Vol. I, Nos. 3-4 / Winter 1997-98
Judaica Market
Major JTS Judaica Auction Held in NYC, November 25th
Mashal
Hakadmoni, by Isaac ibn Sahula, Venice, 1547.The Jewish Theological Seminary deaccessioned by auction duplicate volumes from its library - considered among the finest Hebraica and Judaica libraries in the world. Kestenbaum & Co. of New York handled the sale, which took place on November 25, 1997, at the Doral Park Avenue Hotel. Among the highlights of the sale, which included approximately 300 select Hebrew and Yiddish printed books, were:
* a six volume set of The Mishnah with commentary by Maimonides printed in Naples in 1489 ($25,300);
* an illustrated book by Isaac ibn Sahula entitled Mashal Hakadmni ("Proverb of the Ancient"), which includes 80 unusual woodcut illustrations alongside a collection of allegories, fables and puns with moral references, all written in rhymed prose, printed circa 1547 in Venice ($9,775);
* a bible printed on vellum, from Sabbioneta, enclosed in a fine French 18th-century binding ($10,925). Books ranged in date from the late 15th through 19th centuries with a strong concentration of 16th century early printed books. Areas included history and theology, Passover Haggadahs, Bibles and Bible Commentaries, Rabbinics, Science and Literature and several rare liturgical texts.
Catalogues of the sale are available from Kestenbaum & Co., 20 West 20th St., New York, NY 10011; tel. (212) 366-1197 / fax (212) 366-1368.
More Judaica Sales