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Prayers for Shabbat, Rosh-Hashanah, and Kippur, or the Sabbath, the Begining of the Year, and the Day of Atonements; with the Amidah and Musaph of the Moadim, or Solemn Seasons. According to the Order of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews. Translated by Isaac Pinto, New York: John Holt, 5526 (1766)
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
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Description
- paper, ink
192 pp. (iv, 186 [1], with the unnumbered errata leaf, lacking only pp. 187-190 (6 3/4 x 5 1/2 in.; 172 x 140 mm). pagination: i-iv, 1-186 (1) = 192 pp; pp. 49-52 misbound. First state of the title with the incorrect spelling "BEGINING." Light browning, spotting, and staining throughout. Owners’ inscriptions on front pastedown and free endpaper and verso of final leaf. Text block shaken; front free endpaper detached. Contemporary calf, rubbed and worn with losses at corners and spine; upper board detached.
Catalogue Note
first edition in english of the first complete jewish prayerbook printed in america
A rare American imprint, preceded only by the less substantial Evening Service of Rosh-Hashanah and Kippur, New York, 1761 (Evans 8890) and the pamphlet Form of Prayer Performed at Jews Synagogue, New York, 1760 (Shipton & Mooney 41133). Only a handful of copies of the present work have surfaced at auction in the past 25 years.
As the leaders of the Jewish community in London forbade an English translation, the creation of this work called for some justification. Isaac Pinto states 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."
Pinto was a member of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel, the only Jewish Congregation in New York City from 1654 until 1825, which probably comprised fewer than 400 Jews. Pinto also was a merchant and teacher of Spanish; his English translation is based on Nieto's Spanish translation.
According to a brief note on the front free endpaper, written in 1823 by Sarah Lloyd Cogswell, this prayerbook was presented by Isaac Pinto to Dr. James Cogswell, a patriot on George Washington's staff; a philanthropist and one of the principal originators of the New York Dispensary system, as well as of a society for the relief of distressed debtors and of the first African school in New York City. The Cogswells were related by marriage to the Fisher family, subsequent owners of the volume.
LITERATURE:
Evans 10344; Goldman, Hebrew Printing in America, 32; Karp, Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, 301; Rosenbach 47; Sabin 62292
PROVENANCE:
Dr. James Cogswell (d. 1792); Sarah Lloyd Cogswell (1786-1848); Reverend Samuel W. Fisher (1814-1874); Florence Fisher, (fl. 1910)
A rare American imprint, preceded only by the less substantial Evening Service of Rosh-Hashanah and Kippur, New York, 1761 (Evans 8890) and the pamphlet Form of Prayer Performed at Jews Synagogue, New York, 1760 (Shipton & Mooney 41133). Only a handful of copies of the present work have surfaced at auction in the past 25 years.
As the leaders of the Jewish community in London forbade an English translation, the creation of this work called for some justification. Isaac Pinto states 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."
Pinto was a member of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel, the only Jewish Congregation in New York City from 1654 until 1825, which probably comprised fewer than 400 Jews. Pinto also was a merchant and teacher of Spanish; his English translation is based on Nieto's Spanish translation.
According to a brief note on the front free endpaper, written in 1823 by Sarah Lloyd Cogswell, this prayerbook was presented by Isaac Pinto to Dr. James Cogswell, a patriot on George Washington's staff; a philanthropist and one of the principal originators of the New York Dispensary system, as well as of a society for the relief of distressed debtors and of the first African school in New York City. The Cogswells were related by marriage to the Fisher family, subsequent owners of the volume.
LITERATURE:
Evans 10344; Goldman, Hebrew Printing in America, 32; Karp, Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, 301; Rosenbach 47; Sabin 62292
PROVENANCE:
Dr. James Cogswell (d. 1792); Sarah Lloyd Cogswell (1786-1848); Reverend Samuel W. Fisher (1814-1874); Florence Fisher, (fl. 1910)