd, cremona 12. \n cremona: vicenzo conti 1557 \n r. mordechai ben hillel hakohen (1240? -1298) was the outstanding disciple of r. meir (mahara\u2019m) of rothenburg. his compendium, arranged according to the tractates of the talmud, is a rich repository of the halachic traditions of aschkenaz. see a. siev, hagahot harama al hamordechai in: hagut ivrit be\u2019amerika, vol. i (1972) pp. 426-39; a. halperin, sepher hamordechai bere\u2019i hadpasotav in: iyunim besifrut chazal\u2026 melamed festschrift (1982) pp. 323-38; ej, vol. xii, cols. 311-14."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"105","title":{"en":"mordechai ben hillel aschkenazi)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114577/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a historical printed book, likely a religious or scholarly text by Mordechai ben Hillel Aschkenazi. The page features Hebrew text, presented in an orderly and classical typographic style. A small, stylized floral or foliage design serves as a decorative element or printer's mark, positioned above a table-like arrangement of text. The paper has a warm, aged tone with some light foxing, characteristic of early printed materials. This item is a textual work in Hebrew, focused on religious or legal scholarship.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.635Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114577,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114578/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"simanei (vekitzurei ha)mordechai [index] \n \n first edition. edited by joseph ottolenghi. title letters within woodcut vignettes. some under-linings and couple of marginal notations. \n ff. 45 (supplement only). few light stains. bound in valmadonna-custom deep cherry blind-tooled calf with gilt corner embellishments, spine titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, riva 9. \n riva di trento: (jacob marcaria) 1559"},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"106","title":{"en":"mordechai ben hillel aschkenazi."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114578/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This item is a page from an early Hebrew book, attributed to Mordechai ben Hillel Aschkenazi. The most striking visual feature is a decorative title or heading, composed of eight individual rectangular blocks, each containing a single Hebrew letter, arranged horizontally. These blocks are ornate, with patterned borders and internal designs, giving the heading a distinct calligraphic and architectural quality. The page is made of aged paper with visible handwritten notations in the margins, and a single number \"17\" at the top left, suggesting it is part of a larger volume.","soldPrice":800,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.636Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114578,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114579/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"simanei vekitzurei hamordechai. edited by joseph ottolenghi. \n \n second edition. the r. abraham joseph solomon graziano (ish ge\u2019r) copy with his signature on title (and two other places), as well as a signature \u201c\u2026modena\u2026\u201d verso of title-page is a 3-line autograph manuscript note by graziano recording from whom, and where, he purchased this book. ish ger has also noted the tracatate division on top left corner of each recto leaf throughout the entire volume. \n ff. 176. touch stained, remnants of stamps on title-page. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut calf, title gilt on spine. 8vo. vinograd, riva 11. \n riva di trento : (jacob marcaria) 1559 \n a learned and broad-minded rabbi, abraham joseph solomon graziano of modena (d. 1684), was a noted halachic scholar, bibliophile and poet. see s. baron, teshuvah\u2026me\u2019eth r. abraham graziano in: studies in memory of a.s. freidus (1929) pp. 122-37; a. j. karp, from the ends of the earth: judaic treasures of the library of congress, pp. 155-6."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"107","title":{"en":"mordechai ben hillel aschkenazi"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114579/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a page from an old Hebrew book, attributed to Mordechai ben Hillel Aschkenazi, featuring a title page or significant textual section. The text is in Hebrew, displaying various script sizes and styles. The page is heavily annotated with handwritten marks and marginalia in ink, indicating active use or scholarly engagement. Several notable visual features include a prominent purple circular stamp and multiple horizontal purple ink marks, suggesting official markings or censor's notations. The aged paper exhibits foxing and general wear.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.637Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114579,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114580/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(chief rabbi of egypt). darchei noam [responsa]. with supplement: kuntress bemishpat yemei hamilah [on circumcision] by abraham halevi (son of the author). \n \n first edition. diagram of temple on verso of title. additional unrecorded temple diagram at end. addendum with separate title-page. \n ff. 282, 41, (1). previous owner\u2019s marks, stained in places, final leaf wormed. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards. sm. folio. vinograd, venice 1490. \n venice: bragadin 1697 \n the egyptian born author (d. 1684) served for several decades as rabbi and dayan in cairo before moving to jerusalem where he died. this, his only published work, is a valuable insight into contemporary jewish life in egypt and was often cited by many later rabbinic authorities."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"108","title":{"en":"mordechai halevi."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114580/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This item features a detailed architectural plan or diagram from a Hebrew book, likely by Mordechai Halevi. The subject matter is a floor plan, possibly of a temple or sacred structure, depicted with various internal elements such as altars, seating arrangements, and a prominent menorah. The language is Hebrew, with labels on the diagram. The page is made of aged paper and displays several purple ink stamps, possibly ownership marks or library stamps, and some handwritten annotations. This is a unique visual document, combining textual and illustrative elements.","soldPrice":650,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.639Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114580,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114581/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"ramba\u201dm). moreh nevuchim [\u201cguide of the perplexed.\u201d] translated from arabic into hebrew by samuel ben judah ibn tibon. with commentaries of shem tov and ephodi. \n \n second edition. on title, printer's mark of three crowns (yaari 18). first word of ibn tibbon's introduction (f.1r) within elaborate engraved surround. \n ff. (12), 185, (1). previous owner\u2019s marks, neat taped repair to introductory leaf (f. 5) some light wear in places. bound in valmadonna-custom chestnut blind-tooled morocco, spine in strapped compartments, titled on spine in gilt. housed in fitted slip-case. folio. vinograd, venice 421. \n venice: alvise bragadin-meir parenzo 1551 \n << a complete copy of the rare second edition>> (the first edition appeared in rome c. 1474).===the final work of maimonides (1135-1204), the guide for the perplexed was completed c. 1185 and is the main source of the rambam\u2019s philosophical views. he originally wrote it in judeo-arabic, it was first translated into hebrew in 1204 by a contemporary of maimonides in southern france, samuel ben judah ibn tibbon.===due to its aristotelian leanings, the work had a history fraught with controversy, both within and beyond the jewish community. tragically - and obviously due to other motivations - it was publicly burned by the dominicans in paris, 1232. it is said that r. jonah gerondi, one of those who agitated for the banning of moreh nevuchim, later journeyed to maimonides\u2019 tomb in eretz israel to beg the deceased author for forgiveness.===today the guide for the perplexed is undoubtedly the most celebrated philosophical text in all of jewish literature - and by far the most influential."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"109","title":{"en":"moses ben maimon (maimonides /"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114581/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book, likely a scholarly or religious work by Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides), titled \"Moreh Nevukhim.\" The title page features Hebrew text in various fonts, alongside a decorative woodcut of three crowns, arranged in a similar style to Item 114573, suggesting a theme of authority or significant wisdom. The page is made of aged paper, displaying some foxing and handwritten annotations, indicating its historical context and potential previous ownership or study. It is a significant textual work from an early period.","soldPrice":40000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.640Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114581,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114582/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"ramba\u201dm). hilchoth yesodei hatorah - constitutiones de fundamentis legis. pp. (8), 148. <<* bound with:>> isaac abrabanel. rosh amanah - de capite fidei. pp. 118, (10).f. \n \n both first edition in latin. both works translated by willem hendrik voorst. both title-pages with printer\u2019s mark showing astrolabe flanked by angel and human. \n lightly foxed, title and first leaf of text silked, left margin of title removed not affecting text. bound in valmadonna-custom morocco-backed boards. 4to. vinograd, amsterdam 43; fuks, 200; \n amsterdam: g. & j. blaeu 1638 \n fuks writes: \u201cas we have not been able to see copies of the work, we cannot give the description of the contents nor the enumeration of the types which have been used.\u201d according to vinograd, jnul does not possess a copy.===for the translator, a christian student of menasseh ben israel, see a. l. katchen, christian hebraists and dutch rabbis (cambridge, 1984) pp. 235-47."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"110","title":{"en":"moses ben maimon (maimonides /"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114582/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a 1638 edition of Maimonides' 'Liber De Capite Fidei' (likely 'The Book of the Head of Faith'), translated into Latin by G. V. Vorstius, and published in Amsterdam. The book is a textual work, likely a philosophical or theological treatise, presented in both Hebrew and Latin languages. The title page features an elaborate engraved printer's mark depicting winged figures flanking a celestial globe, with the motto 'INDEFESSVS AGENDO' and the publisher details 'Apud G. VLIEL. & IOHANNEM BLAEV'.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:10.641Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114582,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114583/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"hanephesh hachochmah [kabbalistic discourses on the fate awaiting the soul after death and the mystical significance of the precepts]. also includes commentaries by r. moses de leon and r. joseph gikatilla to the passover hagadah. \n \n first edition. title within typographical border. signatures on title including izaak b. elozor-lazi berlin. \n ff. (64). wormed and stained. later vellum-backed boards, valmadonna-custom gilt title on spine. 4to. vinograd, basle 231. \n basle: konrad waldkirch 1608 \n moses de leon of guadalajara (c. 1240-1305) was one of the greatest spanish kabbalists of his day, indeed scholars have attributed to him - rather than to rabbi shimon bar yochai, the putative author - the composition of the zohar. painstaking comparisons have been made of de leon\u2019s other works, such as our hanephesh hachochmah, to ascertain whether there is overlap with the zohar in terms of style, language and terminology, as well as to determine whether the two kabbalistic systems are divergent or not. see g. scholem, major trends in jewish mysticism (1967) pp. 159-204 and ej, vol. xii cols. 425-6."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"111","title":{"en":"moses ben shem tov de leon."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114583/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew book by Moses ben Shem Tov de Leon. The title page features a highly ornate and elaborate floral border, enclosing the main Hebrew text, typical of Renaissance or early modern printing. The text is in Hebrew, indicating its religious or scholarly content. The paper shows significant signs of age, including numerous handwritten annotations, marginalia, and smudges, which suggest extensive use and study. The decorative border is a key visual feature, framing the textual information.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.849Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114583,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114584/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher mitzvoth gadol (sema\u201dg) [\u201cthe great book of commandments\u201d: enumeration of the 613 precepts]. \n \n second edition. woodcut initials and incipit panels. marginalia. valmadonna librarian and custodian collation notes. \n ff. 83 (of 280). primarily consisting of signatures 6-13 of part i and signatures 1-5 of part ii. stained in places, some worming, gutters repaired, occasional loss, trimmed. valmadonna-custom morocco-backed marbled boards. sm. folio. vinograd, soncino 37; goff heb-85; thes. a-48; goldstein 58; offenberg 95; iakerson 36. \n soncino: gershom soncino 1488 \n the first book printed by gershom soncino. the second incunable edition of this extensive work, the first edition of which was issued in rome, c.1469-72.===following maimonides\u2019 code, the sepher mitzvoth gadol is the most significant work of this halachic genre. a major stylistic difference between the two works is that rabbinic precepts are included in the sema\u201dg, while the mishneh torah only enumerates biblical commandments.===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, incunables no. 22."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"112","title":{"en":"moses of coucy"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114584/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This is a textual work by Moses of Coucy, presented as an early printed book. The language is Hebrew, arranged in two columns, with marginalia and an ornamental initial word 'אָהֵב' featuring intricate floral and foliate designs. The page also shows a colorful, striped pattern along the fore-edge, suggesting marbled or decorated edges. The book appears to be a religious or legal text, likely from a significant rabbinic figure.","soldPrice":4000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.850Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114584,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114585/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher ha\u2019aruch [talmudic dictionary]. \n \n second edition. title within decorative soncino border. wider margins. marginalia. \n ff. 196. complete but mispaginated (as in all copies). light wear, some worming mostly repaired and generally not affecting text. bound in valmadonna-custom deep maroon crushed morocco, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. folio. vinograd, pesaro 44; steinschneider, cat. bodl. no. 2041 (editio rarissima). \n (pesaro): gershom soncino 1517 \n nathan\u2019s aruch is \u201ca manifestation not only of its author\u2019s brilliance and deep acquaintance with sources, but also of his encyclopaedic knowledge. indeed, in some instances it is the sole source for ancient traditions of talmudic interpretation\u201d (see s. b. linderman, sefer sarid ba\u2019arachin (1972) introduction.===the work is important for its many citations of geonic sources, descriptions of jewish customs, and citations of long-lost midrashim. see m.j. heller, the sixteenth century hebrew book (2004) pp. 104-5."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"113","title":{"en":"nathan ben yechiel of rome."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114585/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is a textual work by Nathan ben Yechiel of Rome, presented as an early printed book, likely a dictionary or lexicon given the author's known work. The language is Hebrew, formatted within an ornate woodcut border featuring floral and foliate motifs, with two central vases and an intricate top cartouche. The page displays signs of age, including some discoloration and a worn edge, typical of historical printed material.","soldPrice":3500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.851Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114585,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114586/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher ha\u2019aruch [talmudic dictionary]. \n \n another edition. printer\u2019s device on title page. title letters within decorative woodcut vignettes. latin signatures on title. \n ff. 166. touch browned in few places. later full vellum, some cracking at hinges. folio. vinograd, basle 191; prijs basle 158. \n basle: konrad waldkirch 1599"},"estimateMax":1000,"lotNumber":"114","title":{"en":"nathan ben yechiel of rome."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114586/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is a textual work by Nathan ben Yechiel of Rome, titled 'Liber Arouch seu Lexicon Talmudicum & Chaldaicum', a dictionary or lexicon of Talmudic and Chaldaic terms. The book is printed in Hebrew, with a Latin subtitle, indicating a scholarly work. The title page is adorned with an elaborate heraldic device featuring a lion rampant holding a star, within an ornate cartouche, and a decorative band of Hebrew text at the top, along with a handwritten dedication at the bottom.","soldPrice":900,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.852Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,000","currency":"USD","id":114586,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114587/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"toldoth noach [commentary to midrash rabbah on book of exodus]. \n \n first edition. calligraphic pen-and-ink title-page. from the library of rabbi nachum dov-ber friedman of sadigur, with his two alternating stamps on title and manuscript annotation on f. 3 along with more of his stamps. \n ff. 143. lacking two opening leaves: title supplied in manuscript, f.2 in facsimile. heavily foxed. 19th-century sheep, rebacked and titled in gilt on spine, rubbed. folio. vinograd, cracow 395. \n cracow: menachem nachum meisels 1634"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"115","title":{"en":"noach ben pesach"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114587/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a textual work by Noach ben Pesach, titled 'Sefer Toldot Sefer HaRaba', published in Krotoschin. The book is a religious text, likely a commentary or collection of teachings, written in Hebrew. The title page features decorative flourishes, including a prominent curved title text and a central calligraphic ornament, giving it a distinct visual appeal common in Hebrew printing.","soldPrice":1200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.853Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114587,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114588/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"de accentibus et orthographia, linguae hebraicae [\u201caccents and spelling of the hebrew language\u201d] \n \n first edition. latin interspersed with hebrew. large woodcut device on title and on recto of final leaf. 3pp with the terms of the hebrew cantillation, lines alternating in red and black, 9pp musical scores (printed from right to left). extensive use of distinctive hebrew type. marginal notations in an early hand. \n ff. 83, (5). trace stained. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled calf, spine in compartments and titled in gilt. 4to. housed in fitted slip-case. adams r-380; benzing 106; sendrey 2081. \n hagenau: thomas anshelm 1518 \n << the first printed appearance of jewish music >>a transcription of the biblical hebrew cantillation (\u201ctrop.\u201d).===reuchlin\u2019s last, refined work on hebrew grammar, de accentibus contains a transcription of hebrew cantillation for four voices. scholars believe the notation was provided by the eminent christian hebraist johann boschenstein (1472-1540). on account of his proficiency in the hebrew tongue, boschenstein was suspected by his fellow christians of jewish parentage. see e. carlebach, divided souls (2001) p. 162.===see also b. sabin hill, pierpont morgan library catalogue, hebraica from the valmadonna trust (1989) no. 21."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"116","title":{"en":"reuchlin, johannes"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114588/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a page from a musical notation book by Johannes Reuchlin, featuring early printed musical scores. The language of the text is Hebrew, accompanying the musical notation. The music is presented for 'Altus' and 'Tenor' voices, using diamond-shaped notes on five-line staves, a characteristic of early music printing. The page also includes Hebrew musical terminology, providing insight into historical music theory.","soldPrice":3000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.854Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114588,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114589/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher chathan damim [kabbalistic discourses on brith milah and marriage following the parshioth of the pentateuch]. \n \n first edition. title within type-ornament border. title-page with stamp of benjamin niederhofheim the mohel of frankfurt (1810-85). \n ff. (28). lightly browned. bound in valmadonna-custom polished calf. sm. 4to. vinograd, prague 138. \n prague : moses ben bezalel katz 1605 \n r. solomon zalman runkel (died c. 1426) was the teacher of r. jacob moellin (the mahari\u201dl). runkel left his work unfinished, to be completed and brought to print by isaac hakohen, the son-in-law of the mahara\u201dl of prague.===see also m. j. heller, the seventeenth century hebrew book, vol. i, pp. 150-51."},"estimateMax":4000,"lotNumber":"117","title":{"en":"runkel, solomon zalman."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114589/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is a textual work by Solomon Zalman Runkel, titled 'Sefer HaTzohar'. The book is a religious text, likely a kabbalistic work or commentary, written in Hebrew. The title page is encased within an elaborate woodcut border featuring floral and geometric patterns, with cross-like ornaments at the corners and a central decorative element. The page shows signs of age and handling, including some discoloration and a partially visible blue stamp at the top.","soldPrice":3500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.856Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $4,000","currency":"USD","id":114589,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114590/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"tzeror ha\u2019mor [\u201ca bundle of myrrh\u201d - kabbalistic commentary to the pentateuch]. \n \n second edition. title within elaborate floral wreathed and garlanded architectural arch and with printer\u2019s device (yaari\u2019s printer\u2019s marks no. 16). opening word of each book within elaborate woodcut vignette. \n ff. 165. dampstained, previous owner\u2019s marks, signed by censor at end. later speckled sheep, valmadonna-custom gilt-titling on spine. folio. vinograd, venice 293. \n venice: justinian-adelkind 1546 \n the author (c. 1440-1508) was exiled in 1492 from his native castille. no sooner did he find refuge in oporto, portugal, than king emanuel ordered all jews converted and all hebrew books burned. saba\u2019s sons were forcibly baptized and his extensive library plundered. he escaped to fez, morocco, where he reconstructed this work from memory. see n.s. libowitz, r. avraham saba u\u2019sepharav (1936); ej, vol. xiv, cols. 555-6."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"118","title":{"en":"saba, abraham."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114590/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a textual work by Abraham Saba, titled 'Biur Al HaTorah' (Commentary on the Torah). The book is a religious commentary, written in Hebrew. The title page features a grand, ornate engraved border with classical architectural elements, including columns adorned with grapevines, a central cartouche with a decorative motif, and an iconic depiction of a small structure, possibly an ark or temple.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.857Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114590,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114591/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"sefer haterumoth [code of commercial law]. \n \n first edition. title within garlanded arch with printer's device (see yaari, hebrew printers' marks no. 48). \n ff. 116. a made-up copy, paper repairs to many leaves, few silked, title from a slightly shorter copy, lower portion of which repaired and supplied in facsimile, f.2 soiled. bound in valmadonna-custom calf-backed marbled boards. folio. vinograd, salonika 143; mehlman 792. \n salonika: abraham ben mattathias bath-sheva (bassevi) 1596 \n rare edition of the first code of jewish law devoted exclusively to commercial law (dinei mamonoth). sepher haterumoth is divided into 70 gates, wherein each case is preceded by a discussion of the talmudic source, thereafter, differing opinions are presented leading to the final decision taken. the author (c.1185-1255) was a disciple of nachmanides, halachic queries addressed to his teacher are included here in the sepher haterumoth.===according to the title-page, the sponsor of the work, \"having borrowed money to acquire the tools of printing\" was the celebrated salonikan halachist r. samuel de medina (maharashda\u2019m). see ej, vol. v, col. 643; vol. xiv, col. 875."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"119","title":{"en":"sardi, samuel ben isaac."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114591/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a textual work by Samuel ben Isaac Sardi, titled 'Sefer HaTzermot'. The book is a religious text, written in Hebrew. The title page is adorned with a large, elaborate woodcut border featuring classical architectural columns with intertwined foliage, fruit, and standing figures resembling caryatids and warriors. A central cartouche displays an intricate heraldic device with a lion, adding to the decorative appeal of the early printed book.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.858Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114591,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114592/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher hamevakesh [a rhymed dialogue of philosophical knowledge]. \n \n second edition. \n ff. (8), 48. stained. contemporary mottled calf, rebacked and titled in gilt along spine. 8vo. vinograd, the hague 8. \n the hague: leib soesmanns 1778 \n shem tov falaquera (c.1225-95), was well versed in greek and islamic thought and rejected the notion that secular philosophy is inappropriate of study, an attitude he maintained stemmed from ignorance. indeed falaquera contended that the greek philosophers derived their teachings from jewish sources. a defender of maimonides at the time of the anti-maimonidean controversy, falaquera subscribed to the view first propounded in the moreh nevuchim, that it is the development of the intellect that leads to salvation.===in this work, a young student, (\u201chamevakesh\u201d - the seeker) debates the appropriate approach to intellectual pursuit.===<< accompanied by:>> another edition. pp. 104. [vinograd, koenigsberg, 195]. koenigsberg, 1858."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"120","title":{"en":"shem tov ibn falaquera."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114592/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a textual work by Shem Tov ibn Falaquera, titled 'HaMevakesh'. The book is a philosophical or ethical treatise, written in Hebrew. The title page is framed by an elegant, ornate border featuring stylized floral and foliate motifs, characteristic of early modern Hebrew printing. The text is centrally aligned and includes publication details in Hebrew, indicating it was printed in Amsterdam by J. H. Munnukhuizen.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.859Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114592,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114593/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"constantius, jacob of fano. collectaneorum hecatostys prima. \n \n first edition. latin interspersed with greek (likely cut by francesco da bologna). \n ff. (100). trace stained, small wormhole in gutter. recent marbled boards with morocco spine label and attached lead seal. sm. 4to. adams c-2555; manzoni, annali tipografici dei soncino 34. \n fano: hieronymo soncino (gershom soncino) 1508 \n a renaissance humanist work on the poetry of ovid. the author, giacomo constanzi (or, jacobus constantinus, c. 1473-1517), a native of fano, was professor of latin and greek at ferrara.===famed as a publisher of biblical and rabbinic books in hebrew, soncino also issued works of christian theology, humanism and general italian literature."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"121","title":{"en":"(soncino press)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114593/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed book from the Soncino Press, titled \"Ciacobi Constantii Fanensis Collectaneorum Hecatostys.\" The item is a textual work, likely a collection of writings or observations by Iacobus Constantius Fanensis. The text is in Latin, featuring a clear, early modern typography with some ornamental initial capitals. The page shows signs of age, including browning and minor foxing, characteristic of a historical document from 1508, as indicated by a handwritten note at the bottom of the page.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.904Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114593,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114594/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"franciscus octavius cleofilus of fano (francesco ottavio cleofilo). anthropotheomachia. historia de bello fanensi. et quaedam alia. \n \n first edition. \n ff. (64). later vellum, valmadonna-custom gilt-titling on spine. 12mo. housed in fitted slip-case. adams c-2171; annali tipografici dei soncino 96. \n fano: hieronymus soncinus (i.e. gershom soncino) 1516 \n forced to move due to constant religious persecution, gershom soncino established presses and printed books successively in soncino, brescia, barco, fano, pesaro, ortono, rimini, cesena and salonika. he remained longest in fano, establishing there the city\u2019s first press in 1502 and leaving in 1505 and returning for a brief period in 1515-17."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"122","title":{"en":"(soncino press)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114594/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed book from the Soncino Press, titled \"Octavii Cleophili Fanensis Opera nunc alias impressa. Anthropotheomachia. Historia de bello Fanensi.\" The item is a textual work in Latin, presenting a historical or literary account, possibly about the Fano War. The text is printed with clear, early modern typography, and the page shows evidence of aging, including some foxing and browning along the edges. A handwritten annotation \"S.V.\" appears in the upper right corner, and there's a small tear on the left margin.","soldPrice":1800,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.905Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114594,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114595/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"arrian of nicomedia (flavius arrianus). de rebus gestis alexandri regis. translation from greek into latin by bartolomeo facio. \n \n first latin edition. marginal notations in an early hand. \n ff. 100. few stains, some foxing, neat marginal repairs, signature excised in ink on title. 19th-century gilt- and blind-tooled straight-grain morocco, rubbed, spine sunned. sm. folio. housed in valmadonna-custom fitted slip-case. adams a-2011; manzoni, annali tipografici dei soncino 33. \n pesaro: hieronymi soncinatis (i.e. gershom soncino) 1508 \n arrian\u2019s second-century anabasis of alexander the great, narrating in seven books alexander\u2019s military campaigns. added here is an eighth book consisting of arrian\u2019s indike, describing india and relating the voyage of alexander\u2019s friend, nearchus, in the persian gulf.===in his preface, the editor, sigismundus golphus praises the jewish printer hieronymi soncino for his skill: he is \u201csecond to none in printing hebrew and chaldaic, and quite experienced in printing latin\u201d."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"123","title":{"en":"(soncino press)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114595/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed book from the Soncino Press, specifically a page from a work titled \"Liber.\" The book is a textual work, likely an academic or philosophical treatise given the dense Latin text discussing various historical and legal concepts. The typography is typical of early modern printing, with a clean layout and a colophon at the bottom indicating its publication by \"Hieronymi Soncini Arrhiani\" in \"Anno M.D.VIII,\" or 1508. The page exhibits some light browning and a faint handwritten annotation in the lower left margin.","soldPrice":1400,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.913Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114595,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114596/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(editor). she\u2019eirith yehudah [\u201cremnant of judah\u201d: halachic comments and corrections pertaining to the beith joseph, mostly based upon the writings of the editor\u2019s brothers]. \n \n first edition. printer\u2019s device on final leaf depicting a crowned lion and eagle with cherubs and mythological figures (yaari, hebrew printers\u2019 marks, no. 48). marginalia. extreme upper portion of title-page with signature of moshe medina. \n stained in places, trace wormed, neat paper repair on verso of title-page, modern half-calf over marbled boards. sm. 4to. vinograd, salonika 159. \n salonika: mattathias bath-sheva (bassevi) 1599-1600 \n she\u2019eirith yehudah contains responsa by the editor\u2019s brothers samuel and joseph, the foremost halachic scholars of salonika. these appendices are entitled \u201cpiskei mar shmuel\u201d and \u201cpiskei hagaon maharit,\u201d respectively. in the afterword, the editor writes about his brother samuel who died at a tender age: \u201csamuel studied and toiled in his thirty-nine years more than a seasoned scholar studies in a hundred years.\u201d the older brother, r. joseph taitatsak (author shailoth u\u2019teshuvoth maharita\u2019tz) was said to have not slept in a bed for forty years. this asceticism led to such spiritual ascendancy that he was visited by a maggid, a heavenly teacher or astral guide, similar to that of his younger contemporary r. yoseph karo.===mehlman (genuzoth, p. 74) states that the works published by the family of printers \u201cmigeza bath sheva\u201d are most rare. the family originally hailed from the ashkenazic community of verona, italy."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"124","title":{"en":"taitatsak, judah."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114596/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a page from a Hebrew book by Judah Taitatsak, titled \"Sefer Sha'arit Yehudah.\" The item is a textual work, likely a religious or legal commentary, given its provenance and language. The page features a distinctive ornamental border with intricate patterns surrounding the main block of Hebrew text. The typography is traditional Hebrew script, and a small circular emblem is visible within the text block. The overall appearance suggests an early printed edition of a rabbinic work.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.920Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114596,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114597/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114597/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"twenty basle tractates. with commentaries: rashi, tosafoth, piskei tosafoth, r. asher, & maimonides on mishnah. \n \n * masechta avoth. ff. 12. vinograd, basle 116. * masechta gittin. ff. 122. vinograd, basle 124. * masechta yevamoth. ff. 156. vinograd, basle 126. * masechta shevu\u2019oth. ff. 68. last page with signature of shlomo zalman ben yehuda leib katz of hanau. vinograd, basle 134. * masechta ta\u2019anith. ff. 31, (6). vinograd, basle 135. * masechta bechoroth. ff. 70. vinograd, basle 144. * masechta zevachim. ff. 122. vinograd, basle 146. * masechta chagigah. ff. 28. vinograd, basle 147. * masechta kerithoth. ff. 28. vinograd, basle 149. * masechta menachoth. ff. 112. vinograd, basle 150. * masechtoth me\u2019ilah, kinim, midoth, tamid. ff. 38. vinograd, basle 151. * masechta nidah. ff. 90. vinograd, basle 154. * masechta erechin. ff. 36. vinograd, basle 157. * masechta temurah. ff. 12. vinograd, basle 159. * masechta sotah. ff. 56. vinograd, basle 130. bound with: masechta nazir. ff. 77. vinograd, basle 153. and: masechta nedarim. ff. 120. vinograd, basle 152. a mixed set. bound in fifteen volumes. three volumes with marginalia. \n volumes occasionally stained, browned, few marginal repairs. each volume finely (differently) bound in valmadonna-custom full calf (two vols. calf-backed marbled boards). folio. (17). \n basle: ambrosius froben 1578-80 \n following the wanton destruction in italy of vast numbers of hebrew texts - especially those of the talmud - the basle humanist-printer ambrosius froben (grandson of johannes froben) was moved to issue a new edition of the talmud to compensate for the losses experienced by the learned jews of italy. due to church-related censorship matters, not all tractates were issued and so the set remained incomplete.===see r. n. n. rabinowitz, ma\u2019amar al hadpassath hatalmud pp. 74-79; and m. j. heller, printing the talmud (1992) pp. 241-65.===<< * accompanied by:>> mishnah. seder kodshim. ff. 47. [vinograd, basle 120]. basle, 1578. << * and:>> mishnah. seder moed. ff. 53. with stamp of moses gaster. [vinograd, basle 137]. basle, 1579."},"estimateMax":20000,"lotNumber":"125","title":{"en":"(talmud, babylonian)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114597/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":15000,"aiDescription":"This is a folio from a Babylonian Talmud, featuring a mix of Hebrew text and a Latin subtitle, \"MASSECHETH SOTAH.\" The page includes a decorative woodcut device in the center, depicting a winged creature, possibly a griffin, and the word \"FROBEN.\" Above the device, the Hebrew text is arranged in columns and surrounded by several smaller decorative panels with Hebrew letters. The presence of both Hebrew and Latin suggests it might be a scholarly edition or a volume for a wider academic audience, with annotations in both languages and handwritten numbers \"339\" and \"Pavel\" on the left.","soldPrice":17000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.927Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$15,000 - $20,000","currency":"USD","id":114597,"estimateMin":15000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114598/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"tractate shekalim. with commentary of r. jacob ben samson of cracow. \n \n deluxe copy, printed entirely on blue paper. \n ff. 48 (i.e. 49), (1). stamp on title. recent boards. 8vo. housed in valmadonna-custom solander-box. vinograd, amsterdam 1307. \n amsterdam: moshe frankfurt 1727 \n << rare, bibliophilic edition. printed entirely on blue paper.>>===see treasures of the valmadonna trust library - otzroth ya\u2019akov, colored paper no. 38."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"126","title":{"en":"(talmud, jerusalem.)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114598/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a page from a Jerusalem Talmud, specifically 'Masechet Shekalim,' printed in Amsterdam. The item is a textual work, likely a religious or legal commentary within the Talmudic tradition, indicated by the Hebrew text. The page is printed on a distinctive blue paper, a notable visual feature, and includes an ornate decorative device in the center. Handwritten annotations such as \"13. Isp. Box\" appear on the right side of the page, adding to its unique historical character.","soldPrice":750,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.934Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114598,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114599/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114599/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"shlom esther [commentary to the book of esther]. \n \n first edition. title surrounding by five florets. wider margins. \n ff. (32). previous owner\u2019s marks, later printed typographic element pasted to opening and closing page. bound in valmadonna-custom blind-tooled mahogany calf featuring additional gilt flourishes. 12mo. vinograd, const. 254; mehlman 663. \n constantinople: (solomon & joseph yavetz c. 1575) \n the author was a member of a rarified family that produced scores of scholars, rabbis and communal workers. it is assumed that the family's origins were in troyes, france, the birthplace of rashi, from where it spread throughout italy and germany. another branch of the treves family is found in turkey at the end of the 15th century from where a number went to eretz israel. isaac b. mordechai gershon was a descendant of this branch, whose home was safed and where r. isaac was a disciple of the celebrated r. moshe alsheich. later he was appointed rabbi in constantinople (1583) and from there, went to venice where he served on its beth din. he also became renowned as a proofreader and publisher of the works of the scholars of safed.===see the exchange of articles concerning isaac treves between i. sonne and d. tamar in kiryath sepher, vol. xxxiii (1958) pp. 377-8 and vol. xxxiv (1959) p. 136."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"127","title":{"en":"treves, isaac ben mordechai gershon"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114599/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a title page from a Hebrew book by Isaac ben Mordechai Gershon Treves, titled \"Shalom Ester.\" The item is a textual work, likely a religious text or commentary, given its Hebrew script and rabbinic authorship. The page features several decorative elements, including an ornate rectangular banner in the center with a repeating pattern and four smaller decorative motifs resembling crowns or flourishes. The text is printed in traditional Hebrew script, and the page shows signs of age with some browning.","soldPrice":4000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.935Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114599,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114600/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(mahar\u201dy weil). shechitoth u\u2019bedikoth [laws of ritual slaughter and examination.] with commentary by solomon luria (the maharsha\u201dl). \n \n title within engraved architectural arch. verse above title: \u201coffer up sacrifices of righteousness\u201d (psalms 4:6). images of slaughterer\u2019s knife on f. 4. \n ff. 9 (of 10), final leaf supplied in facsimile. bound in valmadonna-custom full calf. housed in fitted slip-case. sm. 4to. vinograd, venice 938. \n venice: di gara 1601 \n intended primarily as a practical guide for ritual slaughterers, the work therefore does not include halachic sources. the author simply provides final rulings in a straight-forward fashion, as well as local custom where fitting. shechitoth u\u2019bedikoth was indispensable to every community rabbi and was reprinted dozens of times over the centuries becoming fully authoritative throughout the ashkenazic world. see ej, vol. xvi, col. 395."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"128","title":{"en":"weil, jacob."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114600/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a title page from a Hebrew book by Jacob Weil, featuring a grand architectural woodcut border. The item is a textual work, likely a religious or legal text by a prominent rabbi, as indicated by the Hebrew title and author. The elaborate woodcut depicts two ornate columns with floral garlands, supporting an arch, framing the main Hebrew text. The text is printed in traditional Hebrew script, and a Latin inscription, \"Cō Licetia d\u2019Superiori,\" is visible at the bottom, suggesting official approval for publication.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.937Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114600,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114601/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"sepher chasdei avoth [commentary to ethics of the fathers]. \n \n first edition. decorative florets. \n ff. 110 (of 114) opening four leaves provided in facsimile, f.5 and final leaf heavily worn, stained in places, few marginal paper repairs. bound in valmadonna-custom deep cherry morocco, spine in compartments, titled on spine in gilt. housed in fitted slip-case. 4to. vinograd, const. 282; mehlman 133; s.j. weiss, pirkei avot no. 26. \n constantinople : solomon and joseph ya\u2019avetz 1583"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"129","title":{"en":"ya\u2019abetz, isaac ben solomon"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114601/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a page from a Hebrew book by Isaac ben Solomon Ya'abetz. The item is a textual work, likely a religious or philosophical discourse, as indicated by the Hebrew script and the nature of rabbinic authorship. The page contains densely printed Hebrew text with some decorative elements, specifically two ornate flourishes resembling crowns or stylized plants at the top. The overall appearance suggests an early printed edition, showing typical browning and wear along the edges consistent with its age.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.938Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114601,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114602/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"machzor [prayers for the entire year]. according to the rite of rome. \n \n hebrew manuscript composed on vellum written in italian square and semi-cursive scripts. scribe: samuel b. moshe of ravenna, with his signature dated 11th mar-cheshvan, 1469 on verso of f. 1. the owner jacob b. elia of cali dedicated this machzor to the synagogue of ferrara on condition that all could read from it in the synagogue. later signature of yehudah b. abraham kohen, meshareth of kehila kedosha ferrara on f. 1b. index of selichoth on final two leaves in another hand. marginal noations in various hands. signed by censors. contents: part i (ff. 1-237): daily services, sabbath, rosh chodesh, festivals from chanukah to sabbath nachamu. part ii (ff. 238- 370): seder tachnunim (selichoth), high holy day services, sukoth-simchath torah. \n ff. 370. variously stained or worn in places. expert repairs, detailed conservation report tipped in at end. modern calf-backed wooden boards with belt. thick 4to. \n ferrara, italy: 1469 \n see b. richler, the hebrew manuscripts in the valmadonna trust library (1998) pp. 61-3.===<< a magnificent and comprehensive mid-15th century liturgical manuscript of the roman rite.>> this manuscript was specifically commissioned for the benefit of the synagogue in ferrara and predates the soncino machzor, the first hebrew printed prayer-book.===a selection of points of interest to be found in this manuscript: birchath hashachar contains variant blessings of mechayeh hameithim, shomer geirim and ohev tzadikim (f. 3b). folio 47 instructs the chazan to sit for veyitein lecha. contains laws relating to baking matzah (ff. 117-18), blessings before and after a meal, mourning, burial, birth, family purity, marriage, divorce, chalitza, circumcision and pidyon haben, citing various scholars including rabbeinu meshulem and rabbeinu chananel (ff. 184-205, especially f. 203). according to benjamin richler portions of the halachic matter differ from later published versions. included are uncommon selichoth recited for special occasions: \u201cal siphrei hakodesh shnignavu\u201d (for holy books that were stolen, f. 72b) and \u201cal likiyath meoroth (for an eclipse, 75b), withholding of rain (f. 76a) and too much rain (f. 78a). contains full text of a hagadah for passover (ff. 121-29 including a recipe for charoseth with italian words (f. 122). sepher ra\u2019amim vera\u2019ashim (portents of thunder and earthquakes, f. 205) followed by moshe kimchi\u2019s darkei lashon hakodesh and mahalach shevilei hada\u2019ath.===the roman rite is rich in multifaceted piyutim. it originated in early medieval rome and maintained a distinct identity. for a thorough, scholarly discussion of this rite, see samuel david luzzatto, mavo lemachzor bnei roma (1966)."},"estimateMax":250000,"lotNumber":"130","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114602/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":200000,"aiDescription":"This is an ancient liturgical manuscript, likely a prayer book or religious text, dating from an unstated period but appearing aged. It is composed of paper or parchment pages bound in a simple brown cover, showing signs of significant wear and age. The subject matter is liturgy, with text handwritten in Hebrew script across both open pages, possibly in a Sephardic hand due to the script style. The notable visual features include the extensive handwritten text, visible age-related discoloration, and a simple, functional binding.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.939Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$200,000 - $250,000","currency":"USD","id":114602,"estimateMin":200000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114603/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"the form of prayers - machzor mikol hashanah [festival prayers for entire year]. according to the order of the german and polish jews. hebrew with english translation on facing pages. revised and corrected by a. alexander. \n \n complete in six volumes. hebrew and english title-pages. * vol. i (new year): ff. (4), 214. * vol. ii (day of atonement i): ff. (4), 208. * vol. iii (day of atonement ii): ff. (4), 208, pp. xiii. * vol. iv (feast of tabernacles): ff. (3), 193. * vol. v (passover): ff. (4), 222. * vol. vi (pentecost): ff. (2), 158. \n occasionally browned, previous owner\u2019s marks. uniformly bond in gilt-ruled polished calf, spines gilt and with morocco title-labels, all edges gilt, slightly scuffed, rebacked with minimal loss. tall 4to. \n london.: l. alexander 1807-8 \n the volume for the day of atonement contains a remarkable 13-page supplement written in english in which the publisher, levi alexander, makes unsalutary remarks concerning chief rabbi solomon hirschell. for there was rivalry between alexander and the family of another printer, david levi, who had published prayer books containing various errors. - yet alexander\u2019s prayer books also had their defects. chief rabbi solomon hirschel criticized alexander\u2019s work but did not mention levi\u2019s errors.===in the yom kippur volume alexander included critical comments about the rabbi, who kept his peace, but persuaded the spanish and portuguese congregation not to give alexander any more work. \u201cas a result of the printer\u2019s bizarre campaign, on the sabbath of sabbaths many great synagogue worshipers had the unprecedented experience of hearing their chief rabbi preach and recite the ne\u2019ilah (concluding) service while at the same time utilising a prayer-book containing envenomed attacks on him.\u201d see h.a. simons, forty years a chief rabbi: the life and times of solomon hirschell (1980) pp. 80-2."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"131","title":{"en":"(anglo-judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114603/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This is a set of Anglo-Judaica, comprising multiple volumes of \"The Form of Prayers, and New Year, in Hebrew and English\" for German and Polish Jews, published by A. Alexander. The item is a collection of prayer books, or Mahzorim, bilingual in Hebrew and English, designed for synagogue and private use. The volumes are bound in dark leather with gold tooling on the spines, visible on the stacked books. An open volume displays both Hebrew and English text, alongside an engraved device featuring a lion holding a shield, indicating its London printing.","soldPrice":4500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.807Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114603,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114604/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"trattato pio nel quale si contengono cinque articoli pertinenti alla fede christiana con tra l'hebraica ostinazione estratti dalle sacrosante antiche scritture [\u201c\u2026five articles pertaining to the christian faith and hebraic obstinacy\u2026\u201d] \n \n first edition. \n ff. 5 (106). lightly foxed. moern limp boards. sm. 4to. \n pesaro: gieronimo concordia 1571 \n aquilino (also known as ananel di foligno) was an italian apostate who renounced his religion in 1545 and a shrill voice in the choir of denouncers of hebrew books that ultimately led to the burning of the talmud in rome in 1553. see je, vol. i p. 38."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"132","title":{"en":"aquilino, raffaele"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114604/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a printed theological tract by Raffaele Aquilino, titled 'Trattato Pio', published in 1571. The book is printed on paper and features a title page with a prominent woodcut illustration depicting a classical female figure, possibly representing abundance or wisdom, atop a pedestal. The text is in Italian, with some Hebrew mentioned in the title, and discusses articles pertaining to the Christian faith in relation to Hebrew obstinacy, extracted from sacred ancient scriptures. The page exhibits browning and some minor annotations, indicative of its age.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.809Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114604,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114605/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"hebrew). tehillim - psalterium hebraeum. \n \n edited by menasseh ben israel. title within architectural arch. with nikud. opening 11 leaves with verses numbered in an early hand. \n ff. 131. lightly discolored, trimmed, endpapers removed. contemporary full vellum, stained. 16mo. vinograd, amsterdam 111; silva rosa 43; unknown to darlow & moule. \n amsterdam: joseph ben israel 1646 \n << most scarce.>> last of the three editions of the book of psalms issued by the house of menasseh ben israel. \u201csteinschneider had not seen this edition and doubted its existence (fuks, amsterdam 178)."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"133","title":{"en":"(bible"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114605/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is an early printed Hebrew Psalterium (Book of Psalms), published in 1646 by Henri Laurentii, based on the recension of R. Menasseh Ben Israel. The book is made of paper and features an elaborate title page with a decorative architectural border, including columns adorned with foliage and a cartouche at the top with Hebrew text. The primary language is Latin and Hebrew, as indicated by the title 'Psalterium Hebraeum'. The book shows significant signs of age, including browning and wear to the edges of the pages and cover.","soldPrice":7000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.810Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114605,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114606/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"christian david ginsburg. the massorah. compiled from manuscripts. alphabetically and lexically arranged. \n \n first edition. four volumes. text in hebrew and english. uncut. \n pp. 758; (4), 829; (4), 383; (4), 546. ex-library, browned. library boards, rubbed. elephant folio. \n london-vienna: 1880-1905 \n a monumental, critical edition of the masorah. the magnum opus of the polish-born extraordinary british bible scholar, christian david ginsburg (1831-1914)."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"134","title":{"en":"(bible)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114606/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a printed biblical text, likely a Masoretic text or commentary, from an unstated period but appearing to be a modern or early modern edition. The book is composed of paper pages. The language is Hebrew, with clear, legible type. The title page features the word 'המסורה' (HaMasorah) prominently at the top, indicating its subject matter as the Masoretic tradition of biblical texts. The visual features show a clean, well-preserved interior page with ample margins.","soldPrice":300,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.812Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114606,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114607/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"seder tephiloth [hebrew prayers for weekday, sabbath and select personal and festive events through the year]. \n \n according to the aschkenazi rite. * and: book of psalms and techinos supplicatory liturgies for women]. all with translation and commentary in judeo-german and printed in waybertaytsch type. striking engraved title page with eight biblical vignettes all relating to women. additional title-page prior to techinos (f. 121). binding by benjamin raguin, c. 1730: full calf with applied silver corner-pieces and extended twin silver clasps and hinges, marked \u201cbr.\u201d * accompanied by: two silver shields engraved in in hebrew with male and female names: \u201cedel, the daughter of leib and aaron, the son of aaron.\u201d \n ff. (1), 279, 176. lightly stained and worn from use, title laid down with small loss to right margin, lacking f. 68, with f. 69 supplied in facsimile, new endpapers. thick 8vo. vinograd, amsterdam 1381. \n amsterdam: shlomo proops 1730 \n << provenance:>> stadhuis museum, zierikzee (netherlands).===see museum catalogue by bernard van noordwijk, zilver van kaft tot kaft (2017) no. 20 pp. 54-5 (catalogue accompanies the lot).===this prayer-book is known as a \u201cweibertefille\u201d - a siddur intended especially for women, customarily presented by a groom to his bride on their wedding-day."},"estimateMax":9000,"lotNumber":"135","title":{"en":"(binding)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114607/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":7000,"aiDescription":"This item is a book notable for its ornate binding, featuring a dark leather cover adorned with elaborate silver clasps and corner protectors. The binding is a type of decorative book casing, likely from an unstated early period given the style of the metalwork. The silver elements display intricate, floral, and scrollwork designs, indicating fine craftsmanship. Two detached silver-plated plaques, also with Hebrew script, are shown alongside, suggesting they might have been part of the book or related to its contents, possibly for dedication or identification.","soldPrice":5000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.813Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$7,000 - $9,000","currency":"USD","id":114607,"estimateMin":7000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114608/007/007.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114608/008/008.png","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114608/009/009.png"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"r. dov-baer, maggid of mezeritch. maggid devarav leya\u2019akov - likutei amarim. \n \n first edition. with many inscriptions, stamps. signatures and inscriptions on title and inside front and back covers, including r. (sholom) yosef friedman of radvil, shimshon perlendrech, nachman \u2026, yitzchak izak and faintly visible on upper right corner of opening cover see details below for a remarkable additional signature. \n ff. 4, 60. few pages with scribbles in blue pencil. contemporary mottled calf, scuffed. 4to. vinograd, koretz 11; stefansky, chassiduth 324. \n koretz: tzvi hirsch ben aryeh leib & partners 1781 \n << excessively rare first edition of a fundamental text of chassidic philosophy.>>===composed by r. dov baer, the successor to r. yisroel ba\u2019al shem tov, the founder of the chassidic movement.===it has been suggested that this volume contains << two highly significant inscriptions / signatures>> indicating two most important former owners of this important text:===grand rabbi r. yisroel friedman of ruzhyn (1797-1850) and his firstborn son, r. sholom yosef friedman (1813-1851).===the rizhiner rebbe (\u201cder heiliger ruzhiner\u201d) was the most influential chassidic leader of his generation. he was a direct descendant of the author of this work: the rizhiner\u2019s father, r. shalom shachna, was the son of avraham \u201cthe malach,\u201d who was the son of the maggid.===the conjectured appearance here of the rizhiner\u2019s signature, along with an inscription indicating that this volume also belonged to r. sholom yosef friedman, indicates that the sepher passed from father to son.===the signature found here is very similar in style to other authentically documented signatures by the rizhiner rebbe (see illustration).===see menachem brayer, the house of rizhin (2003) pp. 341-51 and p. 151 (facsimile of the rizhiner\u2019s signature)."},"estimateMax":60000,"lotNumber":"136","title":{"en":"(chassidism)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114608/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":40000,"aiDescription":"This is an early Chassidic manuscript, dated 1781, written on paper with a brown, worn cover. The left page is a printed text in Hebrew, likely a title page or introductory text, adorned with decorative borders and symbols. The right page is entirely handwritten in a cursive Hebrew script, heavily filled with notes and annotations, suggesting a commentary, study notes, or kabbalistic writings. The item shows considerable age and use, with browning and ink stains prominent, reflecting its historical use within the Chassidic tradition.","soldPrice":60000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.814Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$40,000 - $60,000","currency":"USD","id":114608,"estimateMin":40000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114609/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"ludovico saint franciscus. globus canonum et arcanorum linguae sanctae ac divinae scripturae. \n \n first edition. title within architectural arch, cartouches of literary motifs. numerous grammatical charts throughout the work. much use of hebrew. \n pp. (36), 937, (50). lightly browned, previous owner\u2019s stamps. later vellum. thick 4to. \n rome: bartholomes de grassis 1586"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"137","title":{"en":"(grammar, hebrew)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114609/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a Hebrew grammar text, specifically a work titled 'Globus Canonum et Arcanorum Linguae Sanctae', published in Rome in 1586. The book is printed on paper and features an intricately engraved title page, a genre common in the Renaissance. The engraving depicts an architectural frame with classical figures, saints (possibly St. Francis and another monk), and a central crest, likely a Medici coat of arms, reflecting patronage. The text is primarily in Latin, concerning the rules and secrets of the Holy Tongue (Hebrew).","soldPrice":450,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.816Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114609,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114610/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"jean cinqarbres (quinquarboreus). de re grammatica hebraeorum opus - de notis hebr&aelig;orum. \n \n two parts in one. separate title-pages each with woodcut printer\u2019s device. learned marginalia in beginning of work. \n pp. 270; 96. browned and dampstained. later limp vellum, worn. 4to. \n paris: martinum juvenem 1582"},"estimateMax":600,"lotNumber":"138","title":{"en":"(grammar, hebrew)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114610/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":400,"aiDescription":"This is a Hebrew grammar text titled 'De re grammatica HEBRAEORVM OPVS', authored by Johannis Quinqarborii Aurilacensi, published in Paris in 1582. Printed on paper, the book features a title page with a distinctive printer's mark depicting a caduceus-like symbol (a snake wrapped around a crossbar) atop a mound of clouds. The text is primarily in Latin, detailing Hebrew grammar for students of the sacred language. The page shows signs of age, with browning and some handwritten annotations, including a date of 1599.","soldPrice":350,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.817Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$400 - $600","currency":"USD","id":114610,"estimateMin":400},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114611/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"haggadah. seder in the marianas. passover 5705-1945. \n \n illustrated. text in hebrew and english. \n pp. 17. original pictorial wrappers. slim 8vo. yudlov 3943; yaari 2319. \n mariana islands (west pacific ocean): 949th engr avn topo co 1945 \n the verso of the title reads: \u201cadapted for use at the passover seder for soldiers, saliors and marines- pacific forward area. officiating chaplains: david i. cedarbaum, aus; philip lipis, usnr; elihu rickle, usnr.\u201d===thus, this historic hagadah was a joint venture of an australian jewish chaplain, cedarbaum, and lipis and rickle of the us naval reserve. see philip s. bernstein, jewish chaplains in world war ii in: american jewish year book, vol. 47 (1945-6), pp. 190, 194.===by april 1945, the war in europe had ended with allied victory, but the pacific theater, was yet to see its deadliest days. the final land battle of world war ii took place a mere 350 miles from mainland japan, on the island of okinawa, which, by the time it was finally secured in june of 1945, 12,000 us soldiers and navy personnel lay dead, and more than 36,000 wounded."},"estimateMax":1800,"lotNumber":"139","title":{"en":"(hagadah)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114611/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1200,"aiDescription":"This is a Hagaddah, a Jewish text for the Passover Seder, specifically for 'Seder in the Marianas Passover 5705-1945'. This modern Hagaddah is a printed booklet on paper, designed with a distinct cover featuring minimalist black illustrations. The visual elements on the cover include stylized eyes, a wine glass, a decanter, a menorah (though a Hanukkah menorah, not typically associated with Passover Seder illustrations), and matzah. The design reflects a mid-20th century aesthetic, making it a unique historical artifact of Jewish observance during World War II.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.818Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,200 - $1,800","currency":"USD","id":114611,"estimateMin":1200},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114612/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"the david moss hagadah: \u201ca song of david. - hagadat shir hama\u2019alot ledavid.\u201d \n \n one of 500 numbered copies. two volumes. text and detailed commentary. signed and numbered by the artist on colophons. historiated initials, micrography, arabesque decoration, paper-cut artistry, tiles of geometric patterns and many other creative flights of fancy throughout. \n original calf and linen boards within slip-case. folio. \n verona: stamperia valdonega for bet alpha editions 1987 \n << the david moss hagadah.>> a most creative production whose artistic innovations were entirely inspired by religious and historic sources.===a magnificent bibliophilic achievement."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"140","title":{"en":"(hagadah)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114612/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is an illustrated page from a Hagaddah, likely a modern or contemporary edition given its crisp appearance and vibrant colors. The page is printed on clean, off-white paper and features stylized Hebrew text arranged in decorative blocks, using red and brown ink for emphasis and visual appeal. The genre is a liturgical text for Passover, designed for visual engagement during the Seder. A small golden goblet icon is present in the upper right corner, and the text includes key Seder components such as Matzah, Maror, and Karpas.","soldPrice":2800,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:20.820Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114612,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114613/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"an important collection of c. 200 printed hebrew books from 200 towns and cities around the world, each of which is <<the first hebrew imprint>> of that locale. \n \n from the collection of the late yosef goldman. detailed listing available upon request. \n \n 18th-20th century \n << an important collection of books and printed ephemera representing the history of hebrew printing around the world.>>===this remarkable collection represents books from 36 different countries from across the globe: from china to kenya, from uzbekistan to yemen.===at its heart, the collection includes 100 first hebrew printings from 100 locations from the heartland of jewish population centers of pre-holocaust europe, that is towns and villages in germany, hungary, poland, russian and ukraine.===the collection includes a number of rare, or previously unknown titles, including several not listed in the two major bibliographies of early hebrew printing, and some that demonstrate the existence of a history of jewish printing in towns not generally known to have had such a history.===see a. freimann, a gazetteer of hebrew printing (1946)and moshe rosenfeld, hebrew printing from its beginning until 1948 (1992).===goldman list of countries.===algeria - 1.===australia -1.===austria - 1.===bulgaria - 2.===canada - 1.===china - 1.===czech rep. 2.===egypt - 1.===england - 2f.===france - 5.===germany 42.===greece - 1.===holland - 2.===hungary - 33.===india - 2.===ireland - 1.===israel - 2.===italy - 4.===kenya - 1.===latvia - 2.===lithuania - 6.===morocco - 2.===norway - 1.===poland - 37.===portugal - 1.===romania - 8.===russia - 9.===slovenia - 1.===south africa - 1.===switzerland - 1.===syria - 1.===ukraine - 11.===usa - 5.===uzbekistan - 2 .===wales - 1.===yemen - 1."},"estimateMax":25000,"lotNumber":"141","title":{"en":"(hebraica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114613/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":20000,"aiDescription":"This item is identified as 'hebraica,' indicating a book, manuscript, or other material related to Jewish culture, history, or religion. As no image is available, specific details on its physical form, subject matter, period, materials, or visual features cannot be provided. However, its classification suggests it is a textual item, likely in Hebrew or related languages, and holds significance within Jewish studies.","soldPrice":17000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.660Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$20,000 - $25,000","currency":"USD","id":114613,"estimateMin":20000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114614/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"ilya ehrenburg (with vasilii grosman, lew ozerow and vladimir lidin). cartea neagra. \n \n asupra uciderilo miselesti ale evreilor de catre facistii germani in timpul razboiului dela 1941-1945, in regiunile ocupate in uniunea sovietica si in lagarele de exterminare de pe teritoriul poloniei [\u201cblack book. the murder of jews by the german factions during the 1941-1945 war in the soviet union and in the extermination camps in poland.\u201d] volume i [all published]. first edition in rumanian. translated from the russian by r. donici. eighteen photographic plates at end. \n pp. 290, (2), (18). browned. original pictorial wrappers, light wear. 8vo. \n bucharest: editura institulul roman de documentare, circa (1946) \n this historic russian work was compiled in late 1944 by the prolific soviet author ilya ehrenburg. it was a result of the efforts by members of the jewish anti-fascist committee to document the crimes of the holocaust. however permission for publication was refused as the russian government central committee deemed that a focus upon war-time jewish suffering was anti-soviet. subsequently copies of ehrenburg\u2019s manuscript were surreptitiously sent abroad and a portion of it was published in romania in 1946.===see www.yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/black_book."},"estimateMax":600,"lotNumber":"142","title":{"en":"(holocaust)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114614/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":400,"aiDescription":"This item is a book titled 'CARTEA NEAGRA' (The Black Book) by Ilya Ehrenburg, Vasilii Grossman, Lew Ozerow, and Vladimir Lidin, identified as related to the Holocaust. It is a textual work, likely historical or testimonial, documenting aspects of the Holocaust. The cover, made of paper, features a stark design with 'CARTEA NEAGRA' in large, blood-dripping red letters against a black background. Below the title, a stylized illustration depicts figures hanging from gallows over recumbent bodies, symbolizing suffering and death. The language visible on the cover is Romanian.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.663Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$400 - $600","currency":"USD","id":114614,"estimateMin":400},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114615/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"report of the vienna jewish community, may-june, 1939. \n \n text entirely in english. each chapter preceded by full-page illustrated tab. \n pp. (42). original printed stiff wrappers. lg. 4to. \n (vienna: 1939) \n report issued by the vienna kultusgemeinde for the american joint distribution committee. divided into five chapter-categories: emigration, retraining, foreign currencies, social care, financial treatment.===between 1938 and 1941, expenditures of the american jewish joint distribution committee for swift austrian-jewish emigration amounted to close to $2 million. the funds were administrated via the official israelitische kultusgemeinde wien (ikg) \u2013 the only jewish organization permitted by the nazis to function following the anschluss. this most professionally produced report was prepared for the joint, providing important economic and human statistics.===<< scarce. not in worldcat.>>"},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"143","title":{"en":"(holocaust)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114615/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This item is a historical document, specifically a 'Report of The Vienna Jewish Community' dated May-June 1939, categorized under the Holocaust. It is a paper-bound textual report, likely providing administrative or situational information about the Jewish community in Vienna during a critical pre-WWII period. The cover is plain beige with bold black text, featuring a distinctive stylized 'VKG' monogram in the center, indicative of its origin or publisher. The report is written in English, as suggested by the title.","soldPrice":2200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.664Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114615,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114616/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"ha\u2019album ha\u2019shachor - the black album. \n \n complete set of ten postcards depicting nazi crimes. 16-page introduction in hebrew and english and with synopsis in french. each photographic postcard bears descriptive caption. \n each card 4 x 5.5 inches, perforated (few detached). bound into original printed wrappers, lightly stained. oblong 16mo. \n tel aviv: anti-nazi league, april, 1940 \n << likely the earliest visual documentation of nazi crimes against jews in europe.>>===this scarce booklet was published by the anti-nazi league of palestine in order to publicize the extent of german atrocities in europe, specifically in poland. \u201chitlerism means return to the savagery of the middle ages\u2026 the black album contains the first series of pictures disclosing nazi atrocities in poland. the black album gives a vivid description of the nazi regime and its cruel systems. everybody is hereby enabled to unmask hitlerism by sending the postcards of the album to his friends and acquaintances all over the world.\u201d"},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"144","title":{"en":"(holocaust)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114616/view","tags":["uscollectibles_stamps","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This item is a book titled 'THE BLACK ALBUM' published by The Antinazi League, Series I, related to the Holocaust. It is a textual publication, likely documenting or addressing anti-Nazi efforts or atrocities during the Holocaust period. The book features a simple, light brown paper cover with black block lettering and a prominent black triangular graphic, giving it a utilitarian or report-like appearance. The language is English, as shown on the cover.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.665Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114616,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114617/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"stoll, otto. der fr&uuml;hling und anders\u2026\u201cgepfeffertes!\u201d nur fuer natürlich empfindende menschen. \n \n numerous color illustrations by h. heyne. printed in s&uuml;tterlinschrift. \n pp. (2), 68, (2). original multicolor pictorial boards, trace stained. 4to. \n neudamm & berlin: j. neumann (1940) \n in this nazi-era satire we see \u201cmax isidor\u201d the stereotyped image of the jew with bulbous nose and swarthy skin, presented as a nouveau riche scoundrel attempting to seduce a guileless fair-haired german maiden (pp. 43-58).===the very high production standard of this book belies its vile content."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"145","title":{"en":"(holocaust)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114617/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":700,"aiDescription":"This item is a printed page, likely from a book or pamphlet, featuring a German text titled 'Max Yidor Huilesehublau als Jäger' and categorized under the Holocaust. It is a satirical or propaganda piece, characterized by its derogatory cartoon illustrations of a caricatured Jewish figure, 'Max Yidor,' dressed as a hunter, and a woman. The text is in German, presented in a decorative script for the title and a standard font for the poem, demonstrating antisemitic content prevalent during the Holocaust era.","soldPrice":750,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.666Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$700 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114617,"estimateMin":700},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114618/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(zolt&aacute;n hirsch) \u201czoli.\u201d kis ember nagy elete - &ouml;n&eacute;letrajz) [\u201cthe great life of a small man - an autobiography.\u201d] \n \n first edition. hungarian text. one of only 100 copies. inscribed by the author in hungarian: \u201cwith true love from zoli. 26th aug. 1943.\u201d photographic illustrated plates. \n pp. 159. original gilt-titled patterned boards. sm. 8vo. \n (budapest: 1942) \n a touching autobiography of a hungarian-jewish circus clown, acrobat and comedian.===zolt&aacute;n hirsch (1885-1944), popularly known as \u201czoli\u201d issued this book (and personally sold copies of it in the streets of budapest) after he was expelled from the f&eacute;nyes (formerly beketow) circus due to the anti-jewish decrees imposed in hungary that strictly limited the number of jews permitted in the workforce. as expected, these blatant anti-semitic rules affected numerous doctors, lawyers, engineers, journalists - but in this case, it affected zoli, a circus performer, born a dwarf, who become tremendously popular throughout hungary.===zoli was arrested for illegal book-peddling and for wearing a yellow star that did not comply with nazi requirements on the grounds of being too small. his witty defense that the badge was proportionate to his size was rejected by the authorities. zoli was imprisoned, and eventually deported together with the majority of the hungary\u2019s jewish population to perish in auschwitz.===<< accompanied by:>> roli zoli. mechanical toy representing a tin clown on a red motorcycle. along with original box. (hungary, 1970\u2019s).===see anna k&eacute;rchy, from showbiz to the concentration camp: the fabulous, freakish life of hungarian jewish dwarf performers, zoli hirsch and the ovitz family, in: exploring the cultural history of continental european freak shows and enfreakment (cambridge 2012) p. 211-32."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"146","title":{"en":"(holocaust)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114618/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This lot comprises a book and a tin toy, identified as related to the Holocaust, suggesting a poignant contrast or personal significance. The book, titled 'KIS EMBER NAGY ÉLETE' (Small Man's Great Life) is a Hungarian autobiography by 'Zoli,' dated August 26, 1943, implying a wartime personal narrative. Alongside it is a tin wind-up toy clown on a scooter, named 'ROLI ZOLI,' still in its original box. The toy, likely from the same period, adds a layer of childhood or innocence juxtaposed with the serious context of the Holocaust.","soldPrice":2400,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.668Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114618,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114619/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"personal diary of nelly epstein. \n \n manuscript in german. diary includes clippings, a floor-plan, maps and occasional drawings. \n pp. 106 (excluding blank pages). original boards. rectangular 12mo. \n vienna: 1st january, 1935 \u2013 haifa, 18th january 1943 \n a private document of a life uprooted.===diary entries of brno-born nelly epstein (1921-2013) from the age of 13 to the age of 21. the diaries commence with those typical of a teenage girl: her friends, family-life in vienna, school, vacation trips, theater performances including clipping of actors she was fond of, the move to a new apartment with a drawing of the floorplan, dance parties and first romantic encounters. all this starkly contrasts with her entries four years later when she describes her lengthy four-month journey with her young husband emil (aryeh) katscher and a group of young zionists seeking to escape the nazi net. they travel via the danube to the black sea and then on to palestine. upon arrival nelly is subsequently interned for eight months in a british-run detention camp near haifa.===particularly striking are her drawings depicting life on the boat and in the detention camp.===the diary ends in january 1943 when her husband who had joined the military, is deployed to egypt. the last news concerning her parents is a note from relatives stating that they had to travel to poland in april 1942.===nelly\u2019s parents amelie (1894-1943) and berthold epstein (1883-1944) are known to have been killed in auschwitz. her younger brother hans (1925-45) died in theresienstadt."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"147","title":{"en":"(holocaust)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114619/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This item is a manuscript diary or notebook, handwritten in German, dating from 1940 and related to the Holocaust. The pages are filled with dense handwritten script on the left, while the right page features a hand-drawn sketch of a barbed-wire enclosure with multiple barracks, suggesting a concentration camp or ghetto. This personal account offers a primary source perspective on the Holocaust, providing insights into daily life or observations during that period, with both textual and illustrative content.","soldPrice":7000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.669Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114619,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114620/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"autograph book. \n \n manuscript in hungarian, written in several hands. memory-book of a holocaust survivor, inscribed by his comrades in the labor service and fellow inmates at feldafing dp camp. \n pp. 32 (excluding blank pages). original boards with hand-colored upper cover depicting two figures in the labor service. rectangular 8vo. \n 1945 \n << \u201cwe go home, condemned to live.\u201d>>===the story of the owner of this historic volume, jenő benedek, can be partly reconstructed by the memoirs of fifteen of his fellow survivors presented here. in kolozsv&aacute;r (cluj) benedek was drafted in 1942 for the labor service, an alternative military service imposed upon jews by the hungarian government. he served on the eastern front in belarus (gomel, mazyr, brest); ukraine (pripyat, bondorovka, davidovka); the don river (battle of voronezh); and germany (m&uuml;hldorf, waldlager). at the end of the war benedek was kept at the former sub-camp of dachau, feldafing-weilheim, which was turned into a displaced persons camp mostly for the hungarian jews liberated by the united states army. on august 22, 1945, benedek was sent back to hungary by train, and in october he settled in kolozsv&aacute;r.===beside warm words of friendship and in praise of benedek\u2019s virtues, the moving personal stories provide insight to the barbarity and tragedy of these times: erzsi hevesi writes (feldafing, august 19, 1945) how the \u201clager\u201d is slowly beginning to vanish from within, as the barbed-wire falls from her heart and her brain turns human again. zolt&aacute;n neumann ends his bittersweet note (august 21, 1945) with these poetically tragic lines: \u201cwe go home, condemned to live.\u201d===a more detailed description available upon request."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"148","title":{"en":"(holocaust)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114620/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This item is a textile artwork or embroidered piece, dating from 1942-1945 and related to the Holocaust, depicting two figures engaged in forced labor. The piece is rendered on a coarse woven fabric, possibly burlap, with painted or embroidered details. One figure, possibly a soldier, carries a pickaxe and a sack, while the other, wearing striped concentration camp attire with a number, carries a heavy sack labeled 'ZEMENT' (cement). The imagery powerfully illustrates the theme of forced labor and suffering during the Holocaust.","soldPrice":3000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.670Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114620,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114621/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"swedish protection sign. printed on card in hungarian and russian with manuscript additions. with colors of the swedish flag and red cross at center. ink stamp below of swedish red cross in hungarian and swedish. \n \n text states: \u201cistvan forgo, who resides in this home [16-18 dohany street] is a swedish red cross employee. he, his family and his property are under the protection of the swedish embassy and the swedish red cross.\u201d with autograph signature of valdemar langlet. \n edges frayed, pinholes at corners. 9.5 x 13 inches (25 x 33 cm). \n budapest: december 1944 \n the protection provided by the swedish embassy in budapest to the forgo family safeguarded their home (a designated \u201cyellow-star house\u201d) located on dohany street, just a few buildings down from budapest\u2019s great synagogue, the largest such house of worship in europe.===this protection order was issued and signed by valdemar langlet, the head of the swedish red cross in hungary 1944-45, who was the first to establish \u201cprotected houses\u201d safe-houses dedicated for jews. langlet (along with his wife nina borovko-langlet) is credited in having saved some 20,000 hungarian jewish lives in the months shortly before liberation.===by this stage of the war (december, 1944), jews who were protected against the hungarian fascist arrow cross by way of swedish designated safe-houses also had reason to be concerned about soviet forces who occupied the eastern (pest) side of the city and seeking to drive the germans out of the western (buda) side of the city. hence the use of russian on this order.===<< exceptionally scarce.>>"},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"149","title":{"en":"(holocaust)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114621/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This item is a historical document, a protective certificate or declaration from the Swedish Red Cross and Swedish Royal Legation in Budapest, dated December 1, 1944, related to the Holocaust. It is a paper document, largely printed in Hungarian and Russian, affirming that an individual named 'Forgo Istvan' and his family, and their belongings, are under the protection of the Swedish Red Cross. The document features a prominent red cross symbol and handwritten annotations, indicating its use for safeguarding individuals during the persecution of Jews in Hungary.","soldPrice":10000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.671Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114621,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114622/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"carp, matatias. sarmas - una din cele mail oribile crime fasciste [\u201csarmas - one of the most horrible of fascist crimes.\u201d] \n \n first edition. text in romanian. photographic illustrations and lists of victims. title-pape with inscription signed by the author: \"to moise leivandman, the secretary of jewish sufferings in transnistria. with thoughts of good friendship. from the general secretary of jewish suffering in romania. 8.v.945\u201d [ve day]. \n pp. 47. original color pictorial stiff wrapers. 4to. \n bucharest: 1945 \n important account of the massacre in sarmas, eastern transylvania.===see http://motlc.wiesenthal.com/site/pp.asp? c=gvkvlcmviug&b=395185."},"estimateMax":600,"lotNumber":"150","title":{"en":"(holocaust)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114622/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":400,"aiDescription":"This item is a book titled 'SĂRMAS' by Matias Carp, with a preface by B. Brănisteanu, identified as concerning the Holocaust and 'Din Crimele Fasciste' (The Fascist Crimes). It is a textual work, likely a historical account or exposé of fascist atrocities during the Holocaust. The paper cover features a striking design with the title 'SĂRMAS' in large, blood-dripping red letters against a black background, conveying the brutality of its subject matter. The language visible on the cover is Romanian.","soldPrice":350,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:17.672Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$400 - $600","currency":"USD","id":114622,"estimateMin":400},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114623/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"ferenc &aacute;brah&aacute;m & endre, kussinszky (eds). three volumes of hungarian people's tribunal post-war trials. \n \n a v&aacute;d, a vallom&aacute;sok &eacute;s az &iacute;t&eacute;let [\u201cthe prosecution, the confession and the verdict.\u201d] * a b&aacute;rdossy per. two parts in one. pp. 32 and pp. 64. with newspaper cuttings tipped in. * a sz&aacute;lasi-per. pp. 192. * az imr&eacute;dy-per. pp. 127. \n browned. original pictorial wrappers, light wear. 8vo. \n budapest: hirad&oacute; k&ouml;nyvt&aacute;r 1945 \n post-war legal accounts of: hungarian prime minister l&aacute;szl&oacute; b&aacute;rdossy de b&aacute;rdos, arrow cross leader ferenc sz&aacute;lasi and hungarian prime minister b&eacute;la imr&eacute;dy. in 1945-6, each was tried and subsequently executed for war crimes committed during world war ii."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"151","title":{"en":"(holocaust)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114623/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a Hungarian book titled \"ÍTÉL A TÖRTÉNELEM A Bárdossy per\" (History Judged: The Bárdossy Trial), likely a historical or legal document related to the Holocaust period. The cover features a stark red illustration of a blindfolded Lady Justice holding a sword and scales, against a light background. The text indicates it covers the accusation, confessions, and verdict of the trial. Published by HIRADÓ KÖNYVTÁR, it appears to be a wartime or post-war publication, possibly from the mid-20th century.","soldPrice":450,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.273Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114623,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114624/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"kz - bildbericht aus f&uuml;nf konzentrationslagern [\u201cphoto report from five concentration camps.\u201d] \n \n first edition. german text. 44 black-and-white photographs. \n pp. (32). original printed wrappers, light wear, central crease. lg. 4to. \n n.p.: american war information unit (1945) \n \u201cthis book\u2026 may represent the single most significant use of photography as a witness in the medium\u2019s history\u201d (martin parr, the photobook: a history, vol. i, p. 194).===this important volume, the first of its kind, was distributed in germany by the american war information unit at the conclusion of world war ii in order to impress upon the civilian population the severity of the war crimes committed by the nazis in the name of the german people. the concentration camps represented within are: buchenwald, belsen, gardelegen, nordhausen and ohrdruf. the final images are of general dwight eisenhower witnessing the horrifying sights found in ohrdruf."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"152","title":{"en":"(holocaust)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114624/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This item is a historical publication titled \"KZ Bildbericht aus fünf Konzentrationslagern\" (KZ Picture Report from Five Concentration Camps), directly related to the Holocaust. It is a report containing images from five concentration camps, published in German. The cover design is minimalist with large black 'KZ' initials and the title below, set on a light-colored paper inset within a darker, possibly green-brown, cover. This document serves as a significant primary source from the mid-20th century, providing visual documentation of the concentration camps.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.275Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114624,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114625/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"(\u201cthe tosfoth yom-tov.\u201d) tzadik venisgav [biography based upon megillath eivah]. \n \n translated into judeo-arabic. \n pp. 107. original printed wrappers. small taped repair to upper cover, opening signature detached. 12mo. yaari, calcutta 78. \n calcutta: (shlomo ben abed twena) 1892 \n scarce edition. an account of the tribulations the author endured a result of his imprisonment under suspicion of heresy and treason against ferdinand ii; followed by his legal ordeal, incarceration and ultimately, justice and freedom."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"153","title":{"en":"(heller, yom tov lipman)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114625/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book, identified by the catalog text as related to Yom Tov Lipman Heller. The title, 'ספר צריק ושגב' (Sefer Tzadik V'Sagav), is visible on the cover. The text is entirely in Hebrew script, printed on aged, somewhat stained paper. Publishing details are visible at the bottom, including a Hebrew date which appears to be תרנב (5692), corresponding to 1931/1932, and possibly the location 'בלבבתא' (Balbatta). The book's condition suggests it is a well-used religious or scholarly text.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.276Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114625,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114626/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"gagin, chaim abraham. sepher hatakanoth vehaskamoth. \n \n first edition. title within decorative architectural frame. additional letterpress title after introduction. this copy with the scarce additional page of approbations at end. marginal notations. \n ff. (16), 13-72, (4). lightly stained in places, previous owner\u2019s marks, minimal worming often repaired. later boards, gutter split. 12mo. vinograd, jerusalem 14; halevy 3. \n jerusalem: israel bak 1842 \n compendium of rites and customs as practiced in the city of jerusalem.===the author (1787-1848) was chief rabbi of jerusalem, and the first to carry the official title of haham bashi. he was the son-in-law of the kabbalist shalom sharabi. the author was instrumental in the publication of manuscripts by other major rabbinical scholars and kabbalists; for example, kedushath yom tov by the mahrit algazi. see also the introduction by gagin to his father in-law\u2019s work, divrei shalom where he defends his use of the title haham bashi.===shoshana halevy saw only two copies of this work, of which only one had the final leaf of approbations. the approbations contain valuable information concerning the founding of bak\u2019s printing press and the economic boon it would bring to jerusalem."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"154","title":{"en":"(israel, land of)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114626/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is an antique Hebrew book, likely a religious or legal text, originating from the Land of Israel (Jerusalem). The title page features elaborate decorative borders with floral and architectural motifs, including columns and arches, rendered in black ink on aged paper. The text is entirely in Hebrew script, and the publishing details at the bottom mention Jerusalem and a Hebrew date, suggesting it was printed in the 19th or early 20th century. The book shows signs of wear, indicating its age and historical use.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.277Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114626,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114627/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"van de velde, c[arel] w[illem] m[eredith]. le pays d\u2019israel: collection de cent vues prises d\u2019apr&egrave;s nature dans la syrie et la palestine [\u201cthe land of israel: collection of one hundred views taken from nature in syria and palestine.\u201d] \n \n two volumes. tinted lithograph additional title (vol. ii) and 99 tinted lithographed or chromolithographed plates, map at end. \n pp. 88 + ff. (100) plates. ex-library, foxed throughout. contemporary half-morocco, titled in gilt on spine, upper covers with large gilt-tooled morocco label, rubbed, corners bumped. elephant folio. laor, no. 779; blackmer 1721; colas 2977; tobler, p. 154; r&ouml;hricht 2275. \n paris: firmin didot fr&egrave;res, fils 1857 \n << complete collection of visually stunning plates of the holy land.>>===van de velde, a dutch naval lieutenant and surveyor, made two visits to the middle east. after the first in 1851, he published the present work which contains magnificent views of the biblical land of israel.===<< provenance:>>===rev. g.w. samson, washington, 1860 (presentation label).===the widener family, philadelphia, penn.===faith theological seminary (lynnewood hall), elkins park, penn."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"155","title":{"en":"(israel, land of)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114627/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This item is a landscape print depicting a scene from the Land of Israel, likely an antique plate from a larger volume. The image features a verdant valley with olive trees in the foreground and along slopes, a body of water in the middle ground, and distant structures on a fortified wall under a light blue sky. The print utilizes muted, naturalistic colors, primarily greens, browns, and blues, and appears to be a hand-colored engraving or lithograph. This piece provides an early visual representation of the region, characteristic of 19th-century travel or geographical studies.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.279Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114627,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114628/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"yom hamedinah - the day of the state. a joint publication of israel\u2019s newspapers. \n \n text entirely in english. single broadside sheet, printed on both sides. photographic illustrations. \n evenly browned, central fold. 19 x 13 inches (47.5 x 33 cm). \n (tel aviv): 4pm, friday, 14th may 1948 \n << exceptionally rare. >>no other copy located.===on may 14, 1948, \u201cthe last day of foreign rule,\u201d the hebrew newspapers in palestine published a joint issue titled yom hamedinah, \u201cthe day of the state,\u201d announcing the establishment of the state of israel.===the hebrew language version of this famed newspaper is well known, offered here is the highly scarce english language issue of the historic publication.===it contains the text of the declaration of independence and states that the regulations of the 1939 white paper, with its restrictions on jewish immigration and land transfers, are no longer valid. the second page carries sixteen encapsulated articles concerning the events of the day, along with a bold public announcement \u201cby special permission of the chief rabbinate: uninterrupted mobilization all throughout shabbat.\u201d"},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"156","title":{"en":"(israel, state of)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114628/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This is a historical newspaper, \"YOM HAMEDINAH THE DAY OF THE STATE!\" published on Friday, 5th Iyar, 5708 \u2013 14th May, 1948, announcing \"THE NATION PROCLAIMS THE STATE OF ISRAEL.\" The front page features a large portrait of Theodor Herzl, photographs of key figures like Ch. Weizmann and D. Ben Gurion, and a large image of a meeting in progress. The newspaper, printed in English, documents the proclamation of the State of Israel, a pivotal moment in 20th-century history, and is a significant primary source related to the nation's founding.","soldPrice":4500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.280Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114628,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114629/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"benedetto frizzi (benzion raphael hakohen). difesa contro gli attacchi fatti alia nazione ebrea nel libro intitolato \u201cdella influenza del ghetto nello stato\u201d [response to the slanderous attack by giovan battista d\u2019arco against the jews of italy] \n \n first edition. printer\u2019s device on title. \n pp. 191. touch foxed. modern vellum-backed patterned boards. 8vo. \n pavia: monistero di s. salvatore 1784 \n born in ostiano near mantua, benedetto frizzi (1756\u20131844) studied medicine at the university of pavia. a man of great learning and wide renown, frizzi grew to be considered one of the most outstanding jewish scholars of the western european enlightenment and a champion of italian jewry against political attack by the commentariat.===in this anonymously penned tract frizzi sought to disprove accusations that jews shunned christians and that their economic activities tended to impoverish the countries they lived in. he describes jewish theology, philosophy, and ethics and then analyzes in great detail and with many examples, the economic role of the jews in europe, particularly italy. frizzi discusses the valuable functions the jews historically fulfilled and by what nature their success as merchants may be attributed to.===see s. simonsohn, history of the jews in the duchy of mantua (1977) pp. 711-2."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"157","title":{"en":"(italy)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114629/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an 18th-century Italian printed book titled \"DIFESA CONTRO GLI ATTACCHI FATTI ALLA NAZIONE EBREA nel libro intitolato DELLA INFLUENZA DEL GHETTO NELLO STATO\" (Defense Against the Attacks Made on the Jewish Nation in the Book Titled The Influence of the Ghetto on the State). Published in Pavia in MDCCLXXXIV (1784), it features an engraved vignette on the title page depicting three putti or cherubs amidst foliage. The book is written in Italian, with a decorative marbled paper edge on the binding, and addresses a topic concerning the Jewish community in Italy.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.282Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114629,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114630/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"giovanni di giovanni. l\u2019ebraismo della sicilia [\u201cthe jews of sicily\u201d]. \n \n first edition. few finely engraved vignettes. wider margins. \n pp. (20), 420. touch foxed. contemporary calf-backed patterned boards, scuffed. 4to. \n palermo: giuseppe gramignani 1748 \n << the first study on the jews of sicily.>>===jewish settlement on this island located south-west from the italian peninsula began as early as the second temple era. communities flourished in the countryside as well as in cities such as palermo, cantania and messina. since sicily was a possession of the spanish crown, the alhambra decree of 1492 effectively ended jewish settlement. jews were formally invited to return in 1740."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"158","title":{"en":"(italy)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114630/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is an 18th-century Italian book titled \"L'EBRAISMO DELLA SICILIA Ricercato, ed esposto DA GIOVANNI DI GIOVANNI CANONICO\" (The Hebraism of Sicily Researched and Expounded by Giovanni di Giovanni Canonico). Published in Palermo in MDCCLXLVIII (1748), the title page includes a woodcut or engraving depicting a classical female figure in a chariot pulled by animals, amidst clouds. The book is written in Italian and delves into the history or characteristics of Judaism in Sicily, indicating its subject matter as historical or theological research from the Enlightenment era.","soldPrice":550,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.283Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114630,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114631/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"giovan battista serra. maravigliosi et occulti secreti naturali novamente [\u201cwonderful and hidden natural secrets.\u201d] \n \n first edition. printer\u2019s device on title. \n ff. 4. lightly stained, small neat repair to title. modern boards. 12mo. \n bologna: giacomo ardizzoni 1625 \n scarce little pamphlet containing 25 natural remedies and folk treatments (seguloth) to aid various injuries and illnesses, based upon secrets embedded within kabbalistic wisdom.===almost nothing is known of the author beyond the fact that he was a jewish convert to christianity and an itinerant physician, popularly known as il giudeo (\u201cthe jew\u201d)."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"159","title":{"en":"(kabbalah)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114631/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an early modern Italian book titled \"MARAVIGLIOSI ET OCCULTI SECRETI NATURALI. NOVAMENTE. Tradotti di lingua Hebrea in Italiana...\" (Marvelous and Occult Natural Secrets. Newly Translated from Hebrew into Italian...). Published in Bologna and Piacenza in 1625, it features a decorative border around the title page and a central emblem of a classical urn or vase adorned with olive branches. The book, written in Italian, is a translation from Hebrew, suggesting its subject matter is esoteric, possibly related to Kabbalah, alchemy, or natural philosophy, reflecting 17th-century intellectual interests.","soldPrice":500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.284Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114631,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114632/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"in dei nomine amen francisco carnero de figeiroa [medical diplomas of hieronimo henriques de sequeira, received from the university of coimbra] \n \n text in portuguese. printed in red and black with manuscript additions. woodcut decorative initial letter. text within decorative foliate typographical border. formerly in the collection of the late daniel m. friedenberg (greenwich, conn). \n two printed pages. small hole on lower margin. housed in double-sided frame. 9 x 12 inches (sheet size). \n coimbra: may 14th 1726 \n the sequeira (sequeyra) family, were of an old sephardic origin whose far-flung members distinguished themselves in the medical profession for more than two centuries: viz. dr. isaac henrique sequeira (1727-88) of london, and dr. john de sequeyra (1712-95) of williamsberg, va."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"160","title":{"en":"(medicine)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114632/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This framed document, titled \"N DEI NOMINE AMEN FRANCISCO CARNEIRO DE FIGUEROA,\" is an official medical diploma or academic record from the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Dated 1726, the handwritten text is in Latin or Portuguese, surrounded by an intricate decorative border featuring knotwork and repeated patterns. The document is likely printed on paper with handwritten insertions and is displayed in a dark, ornate frame with a light mat. This item represents an 18th-century medical or educational artifact, providing insight into the academic traditions of the period.","soldPrice":550,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:24.286Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114632,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114633/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"discorso intorno a l\u2019humana miseria e sopr\u2019al modo di fuggirla [\u201ca discourse on human suffering and how to escape it\u201d]. ff. (4), 38. \n \n * bound with: koheleth-l\u2019ecclesiaste di salomone. hebrew text with inter-linear traslation into italian. with introduction and explanatory notes in italian by david de pomis. dedicated to cardinal g. grimani. ff. (8), 41 (of 42), (2) lacking f.1. [vinograd, venice 572]. two works bound into one volume. both first edition. printer\u2019s device on each title-page. the daniel m. friedenberg - prof. ariel toaff copy (with respective bookplates). \n stained in places. later vellum, worn. sm. 8vo. \n venice: giordano ziletti 1572 and 1571 \n david ben isaac de pomis [min hatapuchim] (1525-93) was a scion of one of the four most distinguished roman families reputedly brought by titus from judea to italy at the time of the destruction of the second temple. de pomis was a practicing rabbi and physician who received his medical doctorate from the university of perugia in 1551. throughout his life, de pomis\u2019 ability to practice medicine was periodically restricted by papal edicts that forbade jewish physicians attending christians. the subsequent lulls in his medical career gave him the opportunity to gain repute as a writer and linguist. he composed several medical pamphlets, a trilingual dictionary, as well as italian translations of the bible. the present two works are thus representative of the scope of de pomis\u2019s scholarship: a biblical translation and an holistic medicinal discourse in which de pomis shares the methods he had formulated to distract himself from misfortunes suffered. the second work was published as an appendix to the first, intended as a practical afterword to king solomon\u2019s treatment on temporal suffering.===see c. roth, the jews in the renaissance, pp. 223-25."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"161","title":{"en":"pomis, david de"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114633/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This item is an early printed book, an edition of 'L'Ecclesiaste di Salomone' by David de' Pomis. It is a religious text, specifically a translation and commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes. The book was printed in Venice in 1571, as indicated on the title page. It features Hebrew script for the title alongside Italian text, suggesting it is a bilingual or translated work. The title page displays a decorative emblem featuring a star within an ornate cartouche and is printed on aged, discolored paper.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.954Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114633,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114634/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"machzor - sepher kerovoth [festival prayers for the final days of sukoth (shemini atzereth and simchath torah)]. \n \n with german translation (in hebrew characters) and hebrew commentary by wolf heidenheim. additional title. printed on thicker paper. the carl mayer rothschild copy. spine gilt-tooled with hebrew title and \u201cc. m. rothschild.\u201d \n ff. (2), 115, 12. lightly browned. contemporary mottled calf, all edges gilt, scuffed. 8vo. vinograd, roedelheim 15. \n roedelheim: wolf heidenheim and b.m. baschwitz 1802 \n carl mayer von rothschild (1788-1855) was the founder of the rothschild banking family of naples. born kalman mayer rothschild in frankfurt am main, he was the fourth of the five sons of mayer amschel rothschild (1743\u20131812), founder of the rothschild dynasty."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"162","title":{"en":"(rothschild)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114634/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This item is a historical book, likely a religious or scholarly text given its aged appearance and Hebrew script on the spine. It features a worn leather binding, characteristic of books from earlier centuries. The spine is decorated with gilded elements and a red label with Hebrew script, 'שמיני עצרת' (Shemini Atzeret). The overall condition indicates significant age and use, with visible wear, scuffs, and some loss to the leather cover.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.955Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114634,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114635/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"[bonihominis, alfonsus]. [epistola samuelis]. [title from incipit]: hic incipit prohemium unius libelli translati de arabico in latinum de inductione ad fidem catholicam iudeorum a quodam iudeo confecto [epistle of rabbi samuel] \n \n manuscript in latin, on paper (unidentified watermark), with wide margins. text in black ink, headings, initials and rubrications in red. with a note in later hand, on title page, concerning bonihominis: \u201cparisis per manum fratris alfonciis.\u201d \n pp. (39). insignificant marginal worming, overall in fine condition. modern half- vellum binding. 4to. \n n.p: c. 1450 \n \u201cthe epistle of rabbi samuel\u201d was one of the most influential anti-jewish treatise of the middle ages. allegedly translated from the arabic by the spanish dominican orientalist, alfonsus bonihominis (d. 1353).===the epistle was supposedly composed by a moroccan jew (\"samuel marochitanus\") at the beginning of the 11th-century in which he shares with his colleague, rabbi isaac, the thinking which led him to be baptized and convert to christianity.===according to the introduction by the latin translator, bonihominis, the text was originally written in arabic in order to conceal it, since few jews and even fewer christians were familiar with that language. while bishop of marrakech, bonihominis discovered the text in 1338 and translated it from arabic into latin in order to bring it to wider public attention.===the epistle itself appears following this introduction. most copies are divided into twenty-four, or occasionally twenty-five sections. the present version contains additional chapters.===since the original arabic text from which bonihominis allegedly translated the epistle has never been found, scholars are now clear that he composed the text himself. it subsequently grew to become a deeply influential anti-jewish tract influencing such theologians with deep anti-semitic tendencies as anton margaritha and martin luther.===see o. limor, the epistle of rabbi samuel of morocco: a best-seller in the world of polemics. in: contra iudaeos. ancient and medieval polemics between christians and jews (t&uuml;bingen, 1996) pp. 177\u201394."},"estimateMax":30000,"lotNumber":"163","title":{"en":"(antisemitica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114635/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":25000,"aiDescription":"This item is a page from an antique manuscript or incunabulum, characterized by handwritten Latin text in red and black ink. The script is Gothic or a similar early European style, suggesting a medieval or early modern period. Notable visual features include a large, decorative red initial 'R' at the beginning of the main text and marginal annotations, also in red ink. The paper is discolored and shows signs of age and handling, with a visible vertical crease.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.956Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$25,000 - $30,000","currency":"USD","id":114635,"estimateMin":25000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114636/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(rosh yeshiva of kletzk, and beth medrash govoha of lakewood, 1891-1962). group of nine letters, written to michel ben zion rubin and yaakov feldstein of san francisco, all in hebrew on yeshiva letterhead. \n \n pertaining to the funding and support of yeshiva eitz chaim in rechovot, israel, headed by r. kotler\u2019s brother-in-law r. tzvi yehudah meltzer. includes: four autograph letters signed, two typed letters signed (with several additional lines autograph), one typed letter signed r. tzvi yehudah meltzer, and two others (including r. goder of torah voda\u2019as), as well as six charitable receipts from yeshiva kletsk (including one, while in shanghai). \n \n new york & lakewood: 1950-57 \n the yeshivath eitz chaim-kletzk in rechovot was originally founded in pardes chana by r. tzvi yehuda meltzer as a branch of his brother-in-law, r. aaron kotler\u2019s yeshiva, of kletzk. later it relocated to rechovot where it became known as yeshivath hadarom. messrs. rubin and feldstein were two of the original founders and supporters of this yeshiva.===these letters contain many little known, interesting details pertaining both to the yeshiva and rabbi kotler personally. recorded are details of a visit to israel during the summer of 1951 upon the request of his father-in-law, r. isser zalman meltzer who was weak and could not give shiurim. r. kotler here describes the corner-stone laying ceremony for the yeshiva in rechovot which was held under his supervision. r. kotler is emphatic that this yeshiva, located in the center of the \u201cdarom\u201d where thousands of new immigrants to israel are settling, will serve as a spiritual fortress against the dangerous flow of heresy in this area (letter dated 5 nitzavim, 1951). r. kotler relates his anguish upon discovering that mr. feldstein visited rechovot during vacation time when no one was there to greet him, although rabbi elazar menachem shach sought to find him (letter dated 9 nissan 1951). rabbi shach served as rosh yeshiva before famously moving on to ponevezh."},"estimateMax":8000,"lotNumber":"164","title":{"en":"kotler, aaron"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114636/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":6000,"aiDescription":"This item is a historical document, specifically a printed receipt from the Rabbinical College of Kletsk, then located in Pardess-Hanna, Palestine. Dated November 7, 1946, it acknowledges a donation of $1.00 received from Mr. B.A. Rhodes. The receipt features ornate decorative borders and text in both English and Hebrew, reflecting its institutional context. Rabbi A. Kotler's address in New York City is also printed on the document.","soldPrice":5000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.957Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$6,000 - $8,000","currency":"USD","id":114636,"estimateMin":6000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114637/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"a complete set of signers of the declaration of independence of the state of israel. \n \n thirty-one typed statements in english with autograph signatures below. with six autograph letters signed, five in hebrew and one (ben-gurion) in english. comprehensive listing and content summary available upon request. \n housed in folder. sm. folio. \n (1958-) \n << signers of israel\u2019s proclamation recall the historic events of may 14, 1948.>>===in tel aviv, on sabbath eve, the 14th day of may (5th iyar) 1948, thirty-seven individuals signed their names to israel\u2019s proclamation of independence, collectively bringing the state of israel into existence and writing themselves into world history.===in commemoration of israel\u2019s tenth anniversary, justin turner of los angeles, a founder of mgm studios and early supporter of the state of israel bonds, engaged israeli journalist eliezer wartman to interview each living signer and discuss their recollections of events on that historic day. wartman taped the interviews, prepared transcriptions, and subsequently returned to each interviewee to have them look his reports for accuracy, after which, each signed a one-page english-language excerpt, that highlighted each interview.===the present collection consists of these typed english statements, each of which contains the signature (majority signed in both english and hebrew) of the interviewee / signer. the three signers who died prior to 1958 are represented by letters written earlier.===the collection poignantly captures the moods and memories of the signers and is an enlightening as well as inspiring historical record."},"estimateMax":30000,"lotNumber":"165","title":{"en":"(israel, state of)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114637/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":20000,"aiDescription":"This lot comprises a collection of historical documents, primarily typed pages with some handwritten annotations and a small handwritten note. The papers include correspondence, reports, or speeches, with visible names like 'Golda Meir', 'Erbach Warhaftig', and 'David Ben Gurion', suggesting a connection to the establishment of the State of Israel. The documents are in English, with various dates appearing to be from the mid-20th century. The collection has a personal and administrative feel, reflecting historical events and figures.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.958Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$20,000 - $30,000","currency":"USD","id":114637,"estimateMin":20000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114638/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"(the steipler gaon). commentary to rambam hilchoth geirushin, ch. 12. includes comments pertaining to citations from the chazon ish and r. chaim brisker. \n \n autograph manuscript in hebrew. some lines crossed out and corrected. \n pp. 10. modern calf. 4to. \n (bnei brak): n.d \n although written in the hand of the steipler, it appears that it may have been copied from the writings of his son r. chaim, as p. 2 and p. 8 contain citations heard from \u201cadoni avi mori verabi shlita.\u201d===a shortened version of certain concepts discussed in part of this manuscript was published in kehiloth yaakov vol. v, siman 27. however, the present manuscript contains much additional material on the subject."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"166","title":{"en":"kanievsky, ya\u2019akov yisroel"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114638/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This item is a handwritten manuscript page, possibly a letter or a scholarly text, in Hebrew script. The writing is in dark ink on lined paper, suggesting a personal or informal composition style. The page is bound on the left side, indicating it was part of a notebook or larger compilation. The script appears to be a cursive style, often associated with rabbinical or scholarly writings from the 20th century.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.959Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114638,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114639/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"ma\u2019aseh yeshu - ma'aseh talui. \n \n hebrew manuscript on vellum. handsome aschkenazic scribal hand. \n pp. 25. integral vellum manuscript wrappers, soiled. 8vo. \n n.p: 19th-century \n << one of the most controversial books in history.>>===the oldest jewish anti-christian text is the toldoth yeshu - a biography of jesus which is entirely at variance with the gospels. suggested to date as far back as the first-century, the publication of toldoth yeshu was opposed by jews and non-jews alike due to its many passages considered to be offensive to christian sensibilities. nonetheless, it was widely distributed in manuscript form.===see m. carmilly-weinberger, censorship and freedom of expression in jewish history (1977) pp. 184-6; d. malkiel, the jewish-christian debate on the eve of modernity: joshua segre of scandiano and his asham talui in: rej 164:1-2 (2005) pp. 157-86."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"167","title":{"en":"(christianity)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114639/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This item is an antique book with a title page featuring Hebrew script within a simple rectangular border. The title appears to be 'מעשה ישו' (Ma'aseh Yeshu), indicating a religious or historical text related to the life of Jesus, potentially from a Jewish perspective. The book is bound in worn, light-colored paper or parchment, showing significant age and use. The typography is characteristic of early Hebrew printing.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.960Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114639,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114640/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"yehi ratzon [prayers offered by the synagogue cantor] \n \n hebrew manuscript written in a bold calligraphic hand on vellum. title within colorful floral borders. commissioned by shmuel katz for the benefit of the community of leschnitz. \n ff. 8. modern calf. 4to. \n leschnitz: c. 1800 \n leschnitz (leśnica) is a small town located in south-western poland. over the centuries it was annexed by the kingdom of prussia and later germany.===contains selected prayers recited by the chazan including mi-sheberach for the sick, blessings for haftorah, prayer for the welfare of the head of state, rosh chodesh, yizkor, megillah and meditations prior to the blowing of the shofar."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"168","title":{"en":"(liturgy)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114640/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This item is a manuscript page, likely from a prayer book or Haggadah, featuring a colorful arched illumination. The central text is in Hebrew, written in black ink, framed by an architectural design resembling a Torah ark or gate. The arch is adorned with geometric patterns in yellow, green, and blue, topped with red and blue finials. The manuscript appears to be hand-colored, suggesting a personalized or illuminated liturgical text from a pre-modern era.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.962Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114640,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114641/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"\u201cshevithi hashem lenegdi tamid\u201d [\u201ci place god before me at all times\u201d (psalms 16:8)]. exquisite synagogue shevithi plaque. hebrew manuscript <<on vellum.>> \n \n accomplished entirely in pen-and-ink. displays the divine name of god (the tetragrammaton), a seven-branched menorah and surrounded by related hebrew phraseology. highly detailed including many classic jewish iconographic elements: eagle, coronet, rampant lions; but also more uncommon features which indicate a likely ukrainian origin: unicorns, griffins and - an unusual feature - twin lion heads (at base of columns). dated and signed by the artist below: \u201cmordechai ben menachem nochum yirmiyah hakohen.\u201d \n occasional surface discoloration, pinholes in places, some fading at lower left and right. 17.5 x 23.5 inches (44.50 x 59.70 cm). \n (poland / ukraine): 1874 \n << executed with great artistic skill.>>===a magnificent mizrach, recently discovered, and until now, never documented nor recorded. to date, no other works attributed to this manuscript-artist have been located, although his name indicates a likely chassidic origin."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"169","title":{"en":"(mizrach)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114641/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This item is a decorative Mizrach, a traditional Jewish wall hanging indicating the direction of prayer towards Jerusalem. It is an intricate engraving or print on paper, featuring a highly detailed architectural motif with columns, a menorah, lions, and floral designs. Hebrew text is incorporated throughout the design, including 'מזרח' (Mizrach) prominently displayed. The overall style is ornate and Baroque, reflecting Eastern European Jewish folk art from an earlier period.","soldPrice":7000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.963Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114641,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114642/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"royal decree. issued by sigismund (pol. zygmunt) iii, king of poland in 1594 concerning the jews of the prussian unfortified city of wschowa (ger. fraustadt). \n \n manuscript in latin, written on vellum. with king sigismund's original contemporary seal and signature of the king\u2019s secretary, the jurist jan tarnowski (later primate of poland in 1604). \n 12 x 23.5 inches (30.5 x 59.5 cm). \n 1594 \n << summary of latin text:>> \u201caccording to the worthies of the city of wschowa, the perfides [i.e. the jews] have exceeded their commercial rights, concerning which there had been several court cases in the past. they have appealed in virtue of their (former) charters. our present jurisdiction, under our responsibility, has received from the hands of their assessors \u2026 the noble johan sczalapski, representative of the jews of jelena g&oacute;ra and wschowa, answerable to us, \u2026 at the appointed delay, they have presented their privileges in addition to an act dated 1572. the latter concerns a similar case involving the castellan of \u2026 (it appeared) that they had encroached upon the privileges which were examined in a contradictory manner (by the different parties), in relation to the privileges of the city [\u2026] the jews of wschowa do not have the right of permanent residence, [\u2026] despite the claim that they possess habitations within and beyond the city. neither do they have the right to carry on trade within the city. they are hereby afforded a delay of six months to leave the city from the fourth day following the feast of saint nicholas of the year 1594.\u201d===<< the context:>> the 28th february 1593, pope clement viii published the bull cum hebraeorum malitia which established jurisprudence for two centuries. it imposed censorship of hebrew books, and condemned the talmud and the historical errors of the jews. the first documented sources regarding jews in wschowa date from the end of the 16th century. historical records attest that it was not until 1584 that the first jew, simon, arrived in wschowa. he was followed by others who settled on the land under the jurisdiction of an alderman. they lived in rybacka alley (in german fischergasse), to the west of the marketplace, at the place of the later upper \"new town\" (in german ober-neustadt). the newcomers, who possibly hailed from głog&oacute;w, created a kehilla soon numbering some 150 souls. despite their not engaging in crafts, therefore not competing with the townspeople, they were considered a threat to the city. in 1592 a city clerk was sent to cracow to ask the monarch to \u201cbanish the jewish non-believers, who were settled in the houses under the jurisdiction of the castle\u201d. the king consented to the request and a few days later (on 22 april 1592), and then again on 3 july of the same year he ordered the alderman, wacław kiełczewski, to banish the jews and forbid their settling in or around the town in the future.===the king\u2019s ruling was unfavorable to the alderman, who derived profits from the jews\u2019 presence in the city. he may have urged them to appeal against the ruling, referring to the general charter granted them by the king. the monarch considered the appeal justified and ordered the case to be reinvestigated. the people of wschowa, unsure of the king\u2019s final ruling, decided to drive the jews out of the city, however the jews did not relent and stood their ground. on 7 december 1594 the king decided in favor of the city and the jews were given six months to leave. the verdict emphasized that the general charter did not apply to localities such as wschowa where jews had not resided at the time of its issue. on 12 june 1595 it was declared in the marketplace that all jews had to leave wschowa and on 29 july the city commission inspecting the rybacka alley, occupied previously by jews, reported that there were no more jews in the city.===description (extended version available upon request) prepared by paul fenton, professor of hebrew and jewish studies, sorbonne university, paris."},"estimateMax":9000,"lotNumber":"170","title":{"en":"(poland)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114642/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":7000,"aiDescription":"This item is a historic document, likely a royal decree or official letter, featuring Latin script handwritten on a large, folded sheet of parchment or heavy paper. A prominent decorative initial 'S' begins the text. Attached to the bottom is a substantial wax seal, secured with red and green ribbons, indicating its official and authoritative nature. The document's appearance suggests it dates from a significant historical period, likely early modern European, given the script and sealing method.","soldPrice":6500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.964Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$7,000 - $9,000","currency":"USD","id":114642,"estimateMin":7000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114643/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"small shevithi protective plaque. \n \n hebrew manuscript written in elegant square script in various sizes on vellum. displays the divine name of god (the tetragrammaton), psalm lxvii arranged as a seven-branched menorah and surrounded by multi-colored stylized flowers and foliage with kabbalistic formulae. * housed in: national bank of india envelope, the front of which contains an autograph note signed by flora sassoon in her distinctive hebrew hand: \u201cthis menorah was given to me as a gift by r. joseph, my father\u2019s uncle, in the month of adar i, 1935. he received it from my grandfather, the tzadik suleiman, kislev, 1894.\u201d \n 4.5 x 6.5 inches. \n (india): 19th century \n the verse (psalm 16:8) \u201ci place [shevithi] the lord before me always\u201d is regarded by the devout as a focus of meditative contemplation. hence the \u201cshevithi\u201d became a distinct genre of jewish ceremonial art, embellished with mystical and artistic features, as an object of veneration.===clearly members of the baghdad-bombay-london sassoon family paid great heed to such piety and carried the present shevithi as a personal talisman.===flora (farha) sassoon (1859-1936) was married to the businessman and philanthropist solomon david sassoon (1841\u201394), and was a unique, published, rabbinic scholar in her own right. she was the mother of the great bibliophile david solomon sassoon (1880-1942) and grandmother of the learned solomon david sassoon (1915-85)."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"171","title":{"en":"(sassoon family)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114643/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This item is an illuminated manuscript page or small booklet, likely a Ketubah or similar Jewish ceremonial document, connected to the Sassoon family. It features intricate Hebrew script with decorative elements, including floral patterns in red and blue, and a prominent oval cartouche. The primary colors used are red, blue, green, and black on a light background. It is accompanied by a separate piece of brown paper with handwritten Hebrew script, possibly an envelope or an additional document, suggesting a period consistent with traditional Jewish manuscript art.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.139Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114643,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114644/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(wife of the seventh grand rabbi of lubavitch, r. menachem mendel schneerson. 1901-88). autograph letter signed to necha rivkin of jerusalem \n \n (formerly of rostov, later of new york and wife of rabbi moshe dov-ber rivkin of yeshivath torath emeth in jerusalem and later, torah voda\u2019ath of new york). written entirely in russian, concerning her upcoming wedding. \u201ci have been in warsaw now for ten days and am very busy with wedding preparations\u2026 i am here with my mother and it is now late on motzei shabbos, the wedding will be on tuesday.\u201d \n postcard-size, densely written on both sides. \n warsaw: 24th november (1928) \n the second of the three daughters of the friediker rebbe, r. yosef yitzchak schneerson (1880-1950), and wife to r. menachem mendel schneerson (1902-94), who succeeded his father-in-law\u2019s title as lubavitcher rebbe in 1951.===writes to her life-long friend, necha rivkin, emphasizes how close she feels to her and her family. notes that all members of rebbetzin chaya-moushka\u2019s family arrive to warsaw on monday (the day before her wedding), and that on wednesday, the family will return to riga."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"172","title":{"en":"schneerson, moussia (chaya-mushka)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114644/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a handwritten letter from Moussia (Chaya-Mushka) Schneerson, an example of textual Judaica. The letter, written in a cursive script, fills the entire surface of a light tan, rectangular piece of paper. The text is in Russian, and the letter appears to be from the early to mid-20th century. Notable visual features include the dense, flowing script and a date \"24/XII\" visible in the top right corner.","soldPrice":4000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.141Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114644,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114645/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"group of medals awarded to the austrian-jewish athlete gerda gottlieb. <<*>> with: personal diary, 1936-37. extensive manuscript in german. <<*>> sporting pins (3). <<*>> related letters in german from sports organizations. \n \n medals (all with original case) include: the makkabiah games, 1935. * five consecutive gold medals, austrian national pentathlon. 1933-37. \n \n \n born in 1916, gerda gottlieb a swimming and pentathlon champion, at one stage held the world record in the standing high jump. in 1938, following the anschluss, gottlieb fled austria and found sanctuary in the united states."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"173","title":{"en":"(sports)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114645/view","tags":["usmemorabilia_sportsmemorabilia","usmemorabilia","usmemorabilia_all"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This lot comprises a collection of sports memorabilia, primarily medals and pins, alongside various textual documents. The items include seven cased medals, several small pins with symbolic designs, and a stack of papers with typed and handwritten text, some featuring a Star of David motif. The textual elements appear to be official documents or correspondence, possibly related to sports organizations or events, dating from the early to mid-20th century, with some text in German and Hebrew, indicating a connection to Jewish sports or history.","soldPrice":4500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.142Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114645,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114646/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"el libro de oro de b&eacute;b&eacute;. nacimiento de ren&eacute; bernardo redlich [baby scrapbook]. \n \n printed with extensive manuscript entries, accompanied by numerous original photographs, illustrations and newspaper clippings. text mainly in spanish, also german and occasional yiddish and hebrew. \n pp. 32. original wrappers. 4to. \n montevideo: 21st december, 1942 - 13th may 1947 \n lovingly created baby scrapbook for ren&eacute; bernardo redlich (born december 21, 1942), son of rudolf and sonia redlich (ne&eacute; rosenman) of montevideo, originally from breslau (wrocław).===entries include birth congratulations, extensive list of presents, his brith milah, photographs for every month of the first year of his life and then annually, his first teeth, his first steps, his first words, first birthday, first trip, first visit to the synagogue, first visit to the theater. includes a birthday poem in german by his grandfather walter redlich (1880-1943)."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"174","title":{"en":"(uruguay)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114646/view","tags":["uscollectibles_booksandpaper","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This lot features a printed and handwritten document or poster commemorating a Jewish Brit Milah (circumcision) ceremony in Uruguay, dated January 1, 1943. The document includes illustrations of a baby and a bell with a Star of David, alongside two black-and-white photographs depicting men, likely the father, mohel, and godparents, at the ceremony. The text is a mix of Spanish and Hebrew, indicating the cultural blend of the Uruguayan Jewish community. Signatures in ink add a personal and authentic touch to this historical record.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.143Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114646,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114647/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"carvalho, solomon nunes (1815-97). autograph letter signed written to his sister[-in law?], in english. \n \n a long, lyrical and deeply expressed letter of condolence. beautifully expressed feelings relating to life and god. notes that he has already written to sarah [likely his wife, sarah miriam solis] details about himself and his life in california. (genealogical records do not record carvalho having a sister named esther; his correspondent is likely his sister-in-law, esther etting, a sister to his wife). \n one and one-half pages. 4to. \n san francisco: 13th october 1854 \n born in charleston, south carolina, into a jewish family of spanish-portuguese descent, carvalho was both an artist and photographer. he may be best known as an explorer who traveled through the territory of kansas, colorado and utah with john c. fr&eacute;mont on his fifth expedition of 1853-54. many famous images of the old west are based on the photographs carvalho took, although many others have been lost or confused with those taken by mathew brady and other contemporaries. it was on that trip that carvalho nearly died due to the rigors of the terrain, but eventually recovered sufficiently to meet up with fremont in california in the spring of 1854.===carvalho was keenly interested in jewish life and concerned about religious reform. wherever he lived (philadelphia, baltimore, new york) he was deeply involved in jewish communal and religious affairs. while in california he helped organize the hebrew benevolent society of los angeles, the first such jewish philanthropic organization in southern california."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"175","title":{"en":"(american judaica)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114647/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a handwritten letter, an example of American Judaica, featuring dense cursive English script on a pale blue piece of paper. The content appears to be a personal reflection or philosophical discourse, possibly with religious undertones. The paper shows signs of age with some staining and foxing. The absence of a clear date in the image makes precise dating difficult, but the style of script and paper suggests a 19th-century origin, typical for significant historical correspondence.","soldPrice":4000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.144Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114647,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114648/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"cohen, mendes i. (1796-1879). autograph letter written to us president james buchanan, in english. \n \n retained copy. \n one page. ruled paper, remnant of paper-clip. 4to. \n baltimore, : january 5th 1859 \n the celebrated explorer mendes i. cohen here writes to president james buchanan regarding the edgardo mortara affair. cohen represents, \u201ca large body of your fellow citizens, israelites of the city of baltimore.\u201d===this letter is a cover sheet for a memorial, or petition, of prominent jews in baltimore, asking buchanan to express his opinion on the mortara kidnapping by the roman catholic church in bologna. cohen writes that they are \u201csatisfied that the chief magistrate of our beloved country\u2026 will feel himself at liberty to express his sentiments on an event which has astounded the whole civilized world.\u201d this letter, along with the memorial, signed by fourteen prominent jewish citizens of baltimore, was printed in baltimore\u2019s the daily exchange, january 25, 1859, pg. 2.===ᴥ pres. buchanan had been reluctant to get involved in the mortara kidnapping, arguing that he must abide by the \u201cprinciple of non-intervention on the part of the united states between foreign sovereigns\u2026 it is enough for us to defend the rights of our own citizens\u2026 wherever these may be assailed by the government of any foreign country. had manola [sic; momolo, edgardo\u2019s father] mortara been a citizen of the united states, the case would have been very different. the israelitish citizens of the united states have had occasion to know that i have not been regardless of their just rights in foreign countries; and they may rest assured that they shall receive the same protection, when domiciled abroad, during my administration, which is extended to all other citizens of our common country. they would ask no more and shall receive nothing less.\u201d (see the works of james buchanan, vol. x (1910) letter to benjamin w. hart, january 4, 1859, pp. 283-84).===true to form, buchanan's reply to the mendes i. cohen and his committee's petition, was to decline to make a statement or otherwise get involved, arguing that american non-intervention is essential, for otherwise it \u201cwould tend to embroil us with all nations. we ourselves would not permit any foreign power thus to interfere with our domestic concerns, and enter protests against the legislation or the action of our government towards our own citizens.\u201d although buchanan acknowledged that the mortara case is extremely sympathetic, he expressed his belief that this is all the more reason america could not get involved\u2014it would create a precedent for humanitarian intervention that much stronger. one wonders if buchanan\u2019s fear of other nations inserting themselves into the united states\u2019s affairs on moral grounds had to do with slavery, still flourishing in the antebellum american south."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"176","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114648/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is a formal handwritten letter, part of American Judaica, addressed to James Buchanan, President of the United States, dated January 5, 1859, from Baltimore. The letter, written in neat cursive English script on ruled blue paper, refers to an accompanying memorial \"on behalf of a large body of your fellow citizens, Israelites of the City of Baltimore.\" It is signed by M.I. Cohen as Chairman and A. Nachman as Secretary, indicating an organized Jewish community's advocacy or petition to the President.","soldPrice":11000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.145Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114648,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114649/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"cresson, warder (1798-1860). autograph letter signed written to mordecai manuel noah, in english. \n \n cresson writes to noah, a scant four months before his conversion to judaism, about the jewish and christian views of charity, as expounded in alexander mccaul\u2019s \u201cold paths.\u201d he cites rabbi yehiel cohen of jerusalem, who was something of a mentor of cresson\u2019s, as thanking him for supplying him with the necessary letter for raising funds in america for famine-stricken jews of eretz israel. cohen managed to raise the considerable sum of $1850. cresson opines that the jewish settlement in jerusalem, entirely dependent on alms, is the fulfillment of scriptures, for these poor jews are \u201cthe only depositaries as all christians admit (& mccaul himself of gods holy word.\u201d cresson also discusses the messianic significance of current events, such as america's \u201cpresent war with mexico,\u201d and various other milleniarian theories, such as english milleniarian claims regarding the prophetic significance of the east india company. cresson adds a postscript about letters held by rabbis in tiberias alleging the discovery of the ten lost tribes near yemen, with an armed force 200,000 strong, and a rumor that a bottle of water from the river sambatyon had been procured and was being sent to england. cresson remarks that this river contains \u201cmoving volcanic sand casting up large stones 6 days a week but not on the sabbath.\u201d he concludes by giving noah permission to edit and publish the letter, but under the pseudonym \u201cabraham michael israel from jerusalem.\u201d \n two densely written pages. a small portion cleanly torn from the lower right corner and is here included. folio. with typed transcription. \n jerusalem: 5th november 1847 \n << an important association letter.>>===this letter has been discussed by yaakov shavit in his land in the deep shadow of wings and the redemption of israel: a millenarian document from jerusalem, 1847, in: cathedra 50 (1988) p. 98.===ᴥ warder cresson was born a quaker in philadelphia where he grew to subscribe to a form of millenarian belief heavily influenced by the proto-zionist writings of mordecai manuel noah.===in an era when european powers were vying for influence in the holy land through its consular appointments there, cresson was appointed the first u.s. consul to jerusalem in 1844. his commission was recalled by the time he arrived at jerusalem, but cresson remained in the holy city, where he grew close to local jews and formally converted to judaism in march of 1848.===even before his jerusalem sojourn, cresson had been very favorably disposed towards jews and judaism. in 1840 he befriended isaac leeser, and was soon contributing many articles to leeser\u2019s occident, often attacking the london society for promoting christianity amongst the jews.===in this letter cresson disputes alexander mccaul, author of the most notorious missionary book of the 19th century, netivot olam - the old paths. as we can see, even as cresson spurned christianity and adapted judaism, he retained many of his milleniarian beliefs. having effectively abandoned his family for jerusalem and judaism, his wife and children were able to have him declared legally insane. cresson remarried a sephardic woman in jerusalem, and lived out his days as a pious jew in the oriental tradition. upon his death, he was buried on the mount of olives.===see nir hasson, grave of the 'first american consul' in jerusalem uncovered, ha'aretz, october 6th, 2013."},"estimateMax":10000,"lotNumber":"177","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114649/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":8000,"aiDescription":"This is a detailed handwritten letter, classified as American Judaica, dated November 8th, 1847, from Jerusalem. The letter is written in dense English cursive script on aged paper, discussing various aspects of Jewish life, community affairs, and religious matters in Jerusalem, including references to Rabbi Yoel Cohen and charitable contributions from America. It mentions themes of peace for Jerusalem and theological interpretations related to the return of Jews to Israel, reflecting the concerns and activities of the Jewish diaspora in the mid-19th century.","soldPrice":8500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.147Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$8,000 - $10,000","currency":"USD","id":114649,"estimateMin":8000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114650/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"de la motta, jacob (d. 1845). autograph manuscript. sermon: bevo kol yisrael\u2026 / when all israel is come\u2026 (deuteronomy 31:11-13). written in hebrew and english. \n \n hebrew in square hebrew characters and english in cursive script. \n 39 pages, stained, final page torn. unbound. 4to. \n charleston: 1832 \n \u201cthe following discourse was delivered in the year 1832 before the congregation beth elohim of charleston, in their synagogue, by jacob de la motta, m.d. their president or parnass\u201d (written on first page in another hand).===a native of savannah, dr. jacob de la motta was a physician and pharmacist, with far-reaching interests in politics, natural history and philosophy. he also acted as reader of charleston's congregation beth elohim for several years. in 1820, de la motta delivered a discourse at the consecration of savannah's synagogue which was later published and copies sent to thomas jefferson and james madison.===see c. reznikoff, the jews of charleston (1950), pp. 86-88."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"178","title":{"en":"(american judaica)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114650/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This item is a handwritten sermon, categorized as American Judaica, featuring a mix of Hebrew and English script on aged paper. The Hebrew text appears to be a direct quotation from Deuteronomy, while the English text explains that the sermon was delivered in 1832 by Dr. Jacob De La Motta in Charleston, likely in the Beth Elohim synagogue. The document serves as a historical record of religious discourse within the American Jewish community during the early 19th century, highlighting a blend of traditional scripture and contemporary interpretation.","soldPrice":14000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.148Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114650,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114651/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"de leon, edwin (1819-91). diplomatic report signed written to the american minister in constantinople, carroll spence. <<* and:>> introductory letter for a petition by egyptian-greeks to mahmoud bey. copies retained for us government archives. \n \n  \n six pages and three pages. 4to. \n alexandria, egypt, : april 20th & 29th 1854 \n these letters show the efforts undertaken by edwin de leon, american consul general in egypt, on behalf of greek christians, who were to be expelled from egypt as a result of greek uprisings in ottoman territories. a contingent of ethnic greeks who had been resident in egypt for generations approached de leon to deliver their petition to mahmoud bey, the \u201cgovernor of alexandria,\u201d and also \u201cacting minister of foreign affairs.\u201d de leon argues that they should be spared \u201cfrom the consequences of acts in which they had no part, and of which they are about being made the innocent victims.\u201d de leon offers flattery, pointing out that \u201ca higher compliment could not be paid to his highness than this mark of confidence in his justice and magnanimity and their preference for egypt as a residence over the land of their nativity.\u201d he also reminds that eyes are watching, and hints at greater rewards by rescinding the expulsion: \u201cit would exalt his name throughout the whole western world.\u201d===in de leon\u2019s report to carroll spence, the american consul general in constantinople, he describes the dismay of the greeks: \"the blow was so unexpected that the greek residents in egypt seemed entirely stunned by it, and were incredulous as to its execution.\u201d===de leon\u2019s report appears in: executive documents printed by order of the house of representatives during the second session of the thirty-third congress, 1854-55 (washington, 1855).===edwin de leon was a scion, on both sides, of colonial american jewish families from south carolina. president franklin pierce appointed de leon consul general in egypt in 1853 where he served at this post for eight years, resigning upon the outbreak of the civil war. de leon returned home and joined the confederate government, receiving a diplomatic mission to europe from jefferson davis.===otherwise described by joseph rader marcus as \u201cthat brilliant jewish assimilationist\u201d an interesting episode in his public life may hint at some jewish pride: king otto of greece (1815-67) sought to award de leon the cross of his royal order of the saviour for his activities on behalf of greeks but de leon declined it."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"179","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114651/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This lot consists of several handwritten letters or documents, falling under American Judaica, relating to the U.S. Consulate General in Egypt, specifically addressing issues concerning \"Mohomed Bey\". The letters are written in English cursive script on faded paper, with a visible date of 1857 on one document, and appear to be official correspondence or reports. The content seems to involve diplomatic matters or petitions, suggesting a connection between American Jewish individuals or interests and the consulate in Egypt during the mid-19th century.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.149Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114651,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114652/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"eckman, julius (1805-74). autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english and few words in hebrew. \n \n julius eckman was the founder and editor of the weekly gleaner, the first jewish newspaper on the west coast. he writes leeser, editor to editor, explaining that he meant no injury by calling him \u201cunpractical [sic]\u201d in the pages of the gleaner - he is \u201cunpractical\u201d himself! the letter goes on to contain the mysterious remark that \"henry does mischief great mischief\" presumably referring to henry a. henry, a fellow-rabbi in san francisco (see lot ***). eckman closes by complaining about the dissolute behavior of some jews in california, referring to a court case, and \u201ca similar scandal at san diego.\u201d he wishes that \u201cour people must learn to understand what liberty means - they must learn to obey authority\u201d and then paraphrases exodus 32:25 in hebrew. \n ruled paper. one page. 4to. \n san francisco: 31st october 1859 \n what had happened in san francisco and san diego was that jews had been served in the synagogue with a subpoena to appear before a grand jury on yom kippur and give testimony. in the san diego case there had been exactly ten men for the minyan. the men refused to leave and had been found in contempt of court. eckman thought this disobedience to authority was a misunderstanding of liberty and made jews look bad - they should have gone to court and done their dutt as upstanding citizens.===if eckman had a point, leeser took the opposite stance: \u201cthe editor of the gleaner seems to take the thing very coolly, as though it was a matter of course that a popular government could have no other effects than popular injustice\u2026 we will yield to no man in respect for the law of the land and its expounders; but there is something due also to the rights of conscience for israelites no less than their gentile neighbors.\u201d leeser, like other correspondence he had received on the matter, believed that the application of the law showed disrespect to the jews and should have waited until after the holy day as they would have certainly done with christians at prayer in church on the holiest day of the calendar.===it can be suggested that the stances of these two men corresponded with their degree of americanization. leeser had resided in america for twenty years longer. leeser\u2019s english was perfect, eckman\u2019s contained mistakes and was very germanic. for the perspective of the occident on the circumstances of this letter, see the occident vol. 17:39, december 22, 1859, pp. 229-230.===prussian-born, julius eckman emigrated to america in 1846 and became a pioneering rabbi in the pacific west however he opposed reforms which his congregation wished him to implement. he did succeed in establishing a hebrew school in san francisco called hephtsi-bah. the traveler benjamin ii visited the school and reported on it. see i.j. benjamin, three years in america, 1859-1862 (jps, 1956) pp. 230-31."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"180","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114652/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is an American Judaica manuscript, specifically a letter written in English, dated October 31, 1829. The letter is handwritten in dark ink on light blue lined paper. The text discusses community affairs, mentioning a prior 'Editor 'Occident'' and referencing 'american judaica' in its genre. The content relates to communal organization, the Jewish community in 'Gleana,' and a 'Hazan' (cantor) and 'Jury' in 'San Diego'.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:26.150Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114652,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114653/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"eckman, julius. autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english and few words in hebrew. \n \n in this letter rabbi julius eckman notifies isaac leeser of the contents of the charitable bequests in the will of judah touro, who had died just one week prior. the amounts specified add up to $105,000. of the six specified designees, the largest amount was $50,000 to be directed for the jews in palestine, followed by $26,000 for the hebrew societies in philadelphia and $20,000 to \u201cjews\u2019 hospital\u201d in new york (which today lives on as mount sinai hospital). of note is a $5000 bequest to the hebrew foreign missionary society to aid the jews in china. \n one page, remnants of paper-clip. 4to. \n mobile, al: 25th january, 5614 (1854) \n at the time of his death, judah touro\u2019s will constituted the largest charitable bequest ever left by an american.===at the end of this letter eckman writes to leeser: \u201cthis is mr [gershom] kursheedt's doing, he can congratulate himself.\u201d for it was gershom kursheedt who convinced the childless touro (1775-1854) to leave most of his considerable wealth to jewish charitable causes. pulling off this feat of persuasion had not been easy as another letter to leeser (february 19, 1854) from kursheedt testifies: \u201coh my dear friend, if you knew how i had to work to get that will made and how i strove to serve you, you would pity me. alas, it was not altogether what i wanted, yet i am thankful to god that even if i injured myself i got the most of what i asked for israel \u2026 poor good old man [touro] had noble impulses \u2026some of his notions were good, and to the extent that i can, i will carry them out \u2026\u201d===see bertram w. korn, a reappraisal of judah touro, in: jewish quarterly review vol. 45.4 (1955) p. 580."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"181","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114653/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a handwritten letter, classified as American Judaica, dated January 25, 1914, from Mobile. The letter, written in cursive English script on plain paper, details financial allocations from Mr. Judah Touro's will to various Jewish organizations, including \"Palestine,\" \"Jews hospital New York,\" \"Heb Society Philad,\" \"Mobile,\" \"Montgomery,\" and \"Heb Foreign Missionary Society (China)\". It provides a valuable snapshot of philanthropic support within the American Jewish community for both local and international causes in the early 20th century.","soldPrice":4600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.947Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114653,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114654/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"ezekiel, jacob (1812-99). autograph letter signed, written to isaac leeser, in english. \n \n concerning the jews of china, and how the jews of america can lend them support, both spiritually and financially. \n three pages. with autograph address panel. 4to. \n richmond, va.: 9th may 1853 \n roused by a series of articles in the occident on the jews of china and their current isolated state, ignorant of even the ability to read hebrew, and vulnerable to christian missionaries from europe, jacob ezekiel wrote leeser this letter.===ezekiel was wholly taken by the topic of the jews of china, a subject he assumes that leeser\u2019s \u201cwhole soul and mind is at this time imbued with.\u201d leeser had proposed that one or two men \u201cof vigorous mind and robust constitution\u201d be sent to china where they could make contact with chinese jews and teach them hebrew: \u201cwe believe there is a gentleman, now in this country, but we are not permitted to hint even his whereabouts, who would be willing to undertake this errand of mercy, if he were deputed by the israelites of england and america, to carry the message of good tidings to our brethren\u2026 and to devote one or more years to the instruction of adults and children.\u201d (\u201cwhat can be done?,\u201d the occident, march 1, 1854, p. 584.) ezekiel assures leeser that there are many jews willing and able to assist with money, raising awareness and fundraising."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"182","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114654/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is a handwritten letter from Richmond, Virginia, dated May 9, 1853. Penned in dark ink on off-white paper with some water stains, it is addressed to 'Rev Isaac Leeser'. The letter discusses the plight of 'Israelites' in 'China' and references an article in 'the last Number of the 'Occident''. It outlines efforts to aid the community and mentions a 'proposed enterprise' to gather support.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.948Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114654,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114655/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"fischel, arnold (1830-94). autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english. \n \n fischel notes his imminent plan to travel to washington d.c. where he will attend to the jewish civil war wounded in the hospitals. he requests letters of introduction from leeser for presentation to president abraham lincoln, and the secretary of war, joseph holt, as part of fischel\u2019s campaign to gain the right of military chaplaincy for the jews. \n brown ink on paper. one page, central folds. 8vo. \n new york: 3rd december 1861 \n dutch born, arnold fischel served as a rabbi in liverpool, england, before emigrating to america in 1856 where he was appointed lecturer at congregation shearith israel, new york city. reflecting on the loss of a talented young reverend like fischel, the london jewish chronicle (august 22, 1856, p. 701) opined that \u201cthe united states, wiser than we are, profit by our apathy and attract to their shores talents which we seem unable to appreciate.\u201d fischel was a member of the board of delegates of american israelites, founded in 1859, alongside isaac leeser, its vice president.===although american jews had found themselves in a pleasing situation in terms of political rights since the very formation of the united states, not all rights enjoyed by all citizens had been extended to the jews until they directly advocated for those rights (see edward eitches, maryland's jew bill, in: american jewish historical quarterly vol. 60.3 (1971) pp. 258-279).===so it was, that upon the outbreak of the civil war in april 1861, and the volunteering and conscription of american jews in the union army, that the pennsylvania 5th cavalry's 65th regiment installed a hebrew teacher from philadelphia named michael allen as a jewish chaplain. at the time, all chaplains in the army were under the authority of the us christian commission, which promptly demanded allen\u2019s removal, noting that under law, a chaplain must belong to \u201ca christian denomination.\u201d fearing a dishonorable discharge from the army, allen resigned. thereafter, fischel was appointed in his stead. predictably, fischel was rejected for the same reason. this time the board of delegates of american israelites, a group founded in 1859 with the intent of coordinating all aspects of judaism in america, asked fischel if he would lobby for a change in the law under its banner. he accepted, and on december 10th met with president abraham lincoln, who \u201cfully admitted the justice of my remarks\u2026 and agreed that something ought to be done to meet this case\u201d (in fischel\u2019s words). initially lincoln offered to appoint fischel chaplain directly, as he had done with catholics, but fischel set his sights on a change in law by congress. after discussing the matter with his cabinet, lincoln gave fischel a note expressing approval of \u201ca new law broad enough to cover what is desired by you in behalf of the israelites.\u201d by march 1862 such a bill had passed both houses of congress and was signed into law by president lincoln.===see jonathan waxman, arnold fischel: unsung hero in american israel, in: american jewish historical quarterly vol. 60.4 (1971) pp. 325-343."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"183","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114655/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is a handwritten letter from New York, dated December 3, 1861. Written in dark brown ink on light off-white paper, it is addressed to 'Rev I. Leeser Philo'. The letter discusses 'temporary arrangements' made by 'The Board of Delegates' to travel to 'Washington' to 'attend to the fair at Hospitals etc.'. The author suggests Mr. Leeser could 'give me some lines of introduction to the President' or 'Secretary of War' for assistance.","soldPrice":32000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.950Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114655,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114656/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"gratz, rebecca (1781-1869). autograph letter signed written to her sister rachel gratz, in english. \n \n written to \u201cdearest rachel\u201d back home in philadelphia filled with information about rebecca\u2019s trip to new york, with news of their friends, both jewish and gentile; describes how she is about to ride by boat to albany, which is \u201csafer than land carriage.\u201d rebecca asks her sister to purchase various fabrics to send to their friends to make dresses and bonnets. evidently they had admired her clothes, so she decided to have the same fabric from which hers were made sent to them from philadelphia. rebecca closes by sending her love and the rest of the family, and twice wishes rachel \u201cgod bless you.\u201d \n three pages, autograph address panel on verso. 4to. \n new york: \u201cat sunrise\u201d 30th july 1804 \n this letter is a fine look into the social life of rebecca gratz and her close relationship with her sister rachel (1783-1823). indeed after rachel died, rebecca took her sister\u2019s six children into her home and raised them herself. rebecca never married. deeply involved in jewish education and other charitable good works, rebecca was also highly sociable, friends with such american literati as washington irving. an educated woman who always sought to enrich her own jewish learning, rebecca remained a proud and devout jew amidst a very christian environment who never failed to defend her religious beliefs among christian friends. rebecca founded the female hebrew benevolent society in 1819 to service jewish woman and children in need, who heretofore had to rely on the charity of christians intent on evangelizing their hebrew brethren in need.===rebecca was so well-regarded that a legend arose that she was sir walter scott\u2019s inspiration for the character rebecca in his 1819 novel ivanhoe. sir walter was friendly with rebecca\u2019s friend washington irving, and it is widely suggested that irving had told scott about this remarkable young jewish woman, a worthy model for a noble 12th century jewess of england. if so, the rebecca gratz of ivanhoe is much like the young rebecca gratz from the period of this letter."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"184","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114656/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is a handwritten letter, penned in dark ink on off-white paper, possibly from 'Sunday morning at sea'. The undated letter is addressed to 'My dearest Rachel' and details travel plans, mentioning leaving 'at the Dogs last night' and anticipating a journey with 'Mr. Rothman' and his family. The content also refers to a 'Master Adams' and discusses the safety and arrangements for the trip.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.951Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114656,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114657/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"gratz, rebecca. autograph manuscript. annual report of the female hebrew benevolent society of philadelphia. titled in another hand (possibly isaac leeser). \n \n rebecca gratz summarizes the activities of the female hebrew benevolent society of philadelphia, the charitable organization which she founded in 1819. she refers to the influx of \u201cdestitute immigrants\u2026 flocking to our shores,\u201d namely the first great wave of jewish immigration to the united states from germany in the 1840s. gratz enumerates the activities which the society had been called upon, \u201cthat labor of love,\u201d namely, assisting the needy. she reports that the society helps wayfarers on their journey, helps them bury their dead, and maintains those orphans left from such tragedies. this report is undated, but was published in the occident vol. 7, january 1850, pp. 517-18, thus it describes the activities for the year 1849. \n three pages with integral blank. 4to. \n (philadelphia, : 1849) \n created in 1819, rebecca gratz\u2019s philadelphia-based female hebrew benevolent society inspired the creation of the new york female hebrew benevolent society a year later. jacob rader marcus referred to the seminal founding of such aid societies as the origin of \u201ca new woman - the jewish social worker.\u201d see marcus \u201cthe american jewish woman, 1654-1980\u201d p. 48.===the present report clearly displays the fiduciary responsibility with which gratz took her calling. her charitable work was a labor of love and religious devotion and her report is imbued with words of kindness and sympathy towards her less fortunate brethren with nary a trace of condescension from one more fortunate. gratz deems her work \u201ca privilege\u201d and a cause for \u201crejoic[ing] that the spirit of judaism is spreading its influence through various channels.\u201d gratz calls here for the founding a foster home for jewish children and predicts that it will be a place for rearing \u201cfuture artisans and mechanics\u2026 [who] will bless another generation.\u201d gratz speaks of bright hopes, and suggests that \u201cthe prayers of the poor, & those who were ready to perish bring down blessings on their benefactors.\u201d===rebecca is justly remembered as an accomplished and engaged exemplar of an early american jewish woman deeply imbued with notions of benevolence and generosity of spirit."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"185","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114657/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is an 'Annual report of the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society of Philadelphia,' dated 1855, and noted as 'In hand of Rebecca Gratz'. Written in dark brown ink on off-white paper, it details the society's activities and financial matters. The report discusses 'calling panels to carry out their plans,' 'heavy destitute immigrants' from Europe, and efforts to support 'the poor' and 'orphans,' highlighting the society's charitable work.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.953Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114657,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114658/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"gutheim, james k. (1817-86). autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english. \n \n gutheim tells leeser that he has prepared a lengthy rebuttal to isaac mayer wise\u2019s article \u201cmonument for judah touro\u201d (the israelite, june 1, 1860, p. 382), and asks leeser to withhold publishing any letters reacting to wise until he has seen his. \n one page. 4to. \n new orleans: june 7th 1860 \n ᴥ shortly after the great american jewish philanthropist judah touro died (1854) a proposal emerged to memorialize him with a monument in the form of a bronze statue and a touro memorial association was founded for this purpose. in time the proposed monument was to be placed on the grounds of the congregation k. k. nefuzoth yehudah, the portuguese synagogue led by rev. james koppel gutheim. never before had jews memorialized another by a statue, which was presumably forbidden by the second of the ten commandments - hence a great controversy arose as the affiliation of the society and synagogue was ostensibly orthodox. the jewish traveler benjamin ii was in new orleans in 1859 and was shocked at the entire scheme. he wrote to rabbinic authorities in europe to ask their opinion, and received responsa from all four - and in so doing providing a window into how european rabbis viewed mid-19th century america.===in what is perhaps a surprising twist, reform rabbi isaac mayer wise not otherwise known for opposing innovations with halachic objection, took a vigorous stance against the statue citing numerous traditional rabbinic authorities in his defense. see j. sarna, the touro monument controversy, in: essays in honor of david ellefson (detroit, 2014).===new orleans\u2019 rev. gutheim, in whose synagogue judah touro prayed, shared with leeser a similar biography, geographic background and even childhood talmud teacher. gutheim defended the monument and its statue in a learned essay, see the jewish messenger, june 29, 1860, pp. 196-97."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"186","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114658/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is a handwritten letter from New Orleans, dated June 7, 1860, addressed to 'Rev'd I. Leeser' and signed 'James K. Gutheim'. Written in dark ink on off-white paper, it concerns the preparation of a 'reply to Wise's article on the 'Jews Monument'' which is expected to be '8 pages prob' cap'. The letter also discusses the publication of resolutions and requests a delay in publication.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.954Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114658,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114659/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"hays, moses michael (1739-1805). autograph letter signed written to myer polock on behalf of michael gratz. \n \n strongly worded letter in which hays urges polock to comply with a promise to michael gratz and offers a carrot to temper the stick. hays says he will assist him in \u201cany matter honorable & just\u201d if he does. \n one page. with autograph address panel on verso. 4to. \n new york: 18th december 1770 \n moses michael hays, a friend of paul revere, was a prominent 18th century american jew and bostonian. while living in newport, ri in 1776, hays, though a patriot, refused to sign a declaration of loyalty to the cause of the american revolution because he felt he had been singled out as for questionable loyalty simply for being a jew. persuasively pointing out ways in which he had been discriminated against in matters of voting, he prevailed in his argument and was not forced to sign.===myer polock (d. 1779) was hays\u2019 former business partner. polock was in fact a tory. he declined to sign the aforementioned loyalty oath on religious grounds, but in the end was forced to.===michael gratz (1740-1811) of philadelphia an eminent american patriot, was among the widely-known colonial american jews.===on the loyalty oath in newport, see oscar reiss, the jews in colonial america (2003) pp. 53-4."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"187","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114659/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is a letter from New York, dated December 18, 1770, and signed 'Your Hum S'. Written in dark brown ink on off-white paper, it is addressed to 'Mr. Myer Polock'. The letter mentions 'Mr. Michael Gratz' and expresses an expectation for the recipient to 'comply with your promise to him' in a 'matter honorable & just'.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.955Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114659,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114660/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"henry, henry a. (1800-71). autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english and hebrew. \n \n this lengthy letter is henry's response to a local news item which appeared in the occident vol. 8:6, september 1850, pp. 316-17. in the piece, henry is said to be leaving cincinnati for a hazzan position in louisville. the occident essentially accused henry of having conspired with the cincinnati congregation b\u2019nai jeshurun to depose its hazzan james k. gutheim. the occident recommends that synagogues undertake periodic elections, and in this way the confidence or lack of confidence can be registered, rather than summarily firing a faithful spiritual leader. henry, responding to leeser many months later, denies these facts and gives his reasons for not having written sooner to defend himself. in the first, he picturesquely quotes \u201cthe royal bard,\u201d \u201ci am all peace; but when i speak, they are for war\u201d (psalm 120:7) and suggests that had he replied sooner he would have had to implicate certain individuals for whom he would rather dwell \u201cin amity than in enmity.\u201d henry subsequently alludes to troubles in leeser\u2019s own congregation and piously pronounces that he \u201cdid not wish to worry [leeser], but rather to deal charitably with you.\u201d the rest of the letter is a very detailed account and defense of his procurement of his pulpits. henry also details and criticizes the ritual sins of others who officiate as hazzan/ ministers. henry extends his hand in peace to leeser, subscribing to his occident, suggesting that they meet in person in the fall, and indicates that he has enclosed a prospectus for his \u201cclass book,\u201d and requests that leeser include a notice of it in his journal. he concludes by asking for a reply if he is worthy, and if not, then he will \u201crest content\u201d that he has fulfilled \u201cthe holy torah,\u201d namely leviticus 19:17\u2019s commandment to chastise. \n seven pages, stained, with short tears. tall folio. \n cincinnati: 12th june, 5611 (1851) \n h. a. henry was born in london, where he was educated at the jews\u2019 free school, and became its principal. ordained by rabbi solomon hirschel, he also served as minister in the st. alban\u2019s synagogue. in the united states he held positions in cincinnati, louisville, new york and finally, from 1857, in sherith [sic] israel in san francisco. henry was thus a rabbinic pioneer in california."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"188","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114660/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica collection consists of two handwritten letters in English, with some Hebrew script. The older letter from 'Concord June 12th 1811' is written in dark ink on folded off-white paper, detailing a difficult journey and financial troubles, including interactions with 'Judge Workman'. The second, possibly later, letter, also in dark ink on off-white paper, discusses communication with 'Mr. Myers' and the importance of 'justice' and 'goodness', with Hebrew text visible at the bottom.","soldPrice":2500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.956Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114660,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114661/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"illowy, bernard (1814-71). autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in german with few hebrew words. \n \n in this letter illowy requests several copies of leeser's \u201ccatechism for jewish children\u201d for use in the rabbi\u2019s sunday school in baltimore. illowy informs leeser of recent successes in persuading members of his congregation to close their stores on the sabbath and on jewish holidays and recognizes that they are making a sacrifice to do so. also discusses benjamin szold (\u201cthe new rabbi in the hanover street congregation\u201d) and his opinions of liturgical reform. \n brown ink on ruled paper. one and one-half pages, central folds, some fading, few short tears. with english translation (the typed transcription of which has partially offset onto the original letter). folio. \n baltimore: 24th october 1859 \n bernard illowy was a moravian rabbi who had studied talmud and codes with the celebrated chasam sofer at his yeshiva in pressburg, as well as hebrew and bible exegesis with samuel david luzzatto (shadal) at his rabbinical seminary in padua. illowy took positions sympathetic to the revolutionaries in 1848, and was subsequently unable to secure a rabbinic position in central europe, he therefore migrated to the united states, instantly becoming one of the first ordained rabbis in the country.===as a non-ordained clergyman, isaac leeser looked upon illowy as an ally and a welcome reinforcement in strengthening the hand of orthodox judaism in america. illowy would hold pulpits in numerous american cities, doing his best to strengthen traditional observance and stem the tide of reform. illowy wrote responsa and essays on religious topics, publishing some of them in leeser\u2019s occident.===in this letter illowy registers his disappointment that baltimore\u2019s rabbi benjamin szold was opposed to isaac mayer wise\u2019s minhag amerika reformist siddur, but nevertheless wanted to create a reform liturgy of his own, being unopposed to reforms in principle, as illowy was.===see sefer milkhamot elohim, being the controversial letters and casuistic decisions of the late rabbi bernard illowy ph. d. (berlin 1914), published by his son henry illoway."},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"189","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114661/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is a handwritten letter from Philadelphia, dated October 27, 1837. Written in dark ink on light blue lined paper, the letter appears to be a detailed account or report, possibly discussing financial matters or community affairs. The text is dense and includes various figures and references, though specific subjects are hard to discern without closer examination of the cursive script. It references '1200 Spaniards' and other numerical details.","soldPrice":5000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.958Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114661,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114662/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"jacobs, george (1834-84). autograph letter signed written to the committee of congregation beth el emeth, in english with some hebrew. \n \n this letter sets out the views on liturgical reform by george jacobs, rabbi of beth el emeth in philadelphia. \n four pages. 4to. \n philadelphia: 20th october 1872 \n george jacobs was a jamaica-born hazzan with a pulpit at k. k. beth shalome in richmond, va, before he was offered isaac leeser\u2019s position following his death. in this letter we have a unique window not only into the desire for a moderate sort of reform in 19th century america, but also into the possibility of a sephardic \u2018minhag america\u2019 and how a sephardic rabbi handled this request.===jacobs begins by stressing the need for peace, regardless of what the synagogue chooses. he then acknowledges the permissibility in principle of conducting some of the services in the vernacular, dating it to second temple times and the development of the targumim. he also compares that to the contemporary practices in sephardic congregations, where numerous parts of the service are conducted in portuguese. finally, he acknowledges that in their own time, sermons were given in the vernacular, as well as various prayers recited orally in english at events like funerals and weddings. so, writes jacobs, \u201cwhat can be done in one instance, can surely be done in another, provided the motives are laudable, and i can conceive of nothing more deserving\u2026 than elevating our worship, interesting young & old\u2026\u201d===this permissive inclination must have felt like good news to those who had favored this reform, but then jacobs drop the bad news - he cannot approve: \u201cnotwithstanding these admissions, i do not think it right or proper that i should assume the grave responsibility of altering our liturgy by a congregational resolution or my own unaided judgment.\u201d jacobs suggests that if the congregation is set on this, they should build a consensus among the portuguese congregations in america, and in so doing, establish a \u201cstamp of authority for a \u201csephardic minhag of america.\u201d"},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"190","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114662/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript letter, dated October 20th, 1872, from Philadelphia. It is handwritten in brown ink on light-colored paper, addressed to Messrs. Heilburn & Co. and Messrs. J. Kraas & K.K. Beth El Emeth. The letter discusses views on the adoption of a \"Revolution\" by a congregation, likely referring to changes in religious service or ritual, and emphasizes the importance of peace within the congregation. The text is in English with a clear, legible script, and the paper shows signs of aging with minor discoloration.","soldPrice":2200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:18.959Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114662,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114663/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"kursheedt, gershom (1817-63). autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english. \n \n in this detailed letter kursheedt informs leeser about various technical religious matters and is a mine of historical information about the procurement and price of jewish religious articles in america in the middle of the 19th century, including the near-completion of a torah scroll by the scribe nathan oettinger, the purchase of \u201ca common shophar\u201d for $5 (kursheedt suggests that a congregation ought to possess two), details about knobs for an ark, and torah scrolls ordered from europe. kursheedt tells leeser that he had the pleasure of meeting \u201cmr schwartz of jerusalem\u201d - he means rabbi joseph schwarz (1804-65) whose geographical researches in eretz israel were an invaluable blend of modern and rabbinic sources. kursheedt tells leeser that he believes schwarz, then in america raising funds for the impoverished jewish community of jerusalem, is now headed to philadelphia to meet him. leeser must have found schwarz a pleasure as well, for less than one year after this letter, leeser translated and published an english version of schwarz\u2019s tevu\u2019oth haaretz as \u201ca descriptive geography and brief historical sketch of palestine,\u201d (philadelphia, 1850). \n three pages, with autograph address panel on verso. 4to. \n new york: 26th august, 5609 (1849) \n gershom kursheedt was one of the most distinguished and active jews of 19th century america. his grandfather was israel baer kursheedt, a european-trained torah scholar, who though a layman, was the closest colonial america had to an ordained rabbi. gershom\u2019s father was gershom mendes seixas, who was hazzan, the learned lay leader, in new york\u2019s congregation shearith israel.===gershom settled in new orleans in 1838, where he was active in both local and communal religious life, and, as we see in the present letter, a dear friend and ally of isaac leeser, with whom he shared common cause.===in an 1848 letter to leeser, kursheedt revealed that he has \u201cbut one ambition in life, and that is to elevate the character of our people in the eyes of god and man.\u201d (see libo & hoffman, the seixas-kursheedts and the rise of early american jewry (2001) p. 51.) - even without his saying so we would have realized this, for gershom kursheedt toiled to produce a vibrant jewish life both in america and abroad, joining sir moses montefiore on missions to eretz israel on multiple occasions. - notably, it was kursheedt who persuaded his new orleans friend, the childless judah touro, to leave his vast fortune to jewish causes."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"191","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114663/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is a handwritten letter from New York, dated August 28, 1829. Written in dark ink on light blue lined paper, the letter discusses an individual's decision to retire their application for the 'Hazan's' position due to past issues. The author mentions staying in New Orleans until 'Day of Atonement' and refraining from interfering in the 'Hazan' matter until their return. It also references 'Mr. Cottringer' and his writing about 'Sypher'.","soldPrice":4200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.830Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114663,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114664/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"kursheedt, gershom. autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english. \n \n a most friendly letter offering leeser moral support in his conflict with the board of mikveh israel, his own synagogue, which had caused leeser to resign as rabbi. kursheedt assures leeser \u201cyou know my sentiment with regard to yourself and your congregation. give the malcontents rope &c.\u201d kursheedt predicts they will fail: \u201ctime will show them up in their true colors. you may take my word for it.\u201d he advises leeser to respond by passive-aggressively: \u201ccontemptuously by being altogether silent on the subject.\u201d kursheedt provides news from new orleans that the ashkenazi synagogue, shangarai chasset, would be laying its cornerstone the following week, with rev. james gutheim officiating, and all the officers and members of kursheedt\u2019s sephardic synagogue nefuzoth yehudah invited as guests. \n two pages. 4to. \n new orleans: (july 1850) \n kursheedt was a close friend and admirer of leeser, evidence of which is found throughout this letter, in which kursheedt concludes by signing: \u201cyou know i am your ever attached friend gershom k.\u201d===on the recto address-panel, rather than providing a straight-forward street and house number, kursheedt amusingly pens: \u201crevd isaac leeser kaal mickve israel of philadelphia state of pennsylvania united states of the continent of north america situated in cherry st. of said city of philada on the north side at the distance of sixty yards west of third. the rt. revd isaac leeser of duilman bavaria formerly officiating pastor of the flock of goats belonging to above kaal now known as editor of a periodical called the occident published in said city of philada having relinquished his office of shepherd.\u201d"},"estimateMax":4000,"lotNumber":"192","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114664/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript letter, likely from the 19th century, penned in brown ink on light-colored paper. The letter is handwritten in English, featuring an elegant script with various flourishes. The subject matter appears to be personal correspondence, discussing events and individuals within a community context, possibly related to Jewish life in America, as indicated by the \"american judaica\" category. The paper exhibits some creasing and slight discoloration consistent with age, and the writing fills the entire page.","soldPrice":3500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.832Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $4,000","currency":"USD","id":114664,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114665/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"kursheedt, israel baer (1766-1852). autograph manuscript: sermon preached in memory of the hazan, isaac h. judah. text in english and hebrew. \n \n taking as a point of departure job 14:1 \u201cman that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble,\u201d the sermon relates the story of job and contemplates life, death, and goodness. applying the epithet given to king david in 2 samuel 23:1 \u201csweet singer of israel,\u201d kursheedt praises judah\u2019s sterling character, particularly his serving as the congregation\u2019s reader for no remuneration. in judah\u2019s last days, he experienced \u201cdays of trouble and great bodily affliction,\u201d like job. kursheedt describes how judah did not fear death, accepted the will of heaven, and movingly describes his final moments with family and prayer. \n eight pages. 4to. \n richmond, virginia: undated, but from internal evidence: may 1827 \n isaac h. judah (1761-1827), was the original hazan of congregation beth shalome of richmond for at least three decades. his sister rachel was married to zalma rehine, isaac leeser\u2019s uncle and early sponsor in america.===israel baer kursheedt also served as a hazan in congregation beth shalome. kursheedt was a rare breed among american jewish synagogue officials in those days, a torah scholar trained in a european yeshiva. in his youth in frankfurt, kursheedt had been a pupil of the celbrated talmudist, rabbi nathan adler. an anecdote survives in which rabbi adler is to have said that kursheedt was the chacham, or \u201cwise one\u201d among his students. see m.j. raphall\u2019s obituary for kursheedt in the asmonean, may 7, 1852."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"193","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114665/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript, comprising a page of handwritten text in two languages. The top section features a short line of Hebrew script, followed by a substantial body of text in English, penned in brown ink on light-colored paper. The English content appears to be a religious or theological discussion, possibly an exposition or commentary, beginning with a reference to a passage about the brevity of human life. The manuscript exhibits an aged appearance with some discoloration and creasing, and the handwriting is dense and cursive.","soldPrice":5500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.833Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114665,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114666/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"kursheedt, mendes (1814-86) autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english. \n \n concerns the liquidation of judah touro\u2019s estate so that the bequests in his will could be carried out. touro had bequeathed his large fortune to a variety of jewish causes, including more than $20,000 to benefit philadelphia charities run by isaac leeser. kursheedt assures leeser that the executors, which included his brother gershom, \u201cwill use every effort to place matters in a state of liquidation with as little delay as possible.\u201d \n one page. 4to. \n new orleans: 22nd february 1854"},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"194","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114666/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript letter, dated New Orleans, July 22, 1854, addressed to Isaac Leeser Esq. in Philadelphia. The letter, written in elegant cursive script in black ink on light blue paper, discusses an estate matter and the process of liquidating assets, specifically regarding the payment of bequests. The language is English, and the letter is signed by \"W.R. Russell.\" The paper is mostly clean, with some minor creasing, highlighting its well-preserved condition for its age.","soldPrice":3700,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.834Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114666,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114667/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"leeser, isaac (1806-68). autograph manuscript signed. school notebook for the may 1823 semester, written in german and latin. \n \n entries in leeser\u2019s careful schoolboy hand include essays on biblical and apocryphal subjects, such as a retelling in latin of the episode of joseph and jacob in the book of genesis, and on the book of tobit. \n 29 pages (excluding blanks). original autographed wrappers. 4to. \n m&uuml;nster (german): may 1823 \n isaac leeser was raised in d&uuml;lmen, near m&uuml;nster, north rhine-westphalia. after completing his formal jewish education, he enrolled at the age of 14, in the m&uuml;nster institute, where he received his secular education for two and a quarter years. this notebook is from when he was a 16-year old student. leeser later recalled this period and the struggles he had to overcome both from within his family and as an outsider in the school seeking to obtain an education in a christian setting: \u201cwe well remember\u2026 a venerable grandmother almost dissuading us from learning latin, for fear of our thereby becoming less a jew, and imitating the example of others who lapsed into infidelity. and moreover we were the first jewish boy who ever was permitted to enter the latin school in our neighbourhood.\u201d see a call to israelites, in: the occident (6:422) december, 1848.===leeser was a diligent pupil. in a letter to his talmud teacher rabbi benjamin jacob cohen, he described the difficult course of his work: \u201cthe headmaster requires that each day's task be completed. i have to keep myself awake every night until the hour of midnight if i am to finish my work with satisfaction\u2026 were i to fail, i\u2026 should be beaten with the rod of fools. this has happened to many of my companions, but to me only once.\u201d see lance j. sussman, isaac leeser and the making of american judaism (1995) p. 26."},"estimateMax":9000,"lotNumber":"195","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114667/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":7000,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript, likely a collection of notes or a small booklet, with a light blue paper cover that shows significant wear and discoloration. The cover is adorned with handwritten annotations in dark ink, primarily in German and some English, featuring names like \"Isaac Leeser\" and various dates and numerical markings. There are also several small, unique doodles or symbols, including a grid and an abstract shape, scattered across the page. The paper is heavily stained and creased, indicating considerable age and handling.","soldPrice":6000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.835Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$7,000 - $9,000","currency":"USD","id":114667,"estimateMin":7000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114668/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"leeser, isaac. autograph manuscript, written in english (one word hebrew). \n \n list of advertisements intended for the occident\u2019s issue of june, 1849. advertisements include one for a jewish boarding house in new york, with \u201cfine spacious apartments\u201d which is \u201ckept open until after the arrival of the philadelphia cars;\u201d for bibles bound in calf \u201csuitable for jewish families and for the school room;\u201d and in search of a chazan for k.k. bne jeshurun in cincinnati. a salary of $500 is offered, \u201cnone but persons fully qualified need apply, and none others will be elected.\u201d \n two pages. tall, thin folio. \n philadelphia: 1849 \n in philadelphia isaac leeser was a hazzan, traditionally, a relatively minor role in the synagogue, but which had been magnified in america to a sizable position of religious leadership for want of ordained rabbis. however, even in america the expanded role of hazzan had only consisted of delivering occasional sermons and responding to simple decisions in jewish law. leeser however transformed the role: writing books on judaism, creating texts for jewish schoolchildren, translating the twenty-four books of the bible into english - a first for any jew anywhere - as well as preparing translations of the siddur in both sephardic and ashkenazic rites. additionally, in 1843, leeser created a monthly journal, the occident and american jewish advocate, which was read by jews across north america and the caribbean."},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"196","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114668/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript document, likely an official or organizational report, dated June 1st, 1830, concerning \"Occident Advertisers for June.\" The document is handwritten in brown ink on light-colored paper, with text in English, detailing various financial transactions, property matters, and community events, including subscriptions and donations. The paper appears aged with some discoloration and folds, and the script is clear and organized into several paragraphs and lists of items, suggesting an administrative context.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.836Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114668,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114669/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"leeser, isaac. autograph manuscript signed. certificate of conversion. written in hebrew, signed by leeser in hebrew and english, along with three other signatures (see below). \n \n  \n one page, edges slightly chipped. 4to. \n philadelphia: 21st tammuz 1844 \n << a highly scarce early american conversion certificate.>>===this rabbinical document attests to the ritual conversion to judaism of the three children of moses ben nathan bomeisler: his daughter rebecca and his two sons, benjamin and david.===the entire document is written in hebrew by isaac leeser who attests that the father promised to raise the children within the jewish faith. the unnamed christian mother testified to leeser's satisfaction that she had granted irrevocable consent to the process.===a ritual jewish conversion requires the assent of three members of a beth-din (rabbinical court). hence, in addition to leeser, the document is signed by abraham israel, (scribe and beadle of the cherry street synagogue), jacob phillips (manager of the united hebrew benevolent society) and i.l. hackenburg.===see dana evan kaplan, intermarriage and conversion to judaism in early american orthodoxy in: tradition, vol. 31, no. 4 (summer 1997) pp. 39-51."},"estimateMax":12000,"lotNumber":"197","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114669/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":8000,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript document, dated April 1st, 1849, featuring a blend of Hebrew and English text. The upper portion of the light-colored paper contains a significant passage written in Hebrew script, while the lower part includes English text and signatures, notably from \"Isaac Leeser\" and \"Abm. Israel.\" The document appears to be a formal or communal record, with a clear, legible Hebrew script and a cursive English hand. The paper shows signs of age, including some discoloration and minor tears along the edges.","soldPrice":9500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.838Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$8,000 - $12,000","currency":"USD","id":114669,"estimateMin":8000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114670/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"leeser, isaac. autograph letter signed written to his uncle zalma rehine, in english. autograph address panel on verso. \n \n a highly personal letter, where leeser discusses his recovery from illness and the wedding of grace nathan (1809-87) to jacques judah lyons (1813-77), to be held in two days\u2019 time. leeser expresses an interest in expanding the readership for the occident in baltimore, even though baltimore's jews \u201care all german.\u201d \n one page. tear at the top, where the year is missing but known to us because of the wedding described. folio. \n philadelphia, : 21st november (1842) \n ᴥ leeser was very close with his uncle zalma rehine (1757-1843), who had invited him to emigrate to america.===rehine was sufficiently americanized that he had been part of a richmond militia as early as 1793. rehine was still a member when this volunteer company, known as the richmond light infantry blues, nearly confronted the british in the 1807 chesapeake\u2013leopard affair while awaiting instructions from president thomas jefferson.===rehine was a founder of the baltimore hebrew congregation, the oldest synagogue in that city. for more than a decade this congregation met in his home above his store. leeser lived with zalma and his wife rachel during his initial five years in america, where he learned english, american ways, and emerged as a young american jewish leader under the security of this relationship."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"198","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114670/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript letter, dated November 27, 1850, from Philadelphia. Written in brown ink on light-colored paper, the letter is addressed to \"Dear Uncle\" and signed by \"John W. Cohen, Isaac Cohen.\" The content, in English, discusses personal and community matters, including health, a wedding, and plans for a future gathering in Baltimore. The letter is written in a clear, cursive hand, and the paper exhibits some irregular edges and light discoloration, indicative of its age.","soldPrice":4200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.839Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114670,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114671/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"leeser, isaac. autograph manuscript. by-laws of the board of delegates of american israelites. text in english. \n \n  \n 17 pages, few short tears. with typed transcription. \n new york: 1859 \n the board of delegates of american israelites established in 1859 with headquarters in new york city, was a body which attempted to organize the functioning of synagogues and religious schools in america under one central authority after the model of the london board of deputies. these by-laws discuss minute rules and regulations in relation to the the functioning of the board, as well as set out proper conduct in the involvement of the board within congregational matters.===as befitting america, a free country where jews did not expect to be ordered, the herem would be banned: \u201cthey shall pronounce no excommunication for any infringement of religion; but endeavour to bring the erring back by persuasion to the path of truth and justice\u2026 so as to show all israelites\u2026 that in proposing to appoint superior teachers of our faith, the board will take due care that no religious tyranny shall ever be exercised under its sanction & authority.\u201d===these by-laws express the board\u2019s aims, including such goals as the publication of jewish books, gathering statistics about american jews, establishing hospitals, a high school and a library. the board was intended to be an umbrella organization that would also encompass the reform wing of american judaism. isaac leeser became the board's vice president. an early victory of the board of delegates of american israelites was its successful lobbying in washington to change the chaplaincy law to admit jews as chaplains in the union army.===see allan tarshish, the board of delegates of american israelites (1859-1878) in: publications of the american jewish historical society vol. 49.1 (1959) pp. 16-32."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"199","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114671/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This item is a collection of American Judaica manuscript documents, forming a fan-like stack of light blue and white paper sheets. Each page is densely covered with handwritten text in brown ink, primarily in English, with a formal, cursive script. The documents appear to be official records or meeting minutes, with a visible heading \"Bylaws. Board of Officers.\" The collection suggests administrative or communal proceedings, likely from the 19th century, given the style and content. The papers show varying degrees of discoloration and handling consistent with archival materials.","soldPrice":13000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.840Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114671,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114672/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"lopez, aaron (1731\u201382). manuscript note: \"received of john hyer for acct. of mr. aaron lopez six half barrels of jew beef\u2026 four keggs of jew beef salt and two kegs of tongue.\" \n \n  \n one page (cut). \n (jamaica): 13th june 1771 \n born in lisbon, aaron lopez was a jewish merchant and philanthropist who left portugal for america in order to reclaim his jewish identity. through his varied commercial ventures, he became the wealthiest person in newport, rhode island. in 1761-62, lopez unsuccessfully sued the colony of rhode island for citizenship, eventually obtaining it in massachusetts."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"200","title":{"en":"(american judaica)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114672/view","tags":["usjudaica_documents","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica manuscript receipt, dated June 13, 1771, from Savannah. It is handwritten in brown ink on light-colored paper with elegant, flowing cursive script and prominent flourishes. The receipt acknowledges the reception of goods from John Myers on behalf of Mr. Aaron Lopez, specifically listing \"Two beef of Eight Quarter\" and \"Two hogs of Two beef fatt and two hogs of Tongues.\" The document is signed by \"Benjamin Wright\" and shows some minor discoloration consistent with its age.","soldPrice":3000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.841Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114672,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114673/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"merzbacher, leo (1810-56). autograph letter signed wriiten to dr. joshua cohen, in english. \n \n a salutary letter of introduction from leo merzbacher, rabbi of temple emanu-el, on behalf of rabbi morris j. raphall, who was going to baltimore. merzbacher writes: \u201ci cannot permit dr raphall to leave for baltimore without given him an introduction\u2026 he is in every respect a credit & an honor to our nation and you will feel happy in making his acquaintance.\u201d \n one page. with integral blank. 8vo. \n new york: 23rd december 1849 \n ᴥ leo merzbacher, a native of fuerth and erstwhile student of the chasam sofer in pressburg, was the rabbi of temple emanu-el, the first reform congregation in new york. merzbacher was the editor of the first reform siddur in the united states: seder tefillah - order of prayer for divine service (new york, 1855).===(for raphall, see lot 204)."},"estimateMax":1200,"lotNumber":"201","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114673/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is an American Judaica manuscript letter from New York, dated September 23, 1849, addressed to \"My dear\" and signed \"M. M. Noah,\" with the recipient noted as \"D. Joshua Cohen.\" The handwritten document, likely in ink on paper, concerns a request for an introduction for Mr. H. Oppenheim and is notable for its clear cursive script and connection to American Jewish history.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.032Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,200","currency":"USD","id":114673,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114674/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"mordecai, jacob (1762-1838). autograph manuscript in english (and some hebrew) entitled: \u201cexplanations of the sacrifices from maimonides more nevochim or teacher to the perplexed.\u201d \n \n contains english translations of selected topics from maimonides' celebrated work. these topics include his treatment of the red heifer, scapegoat, the prohibition of meat eaten with milk, the altar, cherubim, showbread, and the efficacy of sacrifices. to these mordecai appended several other pieces related to the topic of sacrifices, including excerpts from john landseer's \u201csabaean researches\u201d (london, 1823), and miscellanies, such as a translation of rashi to exodus 1:21, a miniature essay on whether the jews were a nation or a sect, and one on the masorah of the bible: \u201cthe masora is a system of criticism to preserve the true reading of the sacred text.\u201d the maimonides translations are not mordecai\u2019s own; they were transcribed from james townley's \u201cthe laws of moses from the more nevochim of maimonides\u201d (london, 1827). \n 16 pages. original wrappers. sm. folio. \n (richmond, virginia): 5590 (1830) \n jacob mordecai was the son of moses and esther mordecai, observant jews who in 1760 emigrated from germany to philadelphia. during the revolutionary war jacob helped supply the continental army as a clerk to david franks, the jewish quartermaster to general george washington and was later employed as a clerk for haym solomon\u2019s brokerage firm. in a change of careers, jacob mordecai rose to become an educational pioneer in warrenton, nc, where he ran a private liberal arts high school for women, popularly known as mordecai\u2019s female academy it revolutionized female education in the south, providing women a classical, as opposed to merely domestic, education. in time he settled in richmond, virginia, where he developed a close friendship with the newly arrived young immigrant rabbi who was to make a considerable mark on the fortunes of 19th-century american jewry: rev. isaac leeser.===see s. l. falk, the warrenton female academy of jacob mordecai, 1809-1818, in: the north carolina historical review 35.3 (1958).===based upon this manuscript one can learn the profundity of mordecai\u2019s jewish scholarship and obtain a window into the private intellectual life of an early american jew, the topics in jewish learning that interested him, and the sources he consulted."},"estimateMax":12000,"lotNumber":"202","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114674/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":8000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript is an \"Explanation of the Sacrifices from Maimonides,\" comprising multiple pages of handwritten notes. The document, penned in ink on paper, details various aspects of Jewish law and ritual, including references to \"More Nevochim\" (Guide for the Perplexed), \"Red Heifer,\" \"Passover,\" \"Sabbath,\" and \"Roshe on Epadis.\" Dated between 1813 and 1815, this textual piece offers insights into Jewish scholarship and interpretations of sacred texts during the early 19th century in America. The pages are bound with a rough edge, indicating it was part of a larger compilation or notebook.","soldPrice":11000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.033Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$8,000 - $12,000","currency":"USD","id":114674,"estimateMin":8000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114675/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"mordecai, jacob. autograph letter signed, written to the corresponding committee of the reformed society of israelites in charleston. \n \n  \n 14 pages. expertly silked, with margins extended. sm. folio. \n richmond: 1st june 1825 \n << significant early 19th-century letter displaying the devotion of a native-born american jew toward traditional jewish practice and in opposition to the reforms of isaac harby.>>===in this lengthy letter addressed to charleston\u2019s reformed society of israelites, jacob mordecai defends traditional judaism in relation with the society\u2019s proposed changes in opposition to the \u201cadjunta\u201d (trustees) of charleston\u2019s kahal kadosh beth elohim (kkbe).===mordecai states he understands the need to make synagogue services more accessible, however \u201cyour measures, if persisted in, will inevitably lead to consequences most dreadful to your future peace \u2026they will cause father and son and brother to be engaged against each other in warfare.\u201d he warns \u201cthe completion of your scheme will indeed make you schismatic and render your worship, in form at least, completely gentile.\u201d===mordecai argues not against the perceived ideals of the society, but in opposition to their proposed practices: \u201ci believe your motives are good. [yet] i know your measures lead to evil.\u201d mordecai goes on to advise how to improve the prayer service in keeping with tradition. he confides that should the society follow his advice \u201cthe synagogue will no longer exhibit a babel of confused sounds causing a blush on any man\u2019s cheek, but it will, as i constantly witness, be frequented by strangers to gratify their curiosity and to please their ears with the regularity of chanting - this cause if once adopted will be retained by general consent and never be banished from the walls of the synagogue.\u201d===mordecai stresses the fundamental importance of retaining hebrew as central to the synagogue service, due to the hebrew language being the core source of identity to jews as a people. as an example, he tells the story of \u201ca great french statesman when asked how napoleon if successful in his contemplated quest, would retain the english in subjection, answered: we would change their language.\u201d===the reformed society of israelites was the name of the group that broke away in 1825 from kahal kadosh beth elohim (kkbe) of charleston, south carolina. they sought to make reforms to traditional ritual, seeking to revitalize synagogue services with new prayers reflecting contemporary american life. the leader of the society was native born charlestonian isaac harby, along with abraham moise and david nunes carvalho.===jacob mordecai heard of the society\u2019s original petition to beth elohim via his own daughter rachel, who was a supporter of harby. mordecai\u2019s denouncements did not persuade harby, but did win his daughter\u2019s opinion back to traditional views of judaism.===see m.a. meyer, response to modernity: a history of the reform movement in judaism (1995) pp. 228-33; and emily bingham, mordecai: an early american family (2004) pp. 151-53."},"estimateMax":20000,"lotNumber":"203","title":{"en":"(american judaica)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114675/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":15000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript document, dated June 1, 1838, is a handwritten letter or essay titled \"To the Corresponding Committee of the reformed Society of Israelites Charleston.\" The text, written in ink on paper, discusses matters related to the \"reformed Society\" and \"Jewish law,\" providing insight into the theological debates and reform movements within American Judaism during the mid-19th century. The document features a densely written cursive script and exhibits some foxing or discoloration consistent with its age.","soldPrice":30000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.034Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$15,000 - $20,000","currency":"USD","id":114675,"estimateMin":15000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114676/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"raphall, morris jacob (1798-1868). autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english (two words in hebrew). \n \n rabbi raphall asks isaac leeser to confirm if a certain mr. hyneman, the ex son-in-law of a mr. hyman, is in fact in philadelphia, and if this is so, would leeser see him to discuss matters pertaining to the divorce of hyman\u2019s daughter. he also requests the ex son-in-law\u2019s address. raphall extends passover greetings in hebrew. \n one page. 8vo. \n new york, : 12th april 1860 \n ᴥ morris jacob raphall was a swedish-born scholar and rabbi, who served as personal secretary to london\u2019s chief rabbi solomon hirschel, and translated a substantial part of the mishnah and other rabbinic works into english before emigrating to america in 1849. he was given the honor of being the first non-christian to offer a prayer before a session of congress in 1860. although a unionist, raphall became notorious in 1861 when he defended the institution of slavery in the united states as having biblical basis. although he chastised southern slave owners for treating slaves as things rather than as people, and deviating from the biblical manner of slaveholding, he also took a stance against the abolitionists. while today raphall is mostly remembered for little but these views, this letter to leeser represents the nuts-and-bolts of rabbinic functioning in america, clarifying personal and family matters for american jews."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"204","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114676/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript letter, dated April 13, 1838, is from New York and addressed to \"Revd. Mr. Hyman.\" The handwritten document, in ink on paper, discusses a divorce case involving Mr. Hyman's daughter and mentions Dr. Hyman. The letter, signed by M.M. Noah, provides a glimpse into social and religious issues within the American Jewish community of the early 19th century. The paper shows typical signs of aging, with some discoloration and slightly ragged edges.","soldPrice":800,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.036Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114676,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114677/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"rehine, zalma (1757-1843). autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english. \n \n autograph address panel on verso. \n one page, with integral blank. 4to. \n baltimore: 7th april 1836 \n this letter from leeser\u2019s maternal uncle, zalma rehine, consists of complaints of ill health: \u201ci have been very sick with a cold and pains in my side all yom tov\u2026\u201d rehine also tells leeser that a guest over passover, one mr. black, \u201chad seen you and is much pleased with you.\u201d it would seem that isaac leeser was a relatively frequent topic of conversation between rehine and his friends and acquaintances, and when he heard something about the impression his nephew - a rising star in the firmament of american jewish clergy - was making, he would tell him about it.===on the reverse of the letter is a list consisting of seven lines, giving quantities of articles of clothing (e.g., \u201c2 pairs of stockings\u201d) in a separate hand that might be leeser\u2019s."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"205","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114677/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript letter, dated April 7, 1836, from Baltimore, is addressed to \"My Dear Isaac.\" The handwritten document, in ink on paper, discusses health matters (\"sick with a Cold and pains\") and social visits, mentioning Dr. L. Rap, Mrs. Peckham, and Sabrina Dushane. The letter, signed with an illegible name, provides a personal insight into the lives of members of the American Jewish community in the early 19th century. The document is characterized by its cursive script and aged, somewhat discolored paper.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.037Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114677,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114678/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"rehine, zalma. autograph letter signed written to isaac leeser, in english. \n \n autograph address panel on verso. \n one page, with integral blank. 4to. \n baltimore: 2nd august 1839 \n personal letter from zalma rehine, isaac leeser's maternal uncle. as is to be expected, rehine inquires after leeser\u2019s health and and discusses mutual friends. rehine tells leeser that he and his wife had \u201cfasted well\u201d on the 9th day of av \u201cand felt better for it.\u201d he also notes that \u201cmiss etting,\u201d who is presumed to be one of the daughters of solomon etting (1764-1847), had visited and admires leeser\u2019s discourses. rehine requests that he send more. leeser\u2019s discourses were evidently circulating in manuscript then, or at least between nephew and uncle. rehine closes with a line of affection: \u201ci remain, your friend.\u201d"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"206","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114678/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript letter, dated August 29, 1839, from Baltimore, is addressed to \"Dear Isaac.\" The handwritten document, written in ink on paper, conveys personal news and sentiments, including details about a wedding, a trip to Philadelphia, and mentions of various individuals like Miss R. Hart and Sabrina Dushane. The letter, signed with an illegible name, provides a personal look into the daily life and social interactions within the American Jewish community during the 19th century. It is characterized by its cursive script and aged paper.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.038Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114678,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114679/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"solis, solomon da silva (1819-54). autograph manuscript signed (\u201cs.s.\u201d) entitled \u201cthe law of the immutable.\u201d with autograph edits by <<isaac leeser.>> \n \n  \n six pages, browned, lower portion of pages cleanly detached. folio. \n (philadelphia: 1843) \n isaac leeser\u2019s edited draft of an article by solis on the immutability of the commandments (published in the occident (1:9) december 1843, pp. 429-34.) after demonstrating the contrary from many biblical examples, solis asks rhetorically: \u201cnow, is it to be supposed that the immutable god should descend to the earth, clothed in this terrible majesty, to give all these laws which he ordained to be of eternal duration, and then allow finite, erring man to abrogate that which he deemed of sufficient importance so as to require his own presence at its promulgation? and to substitute another, in which a man is the judge and the redeemer?\u201d thus we see that christian arguments were deemed of sufficient persuasive import to american jews that both solis and leeser held their refutation to be necessary in a periodical to be read by american jews. indeed, this was a theme in many early issues of the occident.===solomon da silva solis was a regular contributor to the pages of the occident. he was among the founders of the american jewish publication society (a forerunner of the jps founded in 1888) and the hebrew education society of philadelphia. solis was close to grace aguilar, the remarkable english author whom he befriended in london and was responsible for bringing her work to america. all this he accomplished before he was thirty. gone at thirty-five, leeser, in mourning, wrote of his friend: \u201cyoung as he was yet, he was ripe for immortality\u2026 a pious israelite\u2026 a worthy citizen\u2026the israelites of america have lost one of their brightest ornaments.\u201d of his many contributions to the occident, leeser notes simply \u201cmy readers will miss hereafter his contributions, full as they were of truth and tenderness.\u201d (the occident (12:4) july 1854, pp. 231-32)."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"207","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114679/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript document, titled \"The Law of Moses,\" consists of multiple handwritten pages discussing legal and theological interpretations. The text, in ink on paper, delves into topics such as \"idolatry,\" the \"Law of Moses,\" \"Punishments,\" and the \"Children of Israel.\" The manuscript appears to be a scholarly or expository work, offering insights into Jewish legal thought during its period. It features a densely written cursive script and shows signs of age, including discoloration and folds.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.039Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114679,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114680/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(washington, george / gratz, michael). manuscript ledger of gratz\u2019s expenses. \n \n includes entry: \"rec. of mr. michal gratts [michael gratz] seventy eight pounds for two men to join george washington's army.\u201d philadephia, june 30th, 1780 and signed [mcgaliager?]. * with: two entries signed by isaiah bush \"received., of mr. michael gratz \u2026on account for my brother nathan bush.\" one entry dated july, 20th 1780 for 1,000 pounds. the other entry dated august 29th, 1780 for 1,500 pounds. \n four pages. 4to. \n philadephia: june 30th 1780 \n in the early 1780\u2019s pennsylvania and the national government was so financially destitute they could not afford to pay their soldiers in the continental army. this explains why the patriot michael gratz paid the expense of two soldiers. he also underwrote rations for the soldiers in pennsylvania.===german-born michael gratz (1740-1811) immigrated to america in 1759 settling in philadelphia and then lancaster, penn. he and his brother barnard were traders and supplied the american government with indian goods, and weapons for the continental army. they also underwrote soldiers' rations at fort pitt, penn. michael was one of the original members of mickve israel and served as the parnas there. his son, jacob gratz, served in the pennsylvania house of representatives and the state senate. he was the father of the american educator and philanthropist rebecca gratz.===born in philadelphia, isaiah bush (1763-1806) was one of the original members of that city\u2019s congregation mickve israel. (further details accompanies the lot)."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"208","title":{"en":"(american judaica)."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114680/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica manuscript document from 1780 is a collection of three handwritten receipts detailing payments to Michael Gratz. The entries, dated June 30, July 5, and August 29, 1780, are for various sums in Pounds and Shillings, with one payment noting \"for monies to join the Genl. Washingtons army.\" The document, written in ink on aged paper, features clear cursive script and provides a glimpse into the financial activities and support for the Continental Army by Jewish individuals during the American Revolutionary War. Signatures include \"Josiah Bush\" and \"J. B. Gratz Jr.\".","soldPrice":4000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.040Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114680,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114681/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"rokeach, israel dov. autograph manuscript, a ledger of funds raised to benefit knesseth israel of jerusalem, palestine - kupat rabbi meir ba\u2019al hanes. text in yiddish and hebrew. \n \n collection of documents bearing the printed letterhead of the committee knesseth israel of jerusalem, the organization founded in 1866 under the auspices of rabbis meir auerbach and shmuel salant. the pages were a record kept by this shadar, or emissary from eretz israel sent to collect money in the diaspora for distribution to the needy jews of the holy land. \n 40 pages. loose. folio. \n various american and canadian cities: 1921 \n documents rokeach\u2019s travels to numerous north american jewish communities, from mckeesport, pa (he received 21 donations, totalling $34.71), to grand forks, nd, and minneapolis and st. paul, mn in between. several of the pages are from cities in saskatchewan, manitoba, and quebec. each man and woman is listed by name in the column for donors, the amounts given, and receipt number are all carefully recorded. donations usually came in modest amounts: $.50, $2, or odd numbers such as $2.06 or $1.48. one imagines the donors giving whatever they might have had on hand. occasionally, a local gabbai, or agent, is named, who collected the sums for rokeach to pick up when he came to town.===rokeach, as a rabbinic emissary collecting funds for the needy and torah scholars of eretz israel, was part of a tradition in america that actually preceded the formation of the united states. see stanley mirvis, shadarim in the colonial americas: agents of inter-communal connectivity and rabbinic authority, in: american jewish history vol. 102.2 (2018).===records such as these are a testament to long-gone jewish settlements in the united states and canada."},"estimateMax":1200,"lotNumber":"209","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114681/view","tags":["usjudaica_manuscripts","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This American Judaica lot consists of a collection of approximately 20-30 handwritten and printed receipts or ledger sheets from the \"Central Committee Kedseth Israel of Jerusalem Palestine.\" Dated between the 1930s and 1950s, these documents are primarily in Hebrew and English, detailing financial transactions related to support for Jerusalem. They are composed of aged paper, often with pre-printed forms and handwritten entries in both cursive Hebrew and English script. The visible wear, creases, and discoloration are typical of historical administrative records, reflecting fundraising efforts within the American Jewish community for institutions in Palestine.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.041Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,200","currency":"USD","id":114681,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114682/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"\u201chebrew printing in america, 1735-1926\u201d <<the yosef goldman collection.>> containing c. 1,009 titles built over many decades of careful, intelligent and assiduous pursuit. \n \n in his two-volume catalogue entitled: hebrew printing in america: a history and annotated bibliography (new york, 2006), yosef goldman, the late brooklyn-based bookman, provided a detailed record of 1,208 individual titles that comprises the most comprehensive record of hebraica produced in america from the year 1735 until 1926. of these 1,208 entries, goldman possessed 1,009. it is these 1,009 titles that comprise this lot. goldman worked on this collection for decades, probing, listing, gathering. ari kinsberg, working alongside, was the key individual who drove the research engine of this formidable bibliographic challenge, and it was kinsberg who was behind the writing of the masterful catalogue. consequently, we are fortunate that ari kinsberg has prepared for the present auction-catalogue a descriptive essay that summarizes the holdings of the yosef goldman collection of hebrew printing in america. a pr&eacute;cis of the essay is below, while a far more extensive essay is available via the online version of the auction catalogue accessible at www.kestenbaum.net. prospective bidders, please note: the library that comprises this lot will not be on exhibition or otherwise accessible for direct viewing. it can be resourced via a comprehensive electronic listing that is available upon request. upon successful purchase, shipment from it\u2019s new york storage facility can be arranged. please inquire for further information. \n sold not subject to return. \n \n \n hebrew printing in america by ari kinsberg (c) 2018 === \n === \n the yosef goldman collection of hebrew printing in america (hpa) is a veritable treasure of the jewish experience in the new world. this singular library consists of over one thousand hebrew books, pamphlets and miscellaneous ephemera published in north america between 1735 and 1926. it is the remarkable product of a three-decades-long sedulous and tenacious bibliophilist mission to reconstruct a major but long forsaken component of the jewish literary legacy. hpa is unparalleled in terms of scope, completeness and individual rarities. there is no collection of early american hebrew imprints that is even remotely as rich as hpa anywhere in the world, either in private or institutional hands. with imprints from across the continent, including the earliest hebrew works in various locales, hpa documents a fascinating untold chapter--actually many chapters--of hebrew typography and bibliography. it is, however, much more than that. this exceptional collection presents to the world a practically ungleaned repository teeming with both historical and other data about the american jewish community. some of these materials were known but not fully studied and still have much to reveal about previously written chapters of history; other materials promise to provide gateways to completely uncharted paths of research. hpa has proven that it is impossible to tell the full and accurate story of any subject regarding american jewry without recourse to american hebrew books. the best way to illustrate the breadth and wealth of hpa is to retell that story as seen through the pages of its holdings. (all bracketed numbers in this essay refer to holdings in the current hpa lot. \u201camerica\u201d will generally refer to the united states or the areas it would ultimately comprise.) beginnings (1654-1830s) the first jews in america, hapless refugees from dutch brazil, landed in 1654 in what is today known as new york. shortly thereafter a jewish community took root in newport and the following century saw jewish settlement extending to philadelphia, savannah, charleston, richmond, and lancaster. on the eve of the eighteenth century, there were an estimated 1,600 jews, representing an infinitesimal 0.03% of the general population and spread out over 800,000 square miles. small numbers, wide geographic dispersion and the absence of organized immigration under the direction and guidance of well established communities in europe did not bode well for american jewry. it was poorly organized, basic communal infrastructure was often lacking and not even one ordained rabbi settled in an american community. hebraic culture--either of the traditional rabbinic variety or the nascent enlightenment type emerging in europe--was almost unknown. for early american jews, the use of hebrew, with few exceptions, was synonymous with basic ritual needs. a century of american christian hebraism (1730s-1830s) this isn\u2019t to say that there was no advanced hebrew learning during the colonial and early republic periods. aside from a few jewish individuals at home in hebrew texts, there was an active christian hebraist movement, represented for example by college hebrew courses. already in 1735 judah monis, a hebrew lecturer at harvard college, published a pioneering hebrew grammar [#171]. his work, the first book with extensive hebrew text printed in the new world, was followed over the next century by other hebrew grammars, including those authored by stephen sewall (monis\u2019s successor and the first chair of hebrew in an american college) [#172], john smith (professor at dartmouth) [#173, #174], james patriot wilson [#175], joseph frey (first hebrew instructor at the university of michigan) [#177], martin ruter [#178], moses stuart (professor at andover) [#181, #189], james (joshua) seixas [#183] and finally isaac nordheimer in 1838 [#186]. also published in this period were various hebrew lexicons by edward robinson (discoverer of the site of masada) and others [#179, #180, #181, #184, #185], a hebrew psalter in 1809 (the first printing of any part of the bible in hebrew) [#1], two hebrew bibles (one complete and one incomplete [#3, #4, #5] and a hebrew translation of the shorter catechism of the westminster assembly in 1825 (the first hebrew-only book published in america) [#1061]. these christian hebraist publications represented the overwhelming majority of imprints during the inaugural century of american hebrew publishing. it is tempting to ignore christian hebraist printing as separate from contemporary american jewish history and as irrelevant to future historical course of the community. it is important to note though that some contributors to this literature were themselves jews. in a few cases they were jews-turned-christians, such as monis (who likely adopted christianity to secure his harvard job), seixas (son of shearith israel\u2019s famed rev. gershom seixas) and frey; jonathan horowitz, initiator of the first complete hebrew bible [#3, #4], may have also converted. more significantly, rounding out the christian hebraist century were h. henry [#187] and nordheimer [#186], both unconverted jews. nothing is known about henry, but nordheimer earned a reputation as a prodigy during his five years in the pressburg yeshiva of the chasam sofer and was awarded a phd at munich before immigrating to america. whereas monis converted to christianity to get his job at harvard (and he never did rise to professor), nordheimer remained an identifying jew while a professor of semitics at new york university and visiting professor at union theological seminary and new haven theological seminary! it is true that christian hebraism and missionary activity to the jews often overlapped and this angle deserves further exploration. this convergence is evident in various works from this period [#177, #181], including a hebrew translation of the shorter catechism [#1061]--the publisher \u201coffered [it] to the remnant of israel.\u201d but hebraism also provided jews and christians with a common language, as it were, and it played a role in laying the foundation for an america that would in the future become the most tolerant land of the jews. finally, one learns from the prefaces in these early publications much about the technical and financial obstacles that plagued hebrew authors and printers--and would continue to haunt them in later periods too. echoes of the exact same complaints reverberate up to the very last books in hpa printed in the 1920s: the rarity of complete sets of hebrew types, the difficulties of working with the types and vowel points, a lack of typesetters, distances too great for authors to review galley proofs and correct errors, and most importantly, a consumer market that was too small to support the publication of most manuscripts. jewish communal printing (1820s-1850s) nordheimer already appeared above in the story about early christian hebraism because while he remained an unwavering member of new york\u2019s jewish community, his hebraism manifested on the stage of christian hebraism and his works were aimed at (and eagerly consulted by) a non-jewish audience. but it was also by this point that american jewry had proved that it was on a forward trajectory in population, organizational life, religious diversity--and on the map of hebrew typography. nordheimer, one of the last of the early \u201cchristian hebraists,\u201d was at the same time part of a new wave of jewish immigration reaching american shores that enabled the emergence of jewish hebrew printing. in the 1820s solomon henry jackson opened a print shop in new york and became the first to cater to the needs of the local jewish community as well as the first jewish printer of hebrew books. it is unfortunate that very little is known about his early life. he immigrated from london ca. 1787, settled in the rural poconos and married the daughter of john miller, a presbyterian minister. following her death he moved to new york, raised their five sons as jews and was very active in the local community, especially in education. most important were his activities as a printer and it is evident from his publications that he aimed to provide his american coreligionists with the basic texts necessary to propagate jewish life. he issued the first hebrew prayer book in 1826 [#34], as well as other jewish \u201cfirsts,\u201d including the first hebrew textbook for jewish children [#264]. he also attempted unsuccessfully to publish an interlinear hebrew-english bible. jackson set a number of general precedents for this second stage of american hebrew printing: most works served basic religious needs (prayer books [#34, #35], haggadot, ephemeral prayer services, bibles, elementary hebrew textbooks [#264, #267], calendars [other jackson imprints: #187]). he also set a standard that remained de rigueur for much of the nineteenth century, i.e., inclusion in these basic texts of an english (or german) translation. the leading figure of american judaism in the middle decades of the nineteenth century was isaac leeser. by profession a local minister in sephardic synagogues in philadelphia, his legacy is that of a national leader who strengthened american jewish life from every angle and ensured its survival during that formative period. most aspects of leeser\u2019s activities somehow involved printing. he published a litany of \u201cfirsts\u201d for american jews, including a six-volume hebrew-english sephardic prayer book in 1837-1838 (the first complete yearly liturgy) [#36] and a one-volume ashkenazi prayer book a decade later [#37]. he was also the first jew (anywhere) to publish an english translation of the pentateuch in 1845 [#7] and then the entire bible in 1853 [#12, #13]. he also published a hebrew reader for school children [#265, #275, #279] and he co-published the first vocalized and cantilated hebrew bible on american soil [#9]. one of the striking features of hebrew printing by american jews from the very beginning was that their works very frequently bore an american influence (or were a response to a specific immediate local need). in the old world one might not be able to tell based on content alone where a book was published, but american imprints often contained some element that revealed their american provenance. jackson boasted in his prayer book [#34] that \u201cthe american hebrew type wherewith the work is executed, is of the handsomest face in the world \u2026 the paper is of american manufacture.\u201d he wasn\u2019t just a proud american though, he was an optimistic one. he explained in the preface that he removed the prayer for martyrs because \u201cthe liberality of mankind assur[es] us it will no more be revived.\u201d naturally, he also emended the prayer for kings to reflect \u201cour republican institutions.\u201d the following year in 1827 he published a funerary guide and service specifically for the use of the new york\u2019s congregation shearith israel [#35]. leeser\u2019s works also bear the marks of his american environment. his sephardic prayer book even notes a liturgical variant that was limited to philadelphia [#36]. increasing population numbers in this period made it financially feasible to print basic texts locally rather than import european editions. the growing community also meant that more printed items were required at more frequent intervals (e.g., for synagogue dedications [#1086]) and also that local tastes and expectations could only be served by local publishers and printers. for the next five decades hebrew printers in new york [e.g., #15, #40, #41, #46, #48, #131, #132, #133, #134, #267] and then also philadelphia [e.g., #61, #137, #272, #1086], baltimore [e.g., #54, #57, #278, #280, #281], cincinnati [e.g., #53, #59, #268, #273] and st. louis [#283] continued to print the basic hebrew texts mentioned above, as well as other works, to serve local communal needs. early jewish hebraism: precursors (1850-1870s) the pace of jewish immigration to america picked up in the middle decades of the nineteenth century and its population grew from 15,000 in 1840 to 50,000 in 1850, 150,000 in 1860 and 200,000 in 1870. in this period the country became home to its first ordained rabbis, communal leaders began calling for an american rabbinical seminary, and a periodical press with strong theological, literary and polemical components flourished. jewish presses continued to churn out the hitherto published basic texts, but some of these editions reflected new changes in the community, especially the synagogue landscape. as more and more jews arrived from central europe, the printer henry frank issued in 1852 a prayer book for them based on the celebrated heidenheim text and without a translation [#38]. he followed with the first ashkenazi holiday prayer books in 1854 [#40, #43]. the rapidly growing reform movement in particular fueled the publication of liturgical volumes and it almost seemed like every rabbi edited a new prayer book to suit his particular shade of reform theology (or his congregation\u2019s needs). hpa is rich with these volumes [#41, #45, #48, #49, #51, #53, #54, #58, #59, #61, #62, #63, #68, #72, #76, #77, #79, #80, #82, #83, #84, #85, #86, #88, #90, #91, #119, #120, #121], including the first reform prayer book for general use (by leo merzbacher of new york\u2019s temple emanuel) [#41-vol. 2], the first prayer books aimed at uniting all american jews under a reform \u201cminhag america\u201d or \u201camerican rite\u201d (by isaac mayer wise) [#44, #53], a true first edition of the of the radical reform olat tamid (by david einhorn) [#45] and many others. haggadot also continued to proliferate in america and among hpa\u2019s holdings from this period are the first reform haggadah [#137] and various illustrated editions [#128, #129, #133, #139] that show their evolution. the first to contain passover illustrations appeared in 1857 [#128] and not to be missed is the final product of this chain, with original illustrations (based on midrash but also reflecting the contemporary american environment and influences) [#138]. synagogues and other institutions in this period also printed pamphlets with prayers for special occasions, such as the consecration of new buildings by new york\u2019s mount sinai hospital in 1855 [#1085] and philadelphia\u2019s mikveh israel in 1860 [#1086]. these pamphlets are quite rare and contain original content too. the mikveh israel exemplar includes an original hebrew poem whose acrostic identifies its composer as sabato morais, the congregation\u2019s scholarly italian rabbi and a fine hebraist. mid-century also witnessed the appearance of a few advanced hebrew books--pointing to the presence of hebrew authors and more importantly, readers too. in 1850 the first (jewish) hebrew-only book appeared: ben ze\u2019ev\u2019s classic hebrew translation of ben sirah (ecclesiasticus) with a new german translation by isaac mayer [#1014], an alsatian or bavarian native who settled in america after the failed 1848 revolutions and served as a rabbi in cincinnati, rochester and hartford. the printer of the volume, henry frank, was himself a new immigrant from sulzbach and was the first hebrew printer who brought with him from europe experience in the craft. upon retiring, his son leib hayyim took over and later yet the franks\u2019 printing plates were subsequently sold and resold from printer to printer, until they finally came into the possession of hebrew publishing company in the twentieth century. hpa includes many early and rare imprints by the franks [#15, #38, #40, #43, #46, #50, #56, #60, #128, #129, #131, #132, #133, #134, #135, #136, #274, #277, #283, #1014, #1016], as well as those of their successors [#139, #140, #142, #147, #150]. another decade would pass until joshua falk published in 1860 his avnei yehoshua [#688], a commentary on tractate avot of the mishnah and the first complete original hebrew book in america. the colophon recognized this fact (\u201ci give thanks that it was my good fortune to be the typesetter of this scholarly book, the first of its kind in america\u201d) and the father of jewish bibliography, moritz steinschneider, noted at the time that \u201cthis volume [is] a fine example of hebrew typography.\u201d falk, a polish-born rabbi, wanted to show the world that american jews too \u201ctoiled\u201d in jewish scholarship. also in this period the ancient mystical text sefer yetzirah was published for the first time ever with an english translation [#1016], along with introductions to the talmud [#1017, #1018] and notes on the medieval hovot ha-levavot [#1019]. tensions between orthodox and reform judaism escalated in america in these years and important primary sources are to be found in hpa. in 1872 r. nachum streisand, who had earlier in europe published the work of r. akiva eiger (his wife\u2019s grandfather), now issued a pamphlet to argue that women were religiously proscripted from singing in a san francisco synagogue choir [#1091]. streisand included a response from the permissive rabbi, henry vidaver, who advised him \u201cto abide by the great law in the philosophy of america: mind your own business.\u201d vidaver himself was a well known hebrew author. earlier he edited the first ever abridged hebrew bible [#15] and even before that, was the earliest known american to contribute to the european hebrew press (he kept european jews informed about the civil war). aaron zevi friedman, a polish-born ritual slaughterer who immigrated to america in 1848, published tuv ta\u2019am [#1092] in 1875. his intention was mainly to defend ritual slaughter against charges leveled by the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, but he also included a section on the kashruth of birds native to america and a responsum by r. jacob ettlinger of altona on false teeth and kashruth. intra-orthodox polemics made their way into the work as well. a great halachic debate that raged across the jewish world from jerusalem to europe to new york dealt with the permissibility of bleeding animals prior to slaughter. friedman, who was involved in this debate, included in tuv ta\u2019am two responsa on the subject that r. joseph saul nathanson of lemberg had sent to new york. the apogee of this period was marked by the publication in the 1870s of america\u2019s first hebrew periodical, ha-tzofe ba-aretz ha-hadasha (the observer in the new world) [#897]. this weekly newspaper was modeled in form and content on the maskilic newspapers that only started to appear in eastern europe in the 1850s and it compared favorably to them. it included jewish and general current events of local, national and international interest (including the \u201clatest news from the telegraph\u201d), essays, poetry, history, biography, discussions of contemporary jewish law and advertisements (for kosher foods, ritual items, hebrew book dealers, wives looking for husbands who abandoned them, etc.). there is much information on contemporary jewish life in america, particularly the rapidly growing east european immigrant community. this is the first concrete evidence of the emergence of a circle of hebraists rather than a few individual writers and readers. many of the contributors were known figures, but others are otherwise completely unknown to the historical record. one learned debate in ha-tzofe that spanned five months threshed out whether it was permitted for american jews to consume milk produced by gentiles. the famed r. zevi hirsch kalischer of prussia weighed in with a lengthy letter in the newspaper directed specifically to one of the american disputants, zevi hirsch edelman of new york. were it not for edelman\u2019s contributions to this debate, history would have forgotten him. nothing is known about him, except that he was learned in rabbinic texts, could write in fine hebrew and was addressed by kalischer with honorifics reserved for scholars. contrary to popular misconception, not all immigrants were uneducated and non-observant. jewish hebraism: full blown movement(s) (1880s and beyond) original hebrew works of jewish authorship appeared in america only rarely in the 1850s to 1870s, then less intermittently in the 1880s and 1890s and finally became a regular staple with the new century. this trend of course followed the growth of the community, especially during the so-called era of mass immigration from eastern europe between the 1880s and 1924 (the population jumped from about 250,000 to 3.6 million). all literary fields were represented in this hebrew publishing explosion, but the one that is perhaps most interesting for studying the immigrant community is derash (sermonics/homiletics). no genre of traditional literature mirrors the jewish people of each generation and locale better than derash and its value to the historian can\u2019t be exaggerated. the individual most responsible for incorporating the sermon into the fabric of american jewish life was isaac leeser. when he set out in 1837 to publish an anthology of his sermons, the first work of its type, no publisher would undertake the project and he had to self-publish it [#687]. (leeser preached in english, but some of his printed sermons contain selections in hebrew type.) a few odd hebrew derash volumes appeared in the 1870s and 1880s, but the first with actual hebrew sermons was a periodical [#693] containing two sermons that r. jacob joseph, america\u2019s first chief rabbi, delivered in new york shortly after his arrival in 1888. one of his goals was to improve kashruth supervision and indeed scattered references in the two sermons indicate his concern that it was deficient in america. only one number of this periodical appeared, a portend of his ultimate failure in america. although the largest concentration of immigrant jews was in new york, they also settled in cities and town across the country and rabbis there too published derash. bezalel yevnin, a rabbi in new york, chicago and milwaukee, published six sermons in 1892 with polemics against the three greatest threats to immigrant orthodoxy: reform judaism, anarchism and assimilation [#695]. in 1900 havah rachel hacohen published a volume of miscellaneous writings of her deceased husband, a minneapolis rabbi. it included his sermons and was the first hebrew volume printed in the city [#707]. perhaps the most popular immigrant preacher of the period was zevi hirsch masliansky. his reputation as a captivating preacher was already well established in europe, but he recognized that american conditions called for a different form of sermonics: \u201cnot all that i preached on the other side of the ocean is appropriate to be preached here. there is an in important rule in preaching: not just what is appropriate for its time, but also what is appropriate for its place\u201d [#733]. many rabbis and preachers tailored their sermons for american jews and hpa contains numerous sermons that refer to specifically to american jewish conditions and general american current events (e.g., the spanish-american war [#1116]). r. eliyahu kochin of pittsburgh was brutally honest in his derash works and he refused to follow the \u201caccepted evil custom in this land which says that he who lies the most by bluffing, as it is called, is to be praised\u201d [#784]. many immigrant rabbis commented that they put aside their manuscripts of talmudic novellae and instead published derash because american jews were not interested in halacha and instead needed spiritual exhortation. in addition to actual sermons, these rabbis published general mussar essays (ethical and religious exhortations) [e.g., #724, #730, #744, #749, #764, #863, #882, #1028], aggadic commentaries [e.g., #696, #832], commentaries on ethics of the fathers [#658, #697, #698, #737, #752, #754, #758, #771, #792, #838, #865, #887, #890], a five-volume edition of ein ya\u2019akov (a sixteenth-century aggadah anthology) with an english translation [#825] and a five-volume hebrew translation of the zohar with source citations and a commentary [#873]. they also issued volumes designed to be used as source material for preachers [e.g., #718, #884, #891, #1198]. the role of traditional derash in america is best summed up by schmaryohu leib hurwitz, a new york rabbi with a habad background who published numerous volumes to raise the religious level of american jewry [#379, #387, #667, #672, #680, #891]. in one volume of sermons he observed [#801], \u201cif in all generations and eras his value was great, how much more so is the value of the preacher and the sermon in this generation and in this land of ours, america\u2014thousands of israel would have forgotten their connection to orthodox judaism had they not come to listen to contemporary preachers. in new york alone, hundreds and thousands\u2014these numbers should increase\u2014of our brethren from the children of israel who have immigrated hither from all the lands of the earth come to our synagogues to hear the living word of our judaism.\u201d these observations should not, however, detract from the traditional learning that did take root despite impediments on american soil. in 1887 r. abraham alperstein of chicago published a volume of the jerusalem talmud with his commentaries [#568]. the first volume of rabbinics printed in america, it was also the first tractate of the talmud published in the land. alperstein published a second edition only three years later with an additional commentary and also an updated preface that referred to his congregation\u2019s members as \u201cwild boars\u201d [#569]. in 1903 r. joseph elijah fried of new york published the first volume of responsa in america [#590]. in this volume and in others by his colleagues, there are many discussions of topics relevant to local conditions and that document the day-to-day immigrant experience: tenement buildings (building sukkot on fire escapes and erecting eruvin for apartment buildings with many residents), machine-made matzah for passover [#592], ritual baths with modern plumbing and electricity [#595, #631], ritual slaughterers and unions [#814, #1122], autopsies [#617], orthography of english names in hebrew legal documents [#595, #624], urban eruvin [#634, #1103, #1136], selling synagogue buildings to churches [#626], converting churches into synagogues [#1117], using grape juice for ritual purposes to comply with prohibition laws [#1177], post-circumcision suction techniques [#1117], etc. the first rabbinic journal appeared in 1903 [#591] as part of an effort to to address the waning of religious observance and the lack of unity among religious authorities in america. among its contents are essays on jewish law and there is a focus on issues dealing with modern technology and other matters of contemporary concern (e.g., electricity on festivals, hot tap water and bicycle riding on the sabbath, the baking process of the manischewitz matzah factory, yeshivot in america, kosher restaurants, the decline of judaism in america, purchasing bread on saturday night from bakers who work on the sabbath and the composition of agate). it was followed by many other rabbinic journals [#607, #611, #619, #671]. the first complete talmud was published in one volume in 1913 [#614] and then in 1919 a standard eighteen-volume edition with traditional standard layout and commentaries [#635]. yeshivat rabbi jacob joseph in new york also published individual tractates for student use [#637]. laymen well-versed in traditional learning immigrated to america as well, but they remain unknown to the historical record because they did not occupy rabbinic positions. ezekiel preisser (immigrated to new york in 1884) didn\u2019t serve in any official religious capacity, yet he delivered daily mussar lectures. in 1909 he agitated for the establishment of a daf yomi (\u201cpage-a-day\u201d) program whereby study of the talmud could be completed in seven-year cycles [#734]. this was fifteen years before r. meir shapiro initiated his famous daf yomi program that continues until the present. ordinary jews committed to traditional learning lived not only in new york, but it cities and towns across the country. subscriptions lists in hpa holdings attest to the presence of hebrew readers in coney island (brooklyn) [#873] and elizabeth (nj) [#607], as well as coatsville, pa [#230], corsicana, tx [#1162], south bend, ia [#805, #835] and numerous other locales. east european immigrants published educational works for their children that had never appeared before in america, e.g., the first talmud textbook in 1882 [#288]. later they published additional works to introduce students to the talmud [#384, #388], as well as guides to ritual law [#302, #308, #333, #379]. modernized schools under the influence of zionism and the hebrew renaissance favored new educational books in hebrew (readers, jewish history, periodicals, plays, etc.) and they taught in hebrew using the \u201cnatural method\u201d (ivrit be-ivrit) [#301, #302, #327, #357, #386, #389, #396]. some volumes were reprints of european works, but many were new publications authored in america. one reader published in 1915 contains stories that revolved around the life of a new york jewish family and among the illustrations is one of children playing baseball [#372]. student journals and yearbooks in hebrew proved that boys and girls in new york, baltimore, cleveland, minneapolis and portland (oregon) could master the language [#311, #377, #390, #393, #394, #395, #401]. the members of pirchei zion, a hebrew society for children with two branches in new york and three in bayonne, nj, published its own journal [#342]. america\u2019s youngest hebrew author, ten-year-old reuven avinoam grossman of chicago, published a hebrew pamphlet with his poetry, fiction, biblical commentary and an elegy for herzl [#352]. education guides for teachers appeared in hebrew [#349]. other immigrants favored yiddish as the educational medium [e.g., #322] and english texts also continued to be used in reform circles and by others too [#305, #306, #307]. joseph magil issued many editions of classical texts with an interlinear yiddish translation [#20, #97, #315] or english translation [#23, #104, #169]. after small steps, the hebrew periodical press also blossomed in this period. in 1881 the society of the friends of the hebrew language, the first american society to promote hebrew, launched a monthly journal titled hameasseph [#898]. it shared its name with the famous journal published a century earlier in berlin, but it was much less successful--only one issue appeared. it was, however, followed by a few other periodicals later that decade [#899, #900, #901] and then many more in the following decades [e.g., #904, #908, #909, #911, #917, #918, #920, #922]. literary, rabbinic, scholarly, cultural, zionist and other journals appeared at various frequencies and the first daily newspaper was launched in 1909 [#920]. one of the noteworthy features of american hebrew culture is that it served as a neutral space where all jews could participate together: zionists, socialists and yiddishists; orthodox, conservative and reform; and academics, rabbis and lay people. this is especially evident in hebrew periodicals that would often serve as a platform for contributors of diverse backgrounds. it is impossible in the space allotted here to review fully the entire scope and breadth of literary subjects documented by hpa in this period. in quick passing one should note some of the other subjects in the collection that haven\u2019t been mentioned in this essay thus far. drama, fiction, humor, poetry: volumes of poetry by immigrants, including menahem mendel dolitzky (who prior to immigrating to america was touted as the heir to judah leib gordon, russia\u2019s hebrew poet laureate) [#414, #422, #427, #428; for novels: #447, #451], naphtali hertz imber (of \u201chatikvah\u201d fame) [#431, #435, #444], gershon rosenzweig (whose \u201camerica\u201d was the first to explore critically life in america) [#412, #425, #1114] and isaac (\u201cish kovno\u201d) rabinowitz (a leading poet in america) [#416, #417, #421]; nationalist poetry, including a poem glorifying american forces that fought in the spanish-american war [#1121] and a volume of patriotic songs translated into hebrew [#1114]; a humor magazine by gershon rosenzweig [#922], father of hebrew satire in america, and parodies of life in america in the form of talmudic tractates [#907, #1098, #1099, #1102, #1112, #1138]; an original hebrew play performed in chicago [#490]; sifryiah amamit, a twenty-two-volume popular library that aimed to bring the best of european hebrew literature into the homes of all american jews [#468, etc.]. biography and history: popular and scholarly histories (local and general) [#508, #564, #1101, #1184]; biographies [#514, #519, #526, #539, #551, #552, #553, #554, #557]; memoirs [#518, #548]; ephemeral biographical items [#513, #516, #520, #533, #544, #547]; portrait collections of rabbis and hebraists (american and foreign) [#534, #1200]; the first book on jewish prisoners [#1100]; anti-hasidic polemics [#504, #509, #510, #512, #522, #523, #524, #549]; various constitutions, including for torah ohr, the first advanced yeshiva in the land [#1108], and agudath harabbonim, the first national orthodox rabbinic organization in america [#1124]; a hebrew translation of the declaration of independence and the constitution of the united states [#1097]. zionism: many zionist tracts, including pre-herzlian programs of political zionism [#936, #939], attempts to convince the public to purchase etrogim (ritual citrons) grown in the land of israel rather than greece [#937], opposition to the uganda proposal [#957], propagandistic sermons; volumes by r. hayyim hirschensohn and others dealing with practical applications of halacha (jewish law) in a jewish state (including enfranchisement of women) [#995, #1002, #1007]; contributions to hebrew use in the land of israel (including a special hebrew dictionary designed for those intending to move there [#1005] and a hebrew medical textbook for hebrew university [#1054]); first-hand accounts of life in the land [#1009]; fundraising publications for--and polemics against--the kollelim (the traditional socio-economic communal structure) [#918, #1104, #1111, #1113, #1180, #1186]. philosophy: classic texts in new editions (some critically edited, translated and/or annotated) and commentaries [#1019, #1023, #1038]; new philosophical systems [#1020, #1022]; a hebrew translation of buddhist scriptures [#1049]; works of mysticism [#1023]. bibliography: catalogues of private libraries (isaac leeser [#249], joshua i. cohen [#250] and mayer sulzberger [#255]) and book sellers [#258, #258a, #261, #262]; bibliographic studies [#253, #260, #263]; book reviews and responses [#256, #257, #259]; advertising materials and other publication-related ephemera [e.g., #231, #233, #234]. missionary and anti-missionary: missionary pamphlets [#1062, #1065, #1077]; anti-missionary educational works [#1064, #1067, #1068, #1073] and anti-christian polemics [#1075, #1076, #1078], including one that was the subject of a censorship litigation [#1066, #1069]. jewish hebraism: giving back to the old world although american hebrew imprints have mostly been contextualized here within their american environment, one also needs to consider the contribution of america\u2019s hebraists to global hebrew literature and intellectual life. american jewry has always suffered from a perception of being weaker in observance and hebraic learning than its european counterparts. indeed, american jews didn\u2019t have centers of traditional learning as in europe and the scholarly output of american presses even after they fully matured couldn\u2019t match what was being published in europe. it is thus easy to dismiss early american jewry as a society of consumers rather than producers, takers rather than givers. this, however, ignores the full picture. going back at least to isaac leeser, american jewry had already started to give back to world jewry. if it\u2019s true that plagiarism is to be considered the greatest form of flattery, then the pirating of leeser\u2019s pentateuch [#7] in europe speaks volumes. finally, when in 1865 a london publisher sought out an alternative to christian bible translations, he had no choice but to issue a stereotype of leeser\u2019s bible [#13]. anglo jewry at this late date had yet to issue a full bible translation of its own. in the final period of american hebrew printing, many american works were intended to be circulated abroad. prices were advertised in foreign currencies--even norwegian crowns [#826]--in addition to dollars and subscription lists include individuals living all over canada, south america and the caribbean, europe, the middle east and north africa, south africa, asia and australia. that these works actually reach foreign readers is attested to in private correspondence and by extant copies bearing ex libris markings. of note is that forty years after anglo jewry looked to america for an english translation of the bible, russian jewry used a yiddish translation from america. in hpa is an 1899 edition of joseph magil\u2019s pentateuch with an interlinear yiddish translation that was specifically printed for distribution in the russian empire [#20]. the publication by americans in the late nineteenth- and early-twentieth centuries of important hebrew reference works [#225, #227, #228, #229, #230, #231, #232, #233, #234, #236, #237, #238, #239, #240, #241, #242, #243, #244, #245, #246, #247] and scholarly publications [e.g., #118, #224, #429, #487, #605, #606] hinted that the axis of jewish wissenschaft (scientific scholarship) was already tilting to new world. women such as henrietta szold, rabbi benjamin szold\u2019s scholarly daughter, were also involved [#225, #605]. by the onset of world war two, american jewish scholarship was established and in place to assume (together with israel) leadership in jewish scholarship after the european centers were destroyed during the holocaust. the earliest hebraists, often working as individuals without any institutional affiliation and support, should be remembered for laying the groundwork. hungarian-born benjamin szold, whose many works are represented in hpa [#49, #51, #53, #54, #57, #58, #60, #61, #63, #278, #280, #281, #282, #286, #306], published a five-hundred-page hebrew commentary on job in 1886 [#197]. it was both the first volume of biblical exegesis as well as the first scientific work published by a jew in america. that same year marcus jastrow, a philadelphia rabbi, began publication of his magnum opus, a dictionary of early rabbinic aramaic and hebrew [#225]. publication spanned seventeen years (hpa contains a copy as issued in sixteen parts with original boards) and upon its completion was recognized a leading work in the field. the most prolific and indefatigable of the early hebraist \u201cgivers\u201d was judah david eisenstein, a prominent lay leader of new york\u2019s immigrant community. despite his involvement in the jewish encyclopedia (he contributed 150 articles), he was also critical of the final product and he decided to embark on an ambitious project to publish the first complete hebrew encyclopedia. otzar yisr\u2019ael (\u201canthology of israel\u201d) appeared in ten large volumes between 1907 and 1913 [#230]. eisenstein was not just its editor and the author of many entries, but as is evident from the work itself and from rare advertising material [#231, #233, #234] he was also the publisher, printer and promoter. otzar yisra\u2019el was distributed throughout europe (the hpa set was actually bound in vilna and sold by an east european distributor) and was republished numerous times in america and europe and as late as 1972 in israel. r. isaac jacob reines of lida aptly considered the work a testimony to america\u2019s status as a center not only of materialism, but also of \u201cthe spirit of israel and its literature\u201d [#241]. as america\u2019s institutions of higher jewish learning matured in the later part of this period, they further enriched jewish wissenschaft by fostering the publication of important scholarship by their faculties [e.g., #118, #224, #429, #487]. the first volume of israel davidson\u2019s thesaurus of medieval hebrew poetry [#244] appeared in 1924 and the complete four-volume work was awarded the first bialik prize in 1936. it was appraised in a 1970 retrospective to have \u201cmarked a new stage in the study of post-biblical hebrew poetry.\u201d finally, the first complete talmud published in 1919 [#635] was celebrated as an american milestone, but it was also a godsend for yeshiva students and rabbis in eastern europe following the destruction of the great hebrew print shop in europe during world war one. hpa and future scholarship as early as the 1890s, american hebraists started to propose plans for a bibliography of american hebraica. the first substantial contribution was ephraim deinard\u2019s sifrat yisra\u2019el ba-america, which he published in 1913 [#1153]. he issued a completely new edition in 1926 as kohelet america [#1208], which was necessitated by the many new books published in the interim (the number of entries doubled to almost 989). deinard admitted that even in the updated edition he missed many american imprints, but what he didn\u2019t acknowledge was that he also omitted books by authors with whom he feuded. despite the ommissions and other deficiencies, for decades kohelet america remained the only comprehensive record of american hebraica. the hpa project sought to make up for deinard\u2019s shortcomings. first and foremost, the lacunae in kohelet america\u2019s title list were filled in. his alphabetical arrangement was discarded and the entries were rearranged by genre and imprint year in order to give users a better overview of the scope and development of american hebrew printing. the basic bibliographic data was considerably enhanced with many additional fields and each entry was augmented with a biography of the author, a discussion of the book and a bibliography for further references. a comprehensive introduction and individual subject introductions were prepared to give additional context and highlight important developments, trends, etc. finally, indices were added to make the catalogue as accessible as possible, but also to demonstrate important information, such as the geographic range of subscribers. the current hpa offering by kestenbaum & co. includes over one thousand titles (representing even more individual volumes), many of utmost rarity. many holdings exist in just a few institutional copies. of the unica, some were altogether unrecorded in any secondary source prior to the publication of hpa\u2019s catalogue. all holdings are original editions and not modern reproductions, photocopies, etc. (some libraries have preserved many of the works on microfilm only.) the hpa exemplars of certain volumes are of particular bibliographic importance because they preserve errata slips, unrecorded pages and other variants, inscriptions [#673], manuscript additions [#191], etc. all the major and obscure centers of hebrew printing are included, including the first hebrew prints of cincinnati [#178, #268], salt lake city [#497], new orleans [#67], richmond [#88], st. louis [#283], toronto [#631], minneapolis [#707], newark [#899], pittsburg [#1099] and washington, d.c. [#162]. as seen above, the history of hebrew printing in america is the history of american jewry and it is impossible to tell the entire story of the american jewish saga without recourse to the wealth of hebrew sources gathered in hpa. there is literally no aspect of american jewish history that isn\u2019t documented in hpa. in the future, scholars--academic and hobbyists alike--will not be able to write about jewish denominationalism, theology, philosophy, liturgy, poetry, zionism, labor unionism, education, intellectual life, humor, family life, art, interfaith relations, gender studies or an endless array of other subjects without referencing american hebraica. as the single largest library of pre-1927 imprints in the world (in private or institutional hands), this hpa offering will be the destination for researchers in need of hebrew materials. the collection is not just more complete and better documented than the one deinard attempted to amass almost a century ago, but it is actually the first collection of this scope ever offered for sale on the auction block. and it is one that will be impossible to duplicate in the future. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014"},"estimateMax":500000,"lotNumber":"210","title":{"en":"(american judaica)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114682/view","tags":["usjudaica_books","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":300000,"aiDescription":"This item is an American Judaica document for which the image is unavailable. No specific description can be provided regarding its visual features, materials, or language beyond what the category 'American Judaica' implies. Without further catalog text or an image, specific details about its type, subject matter, or exact period remain unknown.","soldPrice":330000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:21.042Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$300,000 - $500,000","currency":"USD","id":114682,"estimateMin":300000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114683/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"bonfils, felix. wailing place of the jews jerusalem (western wall). \u201cmur ou vont pleurer les juifs.\u201d \n \n large albumen vintage print (8.5 x 11 inches) mounted on heavy card stock (total measures 13.5 x 17 inches) captioned in manuscript below. \n \n al&egrave;s, c. 1875: \n this impressive vintage albumen print, printed from the original glass negative, captures a small group of jews in prayer at the western wall in jerusalem. this scarce exhibition-size mounted print is from an especially memorable photograph by french-born photographer f&eacute;lix bonfils."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"211","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114683/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an albumen print photograph depicting a scene at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The image captures a group of Jewish men, some kneeling, others seated or standing, in prayer or contemplation against the ancient stone wall. The photograph is from an earlier period, evidenced by the attire of the men and the sepia tones. It features a decorative red and blue border with corner accents and a caption in French, \"Jérusalem. Mur où vont pleurer les juifs.\" (Jerusalem. Wall where the Jews go to weep.). The composition highlights religious observance and historical architecture.","soldPrice":1600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.352Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114683,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114684/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"folberg, neil. group of three gelatin silver prints featuring lubavitcher hassidim. \n \n * pidyon haben, brooklyn. * father and son in shul, montreal. * hassidim singing at a farbrengen, brooklyn. \n each 6.5 x 9.5 inches. matted. \n c. 1980:"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"212","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114684/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a black and white gelatin silver print photograph capturing an indoor gathering of Jewish men. Six men, all wearing dark suits and hats, are arranged around a table laden with food and bottles, suggesting a celebratory or religious meal. One man appears to be cutting a challah bread, a common element in Jewish festive occasions. The setting is intimate, with a patterned curtain visible in the background, illuminated by natural light from a window. The image conveys a sense of community and tradition within a domestic or communal setting.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.354Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114684,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114685/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"nelson, lusha. rabbinical scholars. \n \n gelatin silver print. signed on the mat. \n approx. 7 x 7 inches. framed. \n (new york, 1934): \n latvian-born lusha nelson (1907-38) was a prot&eacute;g&eacute; of edward steichen, and working for conde nast\u2019s vanity fair and vogue magazines he was known for his captivating and iconic images of celebrities. in 1934 he was hired, along with steichen, by the federation of jewish philanthropies for whom he took the present photograph.===see philbrook museum of art catalogue, lusha nelson photographs (2017)."},"estimateMax":800,"lotNumber":"213","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114685/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a monochrome photographic print, likely a gelatin silver print, with a sepia tone, portraying two elderly Jewish men in profile. They are seated, both with long white beards and wearing kippahs and tallits (prayer shawls), intently reading from open books. The photograph is characterized by its dramatic lighting, with the men illuminated against a dark background, creating a contemplative and solemn mood. The deep shadows emphasize their concentration and the religious nature of their activity.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.355Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $800","currency":"USD","id":114685,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114686/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114686/006/006.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"shahn, ben. lower east side. \n \n two gelatin silver prints. \n 6 x 9 inches. framed. \n new york, 1936 (printed later): \n although shahn's photography work was primarily for documentary purposes, some of his images are know to have served as models for his paintings.===see kao, katzman & webster, ben shahn's new york: the photography of modern times (2000) pp. 249-50."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"214","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114686/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a black and white gelatin silver print photograph capturing a street scene in front of a butcher shop. The shop window is adorned with Hebrew script, featuring images of chickens and the words \"MEAT AND POULTRY MARKET.\" Inside, animal carcasses are visible hanging, suggesting a kosher butcher. Posters for movies and local events, including the 'Clinton Theatre,' are taped to the window, providing contextual clues about the period and location. The image offers a glimpse into urban Jewish life, commerce, and entertainment of a past era.","soldPrice":1100,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.356Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114686,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114687/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"vishniac, roman. heder in slonim, 1938. \n \n gelatin silver-print. titled and signed \u2018roman vishniac\u2019 in pencil below image. \n mounted. 10.5 x 10.5 inches (26.6 x 26.6 cm). \n (1938) printed 1970\u2019s:"},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"215","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114687/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a black and white gelatin silver print photograph from 1938, titled \"Heder in Slonim,\" by Roman Vishniac. It depicts a traditional Jewish elementary school classroom (heder) in Slonim, with an older, bearded rabbi seated at the back, observing young boys studying. The boys, dressed in caps and casual attire, are seated at wooden desks, engrossed in their texts. The scene captures an intimate moment of Jewish education and daily life in Eastern Europe before World War II, with a Star of David visible on a wall in the background.","soldPrice":1800,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.357Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114687,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114688/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114688/006/006.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"vishniac, roman. cheder boys, vrchni apsa (carpathian mountains). 6 x 7 inches. <<* and:>> old woman on a bench, paris. 7 x 9 inches. \n \n two press photos for a vishniac exhibition held at teacher\u2019s college of columbia university, new york, 1943. each captioned and dated on verso. \n \n (1937), printed 1943:"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"216","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114688/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a black and white gelatin silver print photograph capturing a poignant street scene. The subject is an elderly woman, dressed in a dark coat and skirt, seated on an ornate park bench with her head bowed down, seemingly in distress or sleep. Her shoes are visible, providing a glimpse of common footwear for the period. In the background, a vintage car and an indistinct figure suggest an urban environment. The photograph's candid nature and emotional depth make it a striking example of street photography, evoking empathy for the solitary figure.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.359Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114688,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114689/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(holocaust). group of 16 black-and-white photographs by <<willy georg>> of street scenes featuring jews in the warsaw ghetto. \n \n gelatin silver prints. printed on leonar paper. \n each: 5 x 3.5 inches. \n warsaw, june-august, 1941: \n born in muenster, germany in 1911, willy georg was a radio operator in the german army during world war ii. an accomplished photographer, georg supplemented his military income by taking pictures of his fellow soldiers with his leica camera. in the summer of 1941 when his unit was stationed in the mokotow district of warsaw, georg was issued a pass by one of his officers and instructed to enter the enclosed ghetto and bring back photographs of what he saw. georg shot four rolls of film and began to shoot a fifth when he was stopped by a german police detachment. failing to check his pockets for finished rolls of film, the police confiscated only the film in his camera before escorting him out of the ghetto. georg developed the four rolls of film himself at a photo laboratory in warsaw and sent them home to his wife in muenster. he kept the existence of these photographs to himself for the next fifty years.===in the late 1980\u2019s georg met rafael scharf, a polish jew from london working in the field of polish-jewish studies. georg gave scharf his warsaw ghetto photographs. scharf published a selection of these photographs soon thereafter.===see rafael scharf, in the warsaw ghetto - summer 1941 (aperture, 1993)."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"217","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114689/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This lot consists of four separate black and white photographs depicting street scenes from Jewish life, likely in an Eastern European city. The images show individuals and groups, including merchants in front of shops with Hebrew signs and Stars of David, a bustling crowd on a street, and a man with children sitting outdoors. The period appears to be pre-World War II, capturing daily life, commerce, and community interactions in a Jewish neighborhood. The architectural styles and clothing provide historical context, highlighting the vibrancy of these communities.","soldPrice":8000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.360Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114689,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114690/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(holocaust). warsaw ghetto uprising. \n \n gelatin silver press photograph, dated 22/12/45 and with typed press captions on verso. \n 4 x 5.5 inches. \n (1943) printed 1945: \n one of the most universally recognized, and perhaps the single most iconic photograph from the holocaust period. it shows jews, including the young boy with his hands raised, who were captured by the german ss during the suppression of the warsaw ghetto uprising, spring, 1943. the photograph was included in the stroop report which was prepared for ss chief heinrich himmler by general juergen stroop recounting the uprising and the eventual liquidation of the warsaw ghetto. this photograph was entered into evidence at the nuremberg trials."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"218","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114690/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a striking black and white gelatin silver print photograph depicting a scene from the Holocaust, showing a group of Jewish civilians being rounded up by German soldiers. The civilians, including women, children, and men, are shown with their hands raised in surrender or being directed by armed soldiers in helmets. Their faces convey fear and resignation, while children in the foreground also raise their hands. The image powerfully documents a moment of persecution, illustrating the terror experienced by victims during the Holocaust.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.361Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114690,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114691/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"(holocaust). group of six contemporary press photographs pertaining to the holocaust. all with press markings on versos. \n \n * berlin synagogue burning on kristallnacht. * polish jews being rounded up by german soldiers. * female ss guards in belsen concentration camp. * portrait of eichmann prior to the opening of his trial in jerusalem. * anne frank. * young german-jewish refugees in london prepare to leave for melbourne. \n \n 1938-61:"},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"219","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114691/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a black and white gelatin silver print photograph depicting a dramatic scene of a building on fire, likely during the Holocaust or a period of intense conflict. Smoke billows from the rooftop, and a fire engine is parked in the foreground, with ladders extended towards the burning structure. A flag, possibly a Nazi flag given the historical context of similar items in this collection, is visible on a pole outside the building. The image conveys destruction and the urgent response of emergency services, capturing a moment of crisis.","soldPrice":500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.363Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114691,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114692/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"(germany). \u201cjews quarter, frankfurt, 1875.\u201d \n \n albumen vintage print (8 x 10 inches) mounted on card and captioned in a contemporary hand below. \n \n 1875: \n established in 1462, the frankfurter judengasse was one of the earliest ghettos in germany. due to crowded conditions most jews left the former ghetto during the 19th century and settled in nearby suburbs. the neighborhood, though historic and picturesque, became rundown so the city sought to redevelop the area and in 1874 razed the desolate buildings on the west side of the street (as seen in the present photograph). by the end of the 19th century most of the historic buildings in the judengasse had been demolished."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"220","title":{"en":"(photography)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114692/view","tags":["usart_photography","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an albumen print photograph, dated 1870, titled \"Jews Quarter, Frankfurt.\" The image captures a long street lined with multi-storied buildings, showcasing the architecture of a historic Jewish quarter. The street appears unpaved and somewhat disheveled, with construction or rubble piled along one side. Figures, including individuals and horse-drawn carriages, are visible on the street, indicating daily activity. The sepia tone and detailed composition offer a historical perspective on urban life and the appearance of Jewish communities in 19th-century Europe.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:25.364Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114692,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114693/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"zionist pioneer: a profile-portrait. hebrew quote from psalms 126 above: \u201chazorim bedimah berinah yiktzoru\u201d [\u201cthey who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy.\u201d] \n \n wood carving. \n 14.5 x 20.5 inches. cracked and with some wear. framed. \n late 19th-century: \n this striking artwork is a rare legacy from the very dawn of zionism - most certainly pre-herzlian. the artist left the piece unsigned, recording just a single hebrew letter (\u201cdaled\u201d) as an indication of who might have created it.===it has been suggested that it was produced in odessa, the port city in the ukraine in which the hovevei zion movement was central and the ships\u2019 departure point for many jewish immigrants to palestine."},"estimateMax":10000,"lotNumber":"221","title":{"en":"(israel, land of)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114693/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":8000,"aiDescription":"This artwork is a carved wooden relief, identified with 'Israel, Land of'. It depicts a male figure in profile, wearing a hat and holding a scythe, suggesting agricultural labor or pioneering spirit. Above the figure, Hebrew script is carved, adding a textual element. The wood exhibits natural grain and some visible cracking, contributing to its rustic aesthetic. The piece is framed in a simple dark wooden frame, enhancing its historical or folk art appeal.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.655Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$8,000 - $10,000","currency":"USD","id":114693,"estimateMin":8000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114694/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"the old city of jerusalem. featuring temple mount (har habayit) and surrounding buildings. \n \n colored stencil on velvet. with stamp \u201cbezalel, jerusalem.\u201d \n laid onto board. 21 x 52/5 inches. \n jerusalem, early 20th century:"},"estimateMax":4000,"lotNumber":"222","title":{"en":"(bezalel)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114694/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is a panoramic print titled 'Jerusalem' by Bezalel, depicting a nighttime cityscape of Jerusalem. The artwork features prominent architectural landmarks such as the Dome of the Rock under a dramatic dark blue, cloudy sky. Buildings are illuminated with warm lights, and dark green trees punctuate the foreground. The overall style is illustrative with strong outlines and vibrant colors against a dark background, evoking a sense of reverence and mystique.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.657Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $4,000","currency":"USD","id":114694,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114695/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"pair of miniature portraits, evidently of an orthodox husband and wife, very finely painted and encassed behind glass. \n \n watercolor on ivory within chased gold and cut-glass matching octagonal frames. \n 2 x 2.5 inches (portrait) set within 4 x 4.5 inch frame. \n central europe, early 19th-century: \n << most uncommon finely painted pair of portraits of an observant husband and wife of a classic, traditional appearance.>>===this distinguished couple - as yet unidentified - have a noble appearance and are attired in traditional dress. the lady wears the classic garb of a well-to-do, orthodox, aschkenazic woman. particularly characteristic is her head-covering, featuring the sterntichel customarily worn by central and east european jewish women on the sabbath and festivals. her husband has a tall yarmulke skullcap upon his head. he wears a long beard as expected of the othodox, but it is here neatly combed and his moustache trimmed. peeking beneath his formal frock-coat appears a white cravat.===the artist is unidentified, yet his work is clearly of the highest standards. needless to say the man man and his wife were people of means in order to commission a fine artist to paint their portraits."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"223","title":{"en":"(portraits)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114695/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This lot features a pair of portrait miniatures, likely from the 18th or early 19th century, presented in octagonal gilt frames and set into rectangular black backgrounds. One portrait depicts an older woman with a white cap and dark dress against a blue background, while the other shows an older man with a long white beard and a black cap against a dark brown background. Both subjects appear to be of European descent, rendered with fine detail typical of the miniature genre. The dark backgrounds of the overall pieces create a striking contrast with the lighter central portraits.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.658Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114695,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114696/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"prayers. \n \n oil on canvas. signed and dated by the artist upper left. \n 36 x 45 inches (92 x 114 cm). \n 1924: \n << important painting by this significant hungarian artist. a rare jewish scene. >>===a deeply evocative painting depicting men at their morning prayers, clad in their prayer-shawls. an open window alongside with the townscape fully visible.===one of the most prominent representative of the hungarian avant-garde style, vilmos csaba perlrott (1880-1955) led an extremely productive artistic life and was very receptive to the new style trends.===active in the nagyb&aacute;nya artists' colony, he received a scholarship to the acad&eacute;mie julian and the acad&eacute;mie de la grande chaumiere in paris, which he left in 1908 to join the circle around henri matisse. heavily influenced by matisse's style, perlrott-csaba gave up his former neo-impressionist style in favor of fauvism and showed in the salons d'automne of 1907 and 1911.===a study trip in 1911 led perlrott-csaba to spain, where he was deeply influenced by el greco. through the 1920s he traveled europe with his wife, the artist margit graber, settling in the artist's colony of szentendre, near budapest. he continued to summer in nagyb&aacute;nya, near the border of transylvania, where he painted \"en plein air\" in his distinctive cubist-fauvist style.===this is one of a bare handful of paintings produced by this hungarian-jewish artist that reflects his cultural and religious roots."},"estimateMax":70000,"lotNumber":"224","title":{"en":"perlrott-csaba, vilmos"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114696/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":50000,"aiDescription":"This is an oil painting by Vilmos Perlrott-Csaba, portraying a group of figures in traditional attire, possibly depicting Jewish men in prayer shawls or cloaks, within an interior setting that opens to a landscape view. The figures are rendered with bold, expressionistic brushstrokes and a muted color palette dominated by greens and browns. In the background, a townscape with a domed building is visible under a vibrant blue sky, contrasting with the darker interior scene. The artwork conveys a sense of solemnity and introspection.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.659Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$50,000 - $70,000","currency":"USD","id":114696,"estimateMin":50000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114697/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"klezmer musicians. \n \n gouache on paper. signed by the artist lower right. finely framed by max granick. \n 15 x 19 inches (to frame). \n ukrainian/french, (1894-1962):"},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"225","title":{"en":"mane-katz"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114697/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This vibrant painting by Mane-Katz depicts two dynamic figures in a folk or celebratory scene, likely musicians or dancers. One figure plays a drum while the other plays a wind instrument. The composition features a bold use of color with a strong yellow outline around the figures, set against a red background. The brushwork is expressive and fluid, typical of modern art, and the piece is presented in an ornate gold frame.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.661Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114697,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114698/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"torah study. \n \n oil on canvas. \n 23 x 35.5 inches. framed. \n n.d: \n russian-born zalman kleinman (1933-95) was a chabad chossid who expressed his chassidic fervor by way of his art. kleinman was encouraged to paint by his revered rebbe, who stated, \"art adds another dimension of feeling to one\u2019s spiritual commitment.\" see the chassidic art institute catalogue, zalman kleinman: paintings (new york, 2001)."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"226","title":{"en":"kleinman, zalman"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114698/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This oil painting by Zalman Kleinman depicts a group of seven elderly, bearded men, likely rabbis or scholars, gathered around a table with open books, engrossed in study or discussion. The figures are dressed in traditional dark attire and hats, and one holds a pipe. The artist employs a warm color palette with expressive brushstrokes, characteristic of genre scenes often depicting Jewish life. The painting is housed in an ornate gold-tone frame.","soldPrice":16000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.662Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114698,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114699/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"group of 10 etchings in preparation for and utilized in budko\u2019s illustrated edition of the chassidische legenden and das jahr des juden. \n \n each signed by the artist in pencil, few also marked \u201cprobedruck\u201d and one with additional inscription. \n \n 1920\u2019s:"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"227","title":{"en":"budko, joseph"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114699/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This lot comprises four distinct graphic prints by Joseph Budko, showcasing his black-and-white printmaking style. The collection includes woodcuts and possibly engravings or etchings, depicting various figural and narrative scenes. Subjects include a group of robed figures, a crowd of men in traditional attire, a man carrying a woman, and a solitary standing figure. The prints are characterized by their strong contrasts, detailed linework, and somber or dramatic subject matter, often reflecting themes of Jewish life or historical events.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.663Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114699,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114700/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114700/006/006.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"the prophet jonah. <<*>> the prophet jeremiah. \n \n two woodcuts. titled, numbered (7/10 and 8/10), dated sand signed by the artist in pencil below each woodcut. \n 15 x 36 inches. one framed, one unframed. \n 1949: \n see fern & o\u2019sullivan, the complete prints of leonard baskin (1984) p. 32"},"estimateMax":1800,"lotNumber":"228","title":{"en":"baskin, leonard"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114700/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1200,"aiDescription":"This is a large woodcut print by Leonard Baskin, depicting a standing male figure with outstretched hands and a somber expression. The figure is rendered in a highly stylized, expressionistic manner, characterized by strong contrasts between black and unprinted areas, and distinctive textures created by the woodcut medium. The subject appears to be a prophet or a sagely figure, emphasized by his flowing robe. The print is presented vertically, framed within a simple, light-colored mat and a thin wooden frame.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.664Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,200 - $1,800","currency":"USD","id":114700,"estimateMin":1200},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114701/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"bearded jew. \n \n plaster bust sculpture. signed and dated by the artist. \n 13 x 8 x 11cm. \n (new york), 1949: \n modest stein (1871\u20131958), born modest aronstam, was a russian-born american-jewish illustrator and close associate of the anarchists alexander berkman and emma goldman. he was berkman's cousin and intended replacement in the attempted assassination in pittsburgh in 1892 of the industrialist henry clay frick. later stein abandoned active anarchism and became a successful illustrator for books and pulp magazines."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"229","title":{"en":"stein, modest"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114701/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a sculptural relief by Modest Stein, dated 1959, depicting a profile bust of an elderly man with a prominent beard and hat. The piece is crafted from a light-colored material, possibly plaster or clay, with visible texture and a somewhat weathered appearance. The detailed rendering of the facial features captures an intense or contemplative expression. The artist's name and date are visibly inscribed on the side of the rectangular block that forms the base of the relief.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.665Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114701,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114702/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"the golem of prague. \n \n oil on canvas. signed by the artist upper left. \n 21 x 29 inches, relined. framed. \n (german, 1825-71): \n for another jewish-themed painting by this artist sold at auction, see sotheby\u2019s new york, judaica, 16th march, 1999 lot 252.===regarding the influence of the legend of the prague golem on the arts, see jewish museum catalogue, golem! danger, deliverance and art (1988)."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"230","title":{"en":"schmitt, oscar"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114702/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This oil painting by Oscar Schmitt depicts an interior genre scene, likely in a historical or European setting. An elderly bearded man sits at a table laden with books and objects, engaged in study or contemplation, while another man stands nearby. In the background, a third figure in what appears to be medieval or historical attire stands by an archway. The painting uses a muted color palette and chiaroscuro lighting to create a dramatic and atmospheric effect, framed in a dark, ornate frame.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.666Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114702,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114703/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"aleph-beis. \n \n charcoal and watercolor. signed by the artist in yiddish (twice). \n 8 x 12 inches. older wooden frame. \n n.d:"},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"231","title":{"en":"ryback, isaacher ber"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114703/view","tags":["usart_paintings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is a cubist-style drawing by Isaacher Ber Ryback, featuring a fragmented composition with architectural elements and Hebrew script. The artwork, created with colored pencils and graphite on brown paper, depicts an abstract interior scene or still life. Visible elements include steps, geometric forms, and Hebrew text in blue, contributing to a sense of depth and symbolic meaning. The piece is framed in a dark wooden frame, emphasizing its warm, earthy tones.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.074Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114703,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114704/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"soldiers. \n \n charcoal on paper. titled in yiddish above, and signed by the artist in pencil lower right. \n 12.9 x 16.3 inches (32.8 x 41.5 cm). framed. \n n.d:"},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"232","title":{"en":"ryback, isaacher ber"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114704/view","tags":["usart_drawings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a graphite and wash drawing by Isaacher Ber Ryback, presenting a genre scene with three male figures. The artwork depicts one man seated, holding a bottle, another standing with a rifle, and a third smaller figure looking on. The style is illustrative and features exaggerated caricatural elements, likely from the early 20th century. The figures appear to be peasants or laborers, dressed in traditional attire, with visible details like embroidered shirts and boots. The artist's signature is present in the lower right corner.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.076Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114704,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114705/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"jewish women in the fields of the ukraine. \n \n charcoal on board. signed lower right. \n 16.5 x 22.4 inches (42 x 57 cm). framed. \n c. 1926 : \n from ryback\u2019s extensive studies of the day-to-day life and labor of jewish agriculturalists on the farms established in the ukraine with the assistance of the agro-joint (the american jewish joint agricultural corporation)."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"233","title":{"en":"ryback, isaachar ber"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114705/view","tags":["usart_drawings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a drawing by Isaachar Ber Ryback, depicting a rural scene with figures engaged in agricultural work. The artwork, rendered in monochromatic tones on a reddish-brown paper, features a central female figure holding a stick, with another woman harvesting in the background. A large hay bale and a simple stove with pots are also visible, suggesting a pastoral, perhaps early 20th-century, setting. The line work is expressive, defining the forms of the figures and elements within the expansive landscape.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.078Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114705,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114706/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"\u201cyou saved them in 1917, will you let them starve now? american jewry! the wolves of hunger are still attacking. will we protect our own from starvation?\u201d \n \n designed by cozzy gottsdanker for the american jewish relief committee for sufferers from the war. \n 19 x 12 inches. laid down. \n new york, 1918: \n \u201cshall we save them? - what will you do?\u201d===seeking to aid the impoverished jews of palestine and eastern europe following world war i, american jewish relief groups united to create the american jewish joint distribution committee (commonly known as the joint)."},"estimateMax":2000,"lotNumber":"234","title":{"en":"(americana)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114706/view","tags":["uscollectibles_promotional","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is an American Jewish Relief Committee propaganda poster from the early 20th century, likely around 1917-1919. The poster, printed on paper, features a central allegorical image of a female figure, labeled 'AMERICAN JEWRY,' defending against 'THE WOLVES OF HUNGER.' Text in English pleads for aid for European Jews suffering from starvation and tuberculosis, with prominent phrases like 'You Saved Them in 1917 Will You Let Them Starve Now?' and 'SHALL WE SAVE THEM? WHAT WILL YOU DO?'. It also states that 'All Campaign Expenses Met by Private Funds' and 'EVERY DOLLAR IS FOR RELIEF'.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.080Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,000","currency":"USD","id":114706,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114707/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"multicolored needlepoint depicting the sacrifice of isaac (akedath yitzchak). \n \n two registers featuring: the angel holding back abraham\u2019s knife, with the ram embedded in the bush alongside; and the four travelers journeying to mount moriah (two in distinct ottoman dress). captioned with relevant hebrew biblical verses. \n 19 x 22.5 inches (to frame). unexamined out of frame. \n 20th-century:"},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"235","title":{"en":"(biblical folk art)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114707/view","tags":["usdecor_textiles","usdecor","usdecor_all"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a framed biblical folk art needlepoint or embroidered tapestry, likely from the 20th century. It depicts two distinct scenes from the Binding of Isaac (Akedah) in colorful threads, with Hebrew script incorporated into the design. The upper panel shows an angel interceding with Abraham and Isaac on an altar, while the lower panel illustrates figures, including Abraham, Isaac, and a donkey, journeying to the sacrifice. The vibrant threads and naive style characterize the folk art genre, making it a visually rich narrative piece.","soldPrice":300,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.081Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114707,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114708/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"prayers in the synagogue. \n \n gouache on board. signed by the artist lower right. \n 4 x 5 inches. \n (new york, c. 1960):"},"estimateMax":1200,"lotNumber":"236","title":{"en":"schor, ilya"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114708/view","tags":["usart_paintings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is a painting by Ilya Schor, depicting a traditional Jewish synagogue scene, likely from the mid-20th century. The artwork, executed in oil or tempera on board, features multiple bearded men in prayer shawls and traditional attire gathered under decorative arches in a vibrant blue interior. Two young boys present a crown-like object. The folk art style is evident in the flattened perspective and detailed, colorful patterns on the arches and textiles. The artist's signature is visible in the lower right corner.","soldPrice":900,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.083Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,200","currency":"USD","id":114708,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114709/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"american soldier (g.i). \n \n pen-and-ink and gouache on board. signed and dated by the artist. \n 9.5 x 13.5 inches (sheet size). framed. \n new york, 1944:"},"estimateMax":9000,"lotNumber":"237","title":{"en":"szyk, arthur"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114709/view","tags":["usart_mixedmedia","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":6000,"aiDescription":"This is a pen and ink drawing by Arthur Szyk, dated NY '44, depicting a detailed portrait of a soldier. The artwork, rendered on aged paper with a subtle blue wash on the lower legs, features a male soldier in a helmet, uniform, and combat gear, holding a submachine gun. The intricate cross-hatching and fine linework are characteristic of Szyk's illustrative style, emphasizing the textures of the uniform and the determined expression of the figure. The soldier's direct gaze and ready stance convey a sense of vigilance and strength.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.085Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$6,000 - $9,000","currency":"USD","id":114709,"estimateMin":6000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114710/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"\u201cglubb pasha: and we will fight you jews to the last american dollar\u2026\u201d \n \n pen-and-ink on card. captioned, signed and dated by the artist. \n 4.5 x 9.5 inches. framed. \n new canaan, 1948: \n injured jewish soldier with \u201cisrael\u201d armband before sir john bagot glubb (known as glubb pasha) who led and trained transjordan's arab legion between 1939 and 1956 as its commanding general. each of the individuals surrounding the captured jewish soldier has a swastika embedded within their head-dress. glubb pasha himself is being attended to a a obsequious mohammed amin al-husseini, the grand mufti of jerusalem. arrayed on the floor alongside a tray of scotch and soda are texts including one reading: \u201cfuneral march - mediations by bernadotte\u201d"},"estimateMax":7000,"lotNumber":"238","title":{"en":"szyk, arthur"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114710/view","tags":["usart_drawings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":5000,"aiDescription":"This is a detailed pen and ink political cartoon by Arthur Szyk, dated 1943, depicting a critique of an 'Operation Truce' during World War II. The artwork shows a wounded Jewish soldier standing opposite caricatured Axis figures, including one labeled 'NL ADVISORY CAPACITY' next to a tank. The background features other military figures and a scroll detailing \"Operation Truce\". The intricate linework and symbolic imagery are characteristic of Szyk's highly detailed and politically charged illustrations. The caption at the bottom reads, 'GLIBB DAGGA: AND WE WILL FIGHT YOU JEWS TO THE LAST AMERICAN DOLLAR!'","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.086Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$5,000 - $7,000","currency":"USD","id":114710,"estimateMin":5000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114711/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"\u201cthe melancholic baby\u2026\u201d \n \n pen-and-ink on card. captioned, signed and dated by the artist. \n 6.5 x 11 inches. framed. \n new canaan, 1948: \n captioned below by szyk:===\u201cabdullah ibn hussain, the legal king of hedjaz, fake king of a british fake called transjordania\u2026(hejdaz is called saudi arabia).\u201d===\u201cabdullah: some people have all the luck. farouk has jewish subject [sic] to steele [sic] their goods, ibn saud has my oil royalties\u2026 all i have is bevin\u2019s copy of mein kampf and a glubb over my head\u2026\u201d"},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"239","title":{"en":"szyk, arthur"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114711/view","tags":["usart_drawings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a detailed political cartoon by Arthur Szyk, dated New Canaan 1948, focusing on King Abdullah I of Transjordan. The elaborate pen and ink drawing depicts Abdullah I in opulent attire, surrounded by symbols of wealth and power, including a British subscription box, a dagger, and books. Other figures, like a 'FREEDOM WAR' soldier, appear in the background. The artwork contains extensive text, including a speech bubble from Abdullah I and a detailed caption below, criticizing his legitimacy and alliances. The highly intricate linework and satirical elements are hallmarks of Szyk's distinctive style.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.087Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114711,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114712/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"joseph hirsch d&uuml;nner (chief rabbi of amsterdam, 1833-1911). \n \n lithograph bust portrait turned to his right. signed by the artist in pencil lower left. \n 7 x 8.5 inches (sheet size). matted. \n circa 1920.:"},"estimateMax":600,"lotNumber":"240","title":{"en":"struck, hermann."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114712/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":400,"aiDescription":"This is a charcoal or lithographic portrait by Hermann Struck, depicting a bearded man with eyeglasses, likely from the early 20th century. The artwork is rendered on irregularly torn paper, giving it a raw, authentic feel. The man, presented in profile, wears a suit and bow tie, conveying an air of intellectualism or formality. Struck's signature is visible below the portrait, indicating his authorship of this detailed and expressive study.","soldPrice":400,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:30.089Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$400 - $600","currency":"USD","id":114712,"estimateMin":400},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114713/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"burial-site of r. elijah, gaon of vilna. \n \n lithograph. signed by the artist in pencil lower left. \n 8.5 x 11 inches (sheet size). matted. \n 1920\u2019s:"},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"241","title":{"en":"struck, hermann."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114713/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a landscape drawing by Hermann Struck, likely from the early 20th century. The artwork depicts a rural or village scene featuring several buildings with prominent roofs, one of which has a sign with legible text. In the background, a tall structure resembling a church or tower stands on a hill, with a large leafless tree dominating the left side of the composition. The sketch is rendered in graphite or charcoal on light-colored paper, characterized by its loose, expressive lines and monochromatic palette.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.538Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114713,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114714/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"akiva eger. \n \n portrait engraving of this influential rabbinic scholar and leader (1761-1837). full margins. signed by the artist in pencil lower left and numbered \u201cii / 4.\u201d \n 17.5 x 21 inches (sheet size). matted. \n circa 1930.:"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"242","title":{"en":"struck, hermann."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114714/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an etching by Hermann Struck, likely an early 20th-century work. The portrait depicts an elderly man, possibly a rabbi, with a long, flowing beard and a fur-trimmed hat, rendered with deep character and texture. The subject is shown from the chest up, facing forward with a contemplative or weary expression. The monochromatic sepia tones and visible etched lines on slightly rough-edged paper enhance the historical and textural quality of the artwork.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.540Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114714,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114715/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"prayer at the western wall. \n \n etching. numbered (\u201c42/50\u201d) and signed by the artist in pencil below. \n 11.5 x 13 inches (sheet size). matted. \n 1920\u2019s:"},"estimateMax":500,"lotNumber":"243","title":{"en":"struck, hermann."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114715/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":300,"aiDescription":"This is an etching by Hermann Struck, featuring two figures from behind, likely from the early 20th century. The artwork depicts two individuals, possibly men, wearing long coats, standing before an indistinct background that appears to be a wall or counter. The figures are rendered with expressive, gestural lines, characteristic of an etching, and the overall tone is monochromatic. The composition emphasizes their posture and the texture of their clothing, conveying a sense of observation or contemplation.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.541Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$300 - $500","currency":"USD","id":114715,"estimateMin":300},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114716/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"the purim story. \n \n gouache and pen-and-ink. captioned and signed by the artist in hebrew. presentation inscription on verso. \n 13.5 x 19.5 inches (to mat). framed. \n safed, n.d:"},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"244","title":{"en":"shalom of safed (moskowitz, sholom)"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114716/view","tags":["usjudaica_art","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a vibrant folk art painting by Shalom of Safed (Sholom Moskowitz), depicting a narrative scene, likely from the mid to late 20th century. The artwork is divided into three horizontal registers, illustrating a procession with figures in colorful attire, musicians, and buildings in a stylized, flattened perspective. Hebrew script is integrated into the composition, providing textual context to the events unfolding. The bright, distinct colors and whimsical style are characteristic of Shalom of Safed's unique artistic approach.","soldPrice":4500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.542Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114716,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114717/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"reading in bed. \n \n tinted etching. signed by artist in pencil lower right. \n 10 x 11.5 inches to mat. finely framed. \n c. 1912:"},"estimateMax":1200,"lotNumber":"245","title":{"en":"lilien, ephraim moses."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114717/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is an intaglio print by Ephraim Moses Lilien, likely from the early 20th century, presented in a red-toned frame. The artwork depicts a young woman reclining in bed, reading from a book supported by a stand, captured in warm sepia tones. A small circular portrait hangs on the patterned wall behind her, and a bedside table with an object sits to the left. The scene evokes a sense of quiet domesticity and intellectual engagement, with detailed textures visible in the bedding and wall.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.543Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,200","currency":"USD","id":114717,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114718/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"grandmother. \n \n etching. signed by artist in pencil lower right. \n 7.5 x 7.5 inches to mat. finely framed. \n 1915: \n harz, list of the etchings of e.m. lilien (1922) no. 159."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"246","title":{"en":"lilien, ephraim moses."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114718/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is an etching by Ephraim Moses Lilien, likely from the early 20th century, presenting a striking portrait of an elderly woman. Her face is highly detailed with deep wrinkles, conveying a sense of age and experience, and she wears a dark head covering that flows over her shoulders. The monochromatic sepia tones and the intricate linework characteristic of etching emphasize the texture of her skin and hair. The artist's signature, 'E.M. Lilien,' is visible in the bottom right corner.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.544Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114718,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114719/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"konia. \n \n etching. signed by artist in pencil lower right. \n 9 x 12.5 inches to mat. finely framed. \n 1918: \n harz, list of the etchings of e.m. lilien (1922) no. 170."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"247","title":{"en":"lilien, ephraim moses."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114719/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an etching by Ephraim Moses Lilien, likely from the early 20th century, depicting an expansive urban landscape. The artwork features a large cemetery with numerous gravestones in the foreground, leading towards a cityscape dominated by mosques and other large buildings with domes and minarets. The scene is rendered in sepia tones with fine detail, showcasing a Middle Eastern architectural style. The signature 'E.M. Lilien' is visible in the bottom right corner, affirming the artist.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.545Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114719,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114720/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"landscape in galicia ii. \n \n etching. signed by artist in pencil lower right. \n 10 x 14 inches to mat. finely framed. \n 1921: \n harz, list of the etchings of e.m. lilien (1922) no. 210."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"248","title":{"en":"lilien, ephraim moses."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114720/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is an etching by Ephraim Moses Lilien, likely from the early 20th century, depicting a rustic landscape scene. The artwork features three prominent pollarded trees with bare branches, standing near a thatched-roof building or hayrick, with a cart nearby. A wooden fence and sparse vegetation complete the rural setting, rendered with meticulous linework in sepia tones. The scene evokes a quiet, agrarian atmosphere, and the artist's signature 'E.M. Lilien' is visible in the bottom right.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.546Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114720,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114721/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"esther (in red). \n \n etching. signed by artist in pencil lower right. \n 11 x 12 inches to mat. finely framed. \n 1911: \n harz, list of the etchings of e.m. lilien (1922) no. 57.===see tel aviv museum catalogue, painting with light: the photographic aspect in the work of e.m. lilien (1991) p. 49, based on photograph, model with scarf and head adornment, 1906, tama no. 91."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"249","title":{"en":"lilien, ephraim moses."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114721/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is an intaglio print by Ephraim Moses Lilien, likely from the early 20th century, depicting a portrait of a woman. She wears an elaborate striped headdress and long, beaded earrings, characteristic of a Middle Eastern or North African aesthetic. The artwork is rendered in warm sepia tones, highlighting the intricate details of her jewelry and facial features. The artist's distinctive monogram and signature 'E.M. Lilien' are visible in the lower left and right corners, respectively.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.547Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114721,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114722/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"camel caravan in beirut \u201ckarawanserei.\u201d \n \n etching. titled in the plate and signed by artist in pencil lower right. \n 17 x 21 inches to mat. finely framed. \n 1914: \n harz, list of the etchings of e.m. lilien (1922) no. 99."},"estimateMax":1200,"lotNumber":"250","title":{"en":"lilien, ephraim moses."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114722/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is an etching by Ephraim Moses Lilien, likely from the early 20th century, depicting a bustling caravanserai in Beirut. The artwork features several camels, some laden with cargo, resting or standing under the arched colonnades of a building. The scene is rendered in sepia tones with rich detail, capturing the architectural elements and the activity of a market or stopping point for travelers. The inscription \"Karawanserai in Beyrouth\" (Caravanserai in Beirut) is visible, along with the artist's signature 'E.M. Lilien'.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:29.548Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,200","currency":"USD","id":114722,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114723/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"belly-dancer. \n \n etching. signed by artist in pencil lower right. \n 11.5 x 7.5 inches to mat. finely framed. \n 1911: \n harz, list of the etchings of e.m. lilien (1922) no. 62."},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"251","title":{"en":"lilien, ephraim moses."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114723/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a sepia-toned etching by Ephraim Moses Lilien, depicting a female dancer in an orientalist style. The figure is shown with arms raised, wearing ornate jewelry, a bra, and striped pants, suggesting an Middle Eastern or North African dance. The background is minimally sketched, possibly showing structures resembling classical ruins or city outlines. The print captures a moment of dynamic movement and is characteristic of early 20th-century artistic movements with exotic themes.","soldPrice":500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.955Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114723,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114724/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"the milker. \n \n etching. signed by artist in pencil lower right. \n 12 x 13 inches to mat. finely framed. \n 1914: \n harz, list of the etchings of e.m. lilien (1922) no. 107."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"252","title":{"en":"lilien, ephraim moses."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114724/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is an etching by Ephraim Moses Lilien, portraying a pastoral scene of a shepherd shearing a sheep. The artwork is executed in a monochromatic, sepia tone, emphasizing line and texture. The subject matter reflects a rural genre, showing a worker in traditional attire tending to livestock within a fenced enclosure, with a wooded hillside in the background. The detailed rendering of the wool and the rough texture of the landscape are notable visual features.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.957Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114724,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114725/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"untitled. \n \n gouache and ink on card. \n 6/5 x 11/5 inches. framed. \n 1940\u2019s: \n mordecai ardon (1896-1992) was likely israel\u2019s foremost artist - certainly the most cerebral."},"estimateMax":8000,"lotNumber":"253","title":{"en":"ardon, mordecai"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114725/view","tags":["usart_paintings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":6000,"aiDescription":"This is an abstract landscape painting by Mordecai Ardon, characterized by an earthy, reddish-brown dominant color palette. The artwork features stylized structures resembling houses and a large teepee-like form, possibly a windmill, along with scattered colorful shapes and splatters of paint in blues, greens, whites, and yellows. The composition suggests a surreal or dreamlike rural scene, with a crescent moon and circular sun-like element adding to its symbolic quality. It is likely a mixed media piece on paper or board, showcasing a modernist approach.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.958Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$6,000 - $8,000","currency":"USD","id":114725,"estimateMin":6000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114726/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"landscape in the galilee. \n \n watercolor and oil on board. signed by artist, lower left (in english) and lower right (in hebrew). \n 26 x 30 inches (67 x 77 cm). framed. \n c. 1920: \n born in the ukraine, israeli paldi (feldman, 1892-1979) moved to eretz israel in 1909 to attend the bezalel school of art, before finishing his studies at the staatliche kunstakademie, munich. dr. haim gamzu\u2019s description of paldi encapsulates the artist\u2019s major thematic concerns and sources of inspiration: \u201cpaldi was one of those early artists who sought their new path by identification with the singular life and living of israel, both its oriental and modern aspects, yet by looking at the through the eyes of an expressionist painter\u201d (gamzu, painting and sculpture in israel (1958) p. 53).===this important early painting was produced at the height of the eretz israel movement, during a period in which a number of israeli (but mostly foreign-born) artists, using quasi-naive styles, strove to capture the sense of optimism and liberation felt by zionist settlers during the 1920\u2019s. this was the period of the now legendary \u201ctower of david\u201d exhibitions held in the citadel in jerusalem, in which avant-garde artists such as paldi made their fist major impact on the public.===<< exhibited:>>===bezalel national museum, 1934 (label on reverse).===the tel aviv museum of art, the twenties in israeli art, 1982."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"254","title":{"en":"paldi, israel"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114726/view","tags":["usart_paintings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This is an oil painting by Israel Paldi, depicting a vibrant landscape with a winding road through hilly terrain. The artwork features olive groves, cypress trees, and buildings nestled among red-brown hills under a blue sky with white clouds. Figures of people, a car, and bicycles are visible on the road, suggesting a daily scene of movement. The style is expressionistic, with bold colors and simplified forms, characteristic of early 20th-century Israeli art, possibly from the 1930s as indicated by the visual style and inscription '30'.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.959Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114726,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114727/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"\u201cautumn.\u201d \n \n oil on canvas. dated and signed by the artist in hebrew lower right. reverse titled by the artist and signed again in english. \n 18 x 14.5 inches. framed. \n 1971:"},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"255","title":{"en":"bergner, yosl"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114727/view","tags":["usart_paintings","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is an oil painting by Yosl Bergner, depicting a desolate landscape under a dramatic, stormy sky. The foreground is dominated by a collection of seemingly discarded and decaying metal objects, possibly kitchenware or industrial remnants, rendered in muted greys and blues against a brown, barren ground. The artwork evokes a somber mood, possibly reflecting themes of decay, hardship, or the aftermath of an event, characteristic of Bergner's socially conscious and melancholic style.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.960Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114727,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114728/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"paper sculpture. set on original wooden stand. \n \n numbered (\u201c53/150\u201d) and signed by the artist below. 8.5 x 11.5 inches. accompanied by: yaacov agam. textes de l\u2019artiste. one of 150 numbered copies. illustrated throughout. pp. 127. folio. neuchatel, editions du griffon. 1962. tipped in: vinyl-record \u201ctrans-formes musicales par yaacov agam.\u201d \n \n 1962: \n housed in original creatively-designed box."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"256","title":{"en":"agam, yaacov"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114728/view","tags":["usart_sculpture","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a three-dimensional kinetic art piece by Yaacov Agam, presented as a pop-up construction on a white sheet of paper. The artwork features multiple folded paper elements in white, red, orange, blue, and black, creating an abstract, dynamic composition that extends outward from the surface. Framed by a black border, the piece is signed and numbered, indicating it is part of a limited edition. This exemplifies Agam's explorations in optical and transformable art, designed to change appearance with the viewer's perspective.","soldPrice":1200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.962Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114728,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114729/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"composition in black and white. \n \n lithograph. numbered (\u201c1/144\u201d) and signed by the artist in pencil below. \n 21.5 x 34.5 inches (to mat). framed. \n 1980\u2019s:"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"257","title":{"en":"agam, yaacov"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114729/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a framed optical art print by Yaacov Agam, featuring a bold, geometric composition in black and white. The artwork consists of a grid-like arrangement of various abstract shapes including squares, rectangles, triangles, and stepped patterns, creating a dynamic visual interplay. The high contrast and precise forms are characteristic of Agam's kinetic and op art principles, designed to create a sense of movement and visual puzzle for the viewer.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.963Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114729,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114730/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"composition. \n \n lithograph. numbered (\u201c84/140\u201d) and signed by the artist in pencil below. \n 23 x 23.5 inches. framed. \n 1980\u2019s:"},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"258","title":{"en":"agam, yaacov"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114730/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a framed serigraph by Yaacov Agam, featuring a square composition with a vibrant, geometric abstract design. The artwork is dominated by a background of vertical black and off-white stripes, overlaid with multiple large, overlapping circles in red, green, blue, yellow, and purple. The stripes partially obscure the circles, creating an optical illusion and a sense of depth and movement characteristic of Agam's kinetic art. The piece is bordered by a solid blue matte within a black frame.","soldPrice":200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.964Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114730,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114731/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"star-of-david. \n \n lithograph on plexiglass. numbered (\u201c6/75 ap\u201d) and signed by the artist in pen below. \n 9.5 x 35 inches (to frame). framed. \n 1980\u2019s:"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"259","title":{"en":"agam, yaacov"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114731/view","tags":["usart_printsandmultiples","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a framed serigraph by Yaacov Agam, showcasing a panoramic composition of vibrant optical patterns. The artwork is divided into multiple vertical sections, each featuring different geometric motifs: colorful fragmented shapes, blue and white stripes with a silhouette, red and white stripes with a silhouette, and multicolored checks. This piece exemplifies Agam's kinetic art, designed to create visual movement and different images as the viewer changes position, a key characteristic of his lenticular works.","soldPrice":1000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.966Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114731,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114732/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"each marked \u201cmyers\u201d on reverse toward neck (one marked twice). handle engraved with initials \u201cc.h\u201d length: 9 inches. \n \n \n new york \n myer myers (1723\u201395) a jewish silversmith in colonial america, created outstanding works for leading members of the new york elite. the objects made in his workshop have long been regarded as among the most important american statements of the rococo style."},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"260","title":{"en":"three myer myers silver tablespoons"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114732/view","tags":["usdecorativearts_flatware","usdecorativearts","usdecorativearts_all"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This lot consists of three antique silver tablespoons crafted by Myer Myers. Each spoon features a simple, classic design with an elongated bowl and a plain handle. The hallmarks of Myer Myers, a prominent colonial American silversmith, are visible on the underside of the handles, confirming their authenticity and origin. These pieces of flatware are notable for their historical significance and craftsmanship.","soldPrice":8000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:27.973Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114732,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114733/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"book-shaped, institutional building featured on one side with the expression \u201ctorah study is equivalent to all.\u201d text in hebrew and russian. at top, coin-slot and chain, padlock on side. 4 x 6.5 inches. \n \n \n st. petersburg, early 20th-century"},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"261","title":{"en":"russian tin charity box"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114733/view","tags":["uscollectibles_banksandvending","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a Russian tin charity box, designed for collecting donations. Its subject matter features a large building, possibly a synagogue or institution, depicted on a light blue background. The box is adorned with Hebrew script above the building and floral patterns in orange and black at the bottom. The tin, showing signs of age and wear, is fitted with a rusted metal lock and a slotted top for coin insertion, showcasing its functional purpose as a charity collection item.","soldPrice":4500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.885Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114733,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114734/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"book-shaped with textile cover in red and blue. text in hebrew and english..5 inches. \n \n \n new york, early 20th-century"},"estimateMax":4000,"lotNumber":"262","title":{"en":"american brass charity box"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114734/view","tags":["uscollectibles_banksandvending","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is an American brass charity box, designed for collecting donations for the support of 'Bachurim' in Central and Eastern Europe. The rectangular box features a blue panel with gold-colored English and Hebrew script. The English text instructs 'EVERY FRIDAY BEFORE LICHT' BENSHEN PUT YOUR KOST TAG DONATION INTO THIS BOX,' and identifies the 'Tomche Torah Society inc.' in N.Y.C. The brass material is visible on the sides, and the overall appearance suggests an early to mid-20th century philanthropic item.","soldPrice":4500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.886Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $4,000","currency":"USD","id":114734,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114735/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"front with applied plaque in hebrew and hungarian. at top, coin-slot, lock at side. 3.5 x 4 inches. \n \n \n budapest, early 20th-century"},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"263","title":{"en":"hungarian silver charity box"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114735/view","tags":["uscollectibles_banksandvending","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a Hungarian silver charity box, a rectangular metal container designed for collecting donations. The front panel features an etched or embossed design depicting two figures in traditional dress, possibly rabbis or scholars, reading a large open book. Hebrew and Hungarian script surrounds this central medallion, describing the purpose related to Torah study. The box has a coin slot on top and a keyhole on the side, indicating its function as a secure collection vessel made of silver, showing some tarnishing.","soldPrice":4250,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.888Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114735,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114736/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"blue underglaze and featuring the hebrew word \u201cpesach.\u201d diam: 9.5 inches. \n \n \n c. 1800"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"264","title":{"en":"pearlware passover plate."},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114736/view","tags":["usdecorativearts_porcelainceramics","usdecorativearts","usdecorativearts_all"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a pearlware Passover plate, characterized by its white ceramic body and a decorative blue rim with a scalloped edge. The center of the plate features the Hebrew word 'פסח' (Pesach), meaning Passover, written in blue script within an oval border. The plate exhibits visible crazing, indicating its age and the nature of the pearlware material. This ceremonial plate is specifically designed for use during the Jewish holiday of Passover.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.889Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114736,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114737/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"kisei shel eliyahu. biedermeier style love-seat. h: 48 inches, l: 43.5 inches, w: 25 inches. b&eacute;k&eacute;s, 1910. \n \n \n 1910 \n at jewish circumcision ceremonies, a special chair is set aside for the use of the prophet elijah who is believed to sit alongside the sandek, the godfather who holds the baby on his knees, during the performance of the brith milah.===this special chair is inscribed in hebrew along the back, stating that it was presented to congregation shomrei hadath in the town of b&eacute;k&eacute;s (b&eacute;k&eacute;scsaba, eastern hungary, alongside the border with rumania). the chair was donated by menachem and madam masha koralak in the year 1910."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"265","title":{"en":"hungarian brith milah chair of elijah"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114737/view","tags":["usfurniture_sofasloveseats","usfurniture_all","usfurniture"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This is a Hungarian Brith Milah chair, also known as an 'Elijah's Chair,' used in Jewish circumcision ceremonies. The wooden frame is painted in muted tones with decorative elements and features Hebrew script along the top rail. The seat and backrest are upholstered with a rich, dark red fabric patterned with large gold floral motifs. The arms are also upholstered, with a contrasting patterned fabric visible on the sides. The overall design suggests a ceremonial piece of furniture with religious significance.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.890Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114737,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114738/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"engraved: \u201cgiven in honor of mahlouf halevi \u2026(family name?), 27th adar 1878.\u201d height: 25 inches. \n \n \n gibraltar, 19th century"},"estimateMax":5000,"lotNumber":"266","title":{"en":"gibraltarian silver hanging synagogue lamp"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114738/view","tags":["usjudaica_lamps","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":3000,"aiDescription":"This is a Gibraltarian silver hanging synagogue lamp, characterized by its intricate metalwork. The lamp consists of a dome-shaped top from which multiple chains descend, supporting a circular, open-work basket-like structure. Below this, a second, solid bowl-shaped element forms the base of the lamp. The silver material is polished, and the design incorporates decorative patterns, suggesting it was used for illumination in a synagogue setting.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.891Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$3,000 - $5,000","currency":"USD","id":114738,"estimateMin":3000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114739/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"heavy cream silk with ornate spanier-arbeit extensively applied. \n \n \n 1881 \n keszthely, (kesthell in german), is located on the western shore of lake balaton, in south-west hungary. jews are first recorded having settled in this town in 1711."},"estimateMax":6000,"lotNumber":"267","title":{"en":"hungarian synagogue torah ark curtain"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114739/view","tags":["usdecor_textiles","usdecor","usdecor_all"],"directSalePrice":4000,"aiDescription":"This is a Hungarian synagogue Torah ark curtain, a decorative textile piece intended to cover the ark holding Torah scrolls. The curtain is predominantly light-colored, possibly cream or ivory, and features elaborate brown-gold scrollwork and star motifs across its surface. A central oval medallion contains Hebrew script, framed by more scrollwork, and a crowned representation of the Ten Commandments sits atop the medallion. The rich ornamentation and Hebrew text indicate its religious and ceremonial function within a synagogue.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.893Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$4,000 - $6,000","currency":"USD","id":114739,"estimateMin":4000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114740/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"rectangular textile with silk backing, of a pink hue and printed lettering in brown. \n \n \n 1758"},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"268","title":{"en":"most unusual german sabbath & festival tablecloth"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114740/view","tags":["usdecor_textiles","usdecor","usdecor_all"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This is a German Sabbath and Festival tablecloth, an unusual textile piece featuring a printed design that mimics an open book. The central design displays Hebrew script, arranged in columns as if from a religious text, on a lighter background with some staining. The tablecloth itself is a pale pink or peach color, with a decorative border around the edges and circular motifs in the corners. This item serves a dual function as both a table covering and a devotional object.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.894Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114740,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114741/005/005.jpg","https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114741/006/006.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"textile with mother-of-pearl buttoned closures at top. \n \n \n (jerusalem?), 1886 \n likely a talith-bag, and given the selected motifs, created for presentation to the great sir moses montefiore - who died very shortly before this highly well-crafted item was fashioned, the news of which might have been slow to travel. the rampant lion and deer supporting banners featuring the hebrew word \u201cjerusalem\u201d are a central feature of sir moses\u2019 family crest."},"estimateMax":15000,"lotNumber":"269","title":{"en":"magnificent eretz-israel needlepoint bag"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114741/view","tags":["usfashion_purses","usfashion_all","usfashion"],"directSalePrice":10000,"aiDescription":"This is a magnificent Eretz-Israel needlepoint bag, likely used for ceremonial purposes such as holding a prayer shawl or phylacteries. The bag is crafted from cream-colored fabric and features vibrant needlepoint embroidery. The central design depicts the Tablets of the Ten Commandments, flanked by a lion and a deer, with banners bearing Hebrew script reading 'ירושלים' (Jerusalem). Below this, floral and bird motifs are embroidered, alongside the English word 'JERUSALEM.' The top edge is finished with blue buttons and colorful tassels, showcasing its intricate craftsmanship and religious theme.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.895Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$10,000 - $15,000","currency":"USD","id":114741,"estimateMin":10000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114742/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"designed by reuben leaf (signed on reverse). \n \n \n c. 1930 \n leaf (then known as lifshitz), studied at the bezalel school of art in jerusalem from 1906. he served as director of the metal and wood batik department from 1912-16. thereafter he settled in america. see israel museum catalogue, bezalel, p. 372."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"270","title":{"en":"american heavy brass chanukah lamp"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114742/view","tags":["usjudaica_lamps","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is an American heavy brass Chanukah lamp, also known as a menorah, used for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The lamp is constructed from brass with a dark, possibly patinated finish, giving it a robust appearance. Its design features a central Star of David enclosing the tablets of the Ten Commandments, flanked by stylized lion or griffin figures. Nine individual oil or candleholders are arranged in a row along the bottom, above a band bearing Hebrew script, emphasizing its ceremonial function.","soldPrice":2000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:33.896Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114742,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114743/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"standing lamp of weighty proportions. central shaft with tendril-adorned removable branches held in place by clasped anthropomorphic hands. set on three dolphin feet. height: 19 inches. \n \n \n 20th century"},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"271","title":{"en":"continental brass menorah"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114743/view","tags":["usjudaica_lamps","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a continental brass menorah, a traditional nine-branched candelabrum used during Hanukkah. The menorah is crafted from brass and features a classic design with a central stem and eight curved arms. Each arm and the central stem terminate in a candle holder. The design incorporates decorative elements along the arms, resembling thorny or leaf-like patterns, and it stands on a robust, ornate base with three scrolling feet.","soldPrice":600,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.338Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114743,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114744/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"chanukah lamp featuring backplate by bergner. front platform with nine candle-sockets. designed by binstead. 9.5 x 12.5 inches."},"estimateMax":1500,"lotNumber":"272","title":{"en":"chanukah lamp by yosl bergner"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114744/view","tags":["usjudaica_lamps","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1000,"aiDescription":"This is a Chanukah lamp by Yosl Bergner, a modern ceremonial object. The lamp consists of a silver-toned base with nine small cups for oil or candles, and a back panel featuring three colorful, abstract, and figural art panels. The panels, likely glass or acrylic, depict various figures in a vibrant, stained-glass-like style, possibly illustrating a narrative or theme. Hebrew script is visible on the base, adding to its religious and cultural significance.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.340Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,000 - $1,500","currency":"USD","id":114744,"estimateMin":1000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114745/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"with engraved presentation inscription to j.l. shevelsohn from congregation adas yeshurun, 22nd october, 1875.\u201d h: 6.5 inches. \n \n \n 19th-century"},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"273","title":{"en":"american silver kiddush cup"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114745/view","tags":["usjudaica_kiddishcups","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is an American silver Kiddush cup, dating to 1875. The cup is made of silver and has a classic chalice shape with a bulbous body, a slender stem, and a round foot. Engraved on the front is a clear inscription in English: \"Presented to: H.L. Shevelsohn By the Congregation Adas-Yeshurum Oct 22d 1875,\" indicating its use as a presentation piece for a synagogue event. The surface shows signs of age and tarnishing consistent with its period.","soldPrice":1700,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.341Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114745,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114746/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"height: 6.5 inches. \n \n \n new york. 1960\u2019s"},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"274","title":{"en":"ludwig wolpert double-sided silver sabbath beaker"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114746/view","tags":["usjudaica_kiddishcups","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a double-sided silver Sabbath beaker, created by Ludwig Wolpert. The beaker is made of silver and features a distinctive hourglass or waisted form, tapering significantly in the middle before flaring out at both the top and bottom. The surface displays a textured, somewhat hammered or distressed finish, with visible variations in color including silver, brown, and hints of blue, indicating possible patination or tarnishing.","soldPrice":700,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.342Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114746,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114747/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"modernist style. outwardly tapering base with sabbath eve liturgical verses \u201chitoreri, hitoreri\u2026\u201d) marked. height: 11 inches. \n \n \n new york, c. 1960\u2019s"},"estimateMax":2500,"lotNumber":"275","title":{"en":"pair of ludwig wolpert silver sabbath candlesticks"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114747/view","tags":["usjudaica_lamps","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":1500,"aiDescription":"This is a pair of silver Sabbath candlesticks by Ludwig Wolpert. Made of silver, each candlestick features a tall, hourglass-shaped body that tapers in the middle and flares towards the top and bottom. The upper part of the body has a textured finish, while the base is adorned with a stylized, openwork Hebrew script or abstract geometric pattern. Each candlestick is topped with a textured, bowl-shaped candle holder.","soldPrice":3000,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.343Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$1,500 - $2,500","currency":"USD","id":114747,"estimateMin":1500},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114748/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"of bauhaus-style. marked. height: 10.5 inches. \n \n \n new york, 1960\u2019s"},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"276","title":{"en":"ludwig wolpert brass menorah"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114748/view","tags":["usjudaica_lamps","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is a brass menorah by Ludwig Wolpert, a modern interpretation of the traditional nine-branched candelabrum. Crafted from brass, the menorah features a minimalist design with nine slender, gently curved arms, creating an open, abstract form. The arms originate from a central point and splay outwards, each topped with a simple candle holder. The brass exhibits a warm, somewhat aged patina.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.344Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114748,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114749/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"recessed hebrew lettering \u201cbesamim\u201d serving as seal. h: 3.5 inches."},"estimateMax":700,"lotNumber":"277","title":{"en":"moshe zabari silver havdallah spice-container"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114749/view","tags":["usjudaica_silver","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":500,"aiDescription":"This is a silver Havdallah spice-container by Moshe Zabari, a modern ceremonial object. The container is cylindrical, crafted from silver, and features a lid with raised, stylized Hebrew letters. The body of the container has a textured, slightly uneven finish with variations in color, possibly due to patination or artistic treatment. The overall design is clean and contemporary, reflecting a modernist approach to traditional Jewish ritual items.","soldPrice":1500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.345Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$500 - $700","currency":"USD","id":114749,"estimateMin":500},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114751/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"featuring a family group; of an uncommon modernist style. dated and signed twice on reverse, with attached pin. 1.5 x 1.5 inches. \n \n \n 1942 \n produced shortly after the polish-born artist arrived in the united states in december, 1941, having previously fled paris via marseilles and lisbon."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"278","title":{"en":"ilya schor silver pendant"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114751/view","tags":["usjewelry_necklaces","usjewelry","usjewelry_all"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a silver pendant by Ilya Schor, depicting a figural scene. The pendant is crafted from silver and features a low-relief, stylized composition of several human-like figures in various poses and sizes. The figures are depicted with simple, blocky forms and distinct facial features, arranged within a decorative, somewhat architectural setting. The overall aesthetic is folk-art inspired or modernist, with a dark, oxidized finish in the recessed areas to enhance detail.","soldPrice":2500,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.347Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114751,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114750/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"square-shaped handle with hammered design \u201cthe holy sabbath.\u201d marked. l: 12.5 inches.housed in original box."},"estimateMax":500,"lotNumber":"279","title":{"en":"jizchak bier silver sabbath challah knife"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114750/view","tags":["usjudaica_silver","usjudaica_all","usjudaica"],"directSalePrice":300,"aiDescription":"This is a silver Sabbath challah knife by Jizchak Bier. The knife features a wide, flat silver blade with a rectangular handle. The handle is made of a different material, possibly silver or a silver alloy with an antiqued finish, and is prominently inscribed with raised Hebrew script, likely reading \"Shabbat Kodesh\" (Holy Sabbath). The design is both functional and decorative, suitable for ceremonial use during the Sabbath.","soldPrice":200,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.348Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$300 - $500","currency":"USD","id":114750,"estimateMin":300},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114752/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"engraved at center in french: \u201cson excellence docteur a harell \n \n \n  \n his excellency arie harel served as the state of israel\u2019s ambassador to the soviet union from 1959-62. upon the end of his service in moscow, his diplomatic colleagues presented him with this tray, made by one russia\u2019s oldest firms."},"estimateMax":3000,"lotNumber":"280","title":{"en":"russian silver presentation tray"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114752/view","tags":["usdecorativearts_silver","usdecorativearts","usdecorativearts_all"],"directSalePrice":2000,"aiDescription":"This is a Russian silver presentation tray, dating from 1904. The tray is round, made of silver, and features a decorative border around its circumference, composed of repeating oval and leaf-like motifs. The center of the tray is smooth and polished, with an engraved inscription in English, likely commemorating a diplomatic or significant event: \"TO HER EXCELLENCY MYNTEAU-BAREL AMBASSADRICE EXTRAORDINAIRE ET PLENIPOTENTIAIRE DES HELLENES EN RUSSIE DE SON DEPART DU CORPS DIPLOMATIQUE MOSCOU 1904.\" The tray shows some surface wear consistent with age.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:32.349Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$2,000 - $3,000","currency":"USD","id":114752,"estimateMin":2000},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114753/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"differing israel-scenes on each of the four sides. h: 5.5 inches. \n \n \n c. 1950"},"estimateMax":300,"lotNumber":"281","title":{"en":"early israel brass bud-vase"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114753/view","tags":["usdecor_general","usdecor","usdecor_all"],"directSalePrice":200,"aiDescription":"This is an early Israeli brass bud vase. Its subject matter includes embossed imagery of historical Israeli landmarks and a map of Israel. The period is early Israeli. It is made of brass and features Hebrew script on its base and along its sides, including 'Jerusalem' and 'Israel'. Notable visual features include a flared top, a square base, and intricate relief work depicting structures and landscapes.","soldPrice":100,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.454Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$200 - $300","currency":"USD","id":114753,"estimateMin":200},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114754/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"silver-toned case with hebrew dial-face featuring ad: \u201cmax goodman & co. clothes for boys and children\u201d [sic]. diam: 2 inches. \n \n \n 20th century"},"estimateMax":900,"lotNumber":"282","title":{"en":"american hebrew-dial pocket watch"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114754/view","tags":["usjewelry_watches","usjewelry","usjewelry_all"],"directSalePrice":600,"aiDescription":"This is an American pocket watch featuring a Hebrew-dial. The period is not specified, but it's a traditional pocket watch design. The item is made of metal, likely silver-toned, with a white or off-white watch face. The dial features Hebrew letters in place of traditional numerals, and the text \"MAX GOODMAN CO. CLOTHES FOR BOYS AND CHILDREN\" is printed on the face. It has a classic crown and a loop for attachment.","soldPrice":450,"lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.456Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$600 - $900","currency":"USD","id":114754,"estimateMin":600},{"sold":false,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114755/003/003.jpg"],"available":false,"description":{"en":"praying rabbi set on a pivot, the base of which has an applied brass plaque engraved in [broken] yiddish and english: \u201chow did he pray.\u201d the figure repeatedly bows when pushed. height: 19.5 inches. american, c. 1950."},"estimateMax":1200,"lotNumber":"283","title":{"en":"wooden kinetic sculpture by h.w. hauptman"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114755/view","tags":["usart_sculpture","usart","usart_all"],"directSalePrice":800,"aiDescription":"This is a kinetic sculpture crafted from wood by H.W. Hauptman. The subject is a standing figure of a man with a beard, wearing a skullcap and a fringed garment. The piece is made of wood and stands on a wooden base with brass support rods. A brass plaque with Hebrew script is affixed to the front of the base. The figure appears to be in motion or designed to move, characteristic of kinetic art.","lastUpdate":"2026-08-10T01:21:35.457Z","textCase":"lower","estimate":"$800 - $1,200","currency":"USD","id":114755,"estimateMin":800},{"sold":true,"images":["https://bidspirit-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/kestenbaum/cloned-images/114756/003/003.jpg"],"soldDate":"2018-11-15","available":false,"description":{"en":"unopened box of coarse table salt. packaging in yiddish and english. 5.5 x 9 inches. \n \n \n american, c. 1940"},"estimateMax":150,"lotNumber":"284","title":{"en":"sterling kosher salt"},"url":"https://us.bidspirit.com/ui/lotPage/kestenbaum/source/catalog/auction/4832/lot/114756/view","tags":["uscollectibles_promotional","uscollectibles","uscollectibles_all"],"directSalePrice":100,"aiDescription":"This item is a vintage box of Sterling Kosher Salt. It is a food product container, likely from the mid-20th century, given its aesthetic. The packaging is made of paperboard. The language on the box is English and Hebrew, featuring \"Sterling\" and \"Kosher Salt\" prominently. 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