Lot 15
  • 15

The Occident and American Jewish Advocate, Philadelphia, Isaac Leeser: 1843-1869

Estimate
150,000 - 250,000 USD
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Description

  • Printed Paper, Leather Binding
26 volumes (24 quartos, 2 folios) CONTENTS: THE COMPLETE RUN, bound as annual volumes. INCLUDING THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE "NEWSPAPER-STYLE"  FOLIO-SIZED VOLUMES 17 & 18, MISSING IN VIRTUALLY ALL SETS.

CONDITION: Vol. 1, pencil annotations, pencil scribbling on pp. 343, 46, 525, 607, foxing to middle numbers.; vols. 4-16, 19-26, with former owner's stamp; vol. 7 and 25 with numerous instances of "Christ" and "Jesus" carefully crossed out; vol 9, pp. i-vi disbound and provided in a mylar sleeve; vol. 11 comprises 632 pages, not 616 as mistakenly recorded in Goldman; vol. 12, light wear to pp. 59-65; vol. 10, light foxing in middle nos.; vol.15, light soiling to titlepage and p.49; vols. 17-18, new series (folio-size), each weekly number enclosed within individual mylar sleeve, save for nos. 30-31 and 51-52, in vol. 17, unseparated and therefore sharing sleeves; each number of vols. 17-18 also accompanied by the Occident Advertiser, a two page advertising supplement, save only in no. 52 of volume 17; vol. 20, former owner's signature on title page, title page strengthened, minor dampstaining; vol. 25, minor loss due to chip at upper corner of annual title page; an additional unnumbered plate between pp. 526-527; BINDING: vols. 1-16, 19-26, speckled edges; matching modern half morocco over marbled paper; spines gilt-stamped with title and volume numbers in Roman numerals; vols. 17-18  folio size matching modern half morocco post bindings, spines gilt-stamped with title and volume numbers in Roman numerals.







Literature

Goldman, Hebrew Printing in America, 1192, pp. 1041-48.

Catalogue Note

THE COMPLETE RUN OF THE PERIODICAL THAT DEFINED AMERICAN JEWRY AND AMERICAN JUDAISM FOR THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

Isaac Leeser's greatest legacy to those who study American Jewish history is undoubtedly The Occident and American Jewish Advocate, the periodical of which he was the founder, editor, a frequent contributor, and occasional typesetter. The Occident, which ran from 1843-1869, was the first successful Jewish serial periodical in America, and helped mold American Jewry into a culturally independent group with a communal consciousness. It is, arguably, the single most important historical record of Jewish life in the Western Hemisphere in the mid-nineteenth century. As editor of The Occident, Leeser was able to give voice to his belief in, and defense of, observant Judaism and fiercely resisted many proposed changes to traditional Jewish rituals. Leeser's editorials also document his many public battles to defend religious freedom—such as his effort to revoke Sunday closing laws and his resistance to widespread missionizing activity. Finally, through the agency of The Occident, Leeser sought to accomplish in print what he never succeeded in doing in practice: to bring together in one common forum the many American Jewish communities that were otherwise divided—by either geography or ideology.

NEVER BEFORE HAS AN ENTIRE RUN OF THE OCCIDENT , AMERICA'S MOST IMPORTANT JEWISH PERIODICAL BEEN OFFERED AT AUCTION.