Kestenbaum & Company - Auction 100
Auction Summary
Kestenbaum & Company is honored to announce its 100th Auction, which will take place on Thursday, January 19th at 1pm EST. Having served a broad and diverse range of clients for three decades, the 100th Auction is an opportunity to continue offering only the highest standard of Rare Judaica and Fine Art. Below are some highlights of the celebratory event, although, as always, perusal of the full catalogue is recommended (see link below).
In Fine Jewish Art we are privileged to present a painting by Isidor Kaufmann: ‘Portrait of a Yeshiva Student Wearing a Black Beaver Hat’ (Lot 112, Est. $200,000-300,000). This offering comprises a perfect example of Kaufmann’s distinctive, inimitable style. TheArthur Szyk Haggadah, printed entirely on vellum (Lot 72, Est. $25,000-30,000) is perhaps the most sublime of all Passover Hagadahs, while the category is rounded out by a Suite of 18 Illustrations to Israel Zangwill’s ‘Der König der Schnorrer’ by Rahel Marcus-Szalit (Lot 113, Est. $14,000-18,000). These drawings were thought to be lost to posterity over the past century, only to have been discovered most recently.
Ritual Objects is a category with many noteworthy offerings. Significant among them is a rare and highly importantParcel-Gilt Silver Filigree Spice Container from 19 th century Germany / Galicia (Lot 138, Est. $50,000-100,000). A spice-tower of exquisite quality, it is a scarce fusion of competing regional styles. Comes complete with contemporary custom fitted case. The images of a remarkably decorated, heavy Silver Chanukah Lamp (Lot 140, Est. $15,000-20,000) originating in Poland, c. 1800, must be viewed in full. The same is true of the Large 19th Century Continental Silver Megillah Case (Lot 143, Est. $15,000-20,000) which depicts Queen Esther bravely approaching King Ahasuerus.
Among the many Hebrew Manuscripts contained in the catalogue, a series of Biblical Manuscripts from the Cairo Genizah (Lots 12-15) deserve special mention. The manuscripts, dating as far back as the 10th century, contain entire Torah portions and provide valuable insights to medieval Jewish scholarship. Distinctive to Kabbalistic works, a Manuscript of the Shulchan Aruch Ha’Arizal, Posen, c. 1650, may be the oldest extant record of this important text (Lot 19, Est. $15,000-20,000). Another unique sub-category contained in this auction are letters written by members of great rabbinic families, such as that of R. Samson Raphael Hirsch (Lots 16-17) and the renowned Schneersohn family of Chabad-Lubavitch (Lots 26-29). Highlighting the personal side of the lives of celebrated Jewish leaders, the letters are matchless in their ability to humanize larger-than-life figures.
One especially strong category is American-Judaica. An almost-complete 20 Volume Set of Isaac Leeser’s The Occident is a treasure trove of Jewish History, both American and foreign. The monthly was America’s first successful Jewish periodical, issued in Philadelphia between 1843-1869 (Lot 43, Est. $40,000-60,000). So too, Isaac Pinto’s Prayers for Shabbath, Rosh Hashanah and Kipur is the first complete Jewish prayer-book published in the New World (Lot 42, Est. $60,000-80,000). The highly scarce text was issued in New York, 1766. Relating to pioneers of Orthodox Jewish life in the New York area, a List of Deceased Members of the Chevra Kadisha of Ahavath Torah, Englewood, New Jersey (1912-1933) strikes a chord (Lot 36, Est. $5,000-7,000).
Throughout the pages of the catalogue, testaments of character abound. Notable among them are lots relating to20th Century Jewish Leaders. These include aLetter from Albert Einsten (Lot 10, Est. $15,000-20,000) on the necessity of moral courage, as well as the Official Birth Certificate of Theodor Herzl’s youngest daughter Marguerite Herzl (Lot 11, $3,000-5,000). Of exceptional interest is a complete collection of the c. 90 Research Patents of Chaim Weizmann (Lot 99, $10,000-15,000). Submitted in London over the course of 40 years (1905-1945), it is oft forgotten that Israel’s first president was a scientist at heart, whose innovations contributed significantly to the Allied victory in World War One. See the full catalogue description for a complete description of how Weizmann fused his technical acumen with Zionistic ambition.
In Land of Israel, we are privileged to present the First Telephone Directory Produced for the Land of Israel (Lot 87, Est. $3,000-5,000). Printed in Jerusalem, 1921, it is a symbol highlighting the achievements made by contemporary Israel’s high-tech prowess. Another item of tremendously significant importance is an Archive of Documents Pertaining to the Yemenite-Jewish Community of Kfar HaShiloach, Jerusalem (Lot 8, Est. $12,000-18,000). The archive contains much information on legal ownership of properties in the original neighborhood, as well as on efforts of the deportees to return or receive compensation. Intersecting Land of Israel with Photography (Lots 130-136) is Photographies de Terre Sainte (Jerusalem, late 19th century), with 48 Prints of Scenery Across the Holy Land by Felix Bonfils (Lot 132, Est. $3,000-4,000). Another important category of the auction is Holocaust materials (Lots 75-83), containing a diverse range of materials.
Finally, within Philately & Numismatics, a Set of Three Imperforate Full Sheets of 50 Stamps (250m, 500m and 1,000m) from Israel, 1948 comprise the Ultimate Israel Philatelic Rarity (Lot 102, Est. $100,000-150,000). Similarly, the First Stamps Issued by the Nascent State of Israel, five full sheets (Lot 103, Est. $25,000-30,000) are highly rare. So too is a Rare Full Set of British Mandate-Issued Coins from 1927-1946 (Lot 100, Est. $7,000-9,000).
Kestenbaum & Company is proud to continue its tradition of quality, service, and commitment. As we mark our 100th Auction, we look forward to engaging with our clients, sharing our mutual passion for Jewish Tradition, History and Culture.
Questions and comments about the sale, as well as general inquiries may be directed to Shaya at Jack@Kestenbaum.net.
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LOT 42:
(AMERICAN-JUDAICA).
more...
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Sold for: $65,000
Start price:
$
40,000
Estimated price :
$60,000 - $80,000
Buyer's Premium: 25%
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(AMERICAN-JUDAICA).
Prayers for Shabbath, Rosh-Hashanah and Kippur…According to the Order of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews. Translated by Isaac Pinto.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. English text with Hebrew titles of prayers provided in English transliteration. HIGHLY SCARCE FIRST STATE OF TITLE-PAGE with the incorrect spelling: “BEGINING.”
pp. (iv), 190, (1). Lightly browned, and foxed in places, pp. 16-24 with short tears at lower margin from usage. Contemporary gilt-ruled tree-calf, upper cover with morocco label gilt-tooled: “Frances Judah.” Scuffed. Sm. 4to.
Singerman 40; Rosenbach 47 (illustrated); Goldman 32; Evans 10344; Sabin 62292; Karp, Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress (1991) pp. 189 and 301; G.A. Kohut, AJHS Publications, Vol. III pp. 118-22.
New York, John Holt 1766
THE FIRST COMPLETE JEWISH PRAYER-BOOK PUBLISHED IN THE NEW WORLD.
PROVENANCE:
1. Frances Judah (late 18th-century morocco book-plate).
2. Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool (1885-1970).
3. By direct family descent to Dr. Susan de Sola Rodstein (1962-2021).
Isaac Pinto (1720-91) was a merchant who moved from the British West Indies to New York in 1751, where he became a member of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Shearith Israel, the only Jewish Congregation in New York City from 1654 until 1825, which comprised perhaps some 400 Jews. A fervent patriot, Pinto was a signatory to resolutions favoring the Nonimportation Agreement, and was vocal in support of the Revolution.
In this first American Colonial prayer-book Pinto writes in the introduction: “[Hebrew] being imperfectly understood by many, by some, not at all; it has been necessary to translate our Prayers, in the Language of the Country wherein it hath pleased the divine Providence to appoint our Lot. In Europe, the Spanish and Portuguese Jews have a Translation in Spanish, which as they generally understand, may be sufficient; but that not being the Case in the British Dominions in America, has induced me to Attempt a Translation in English, not without Hope that it will tend to the Improvement of many of my Brethren in their Devotion.”
“As a product of the British colonies, Pinto’s prayer-book included a prayer for King George III and the royal family of England. Yet the fact that the first Jewish prayer-book to be published in the English language took place in colonial New York with its tiny Jewish community rather than in London, which had ten times the number of Jewish residents, most likely served as some sort of declaration of independence. By being the first to use an English prayer-book in their services, the nascent American Jewish community could demonstrate to their London elders that they had the will and the ability to determine their own religious practices.” See Dr. Rebecca Jefferson, Isaac Pinto and the first Jewish Prayer Book in America: https://ufsasc.domains.uflib.ufl.edu/isaac-pinto-first-jewish-prayer-book-published-ame rica-ufsasc/
“Isaac Pinto, is surely one of American Jewry’s unsung heroes: a man whose passions for America and for Judaism helped create the very concept of a Jewish-American identity.” See: https://blog.jewishphilly.org/isaac-pinto-and-his-revolutionary-act-of-creating- the-first-american-siddur
ONE OF THE SINGULAR MOST IMPORTANT PRINTED BOOKS OF JEWISH AMERICANA.
PAST-AUCTION RECORD: Another copy of the Pinto Siddur was sold ($159,000) by Kestenbaum & Company, see Kestenbaum Sale 64, Lot 8.
NOTE PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY OF THE LATE CONSIGNOR:
On the 28th October 2021, Susan de Sola Rodstein died from an aggressive form of cancer. Susan was the grand-daughter of the Rev. David de Sola Pool and his wife Tamar de Sola Pool (nee Hirshenson). Close to both her grandparents, Susan was strongly connected to the illustrious family history they represented. Equally, she carried throughout her life, fond memories of Shearith Israel, her grandfather’s historic congregation. With a Phd in English Literature received from Johns Hopkins, Susan had the same literary interests as her grandmother Tamar. Susan lived for many years just outside Amsterdam, in The Netherlands. The proceeds from the sale of Susan’s books will be go toward a dedicated charity in support of cancer research.
