Judisches Ceremoniel… (Jewish Ceremonies…), Paul Christian Kirchner, Nuremberg: Peter Conrad Monath, 1734

Engraved frontispiece, title in red and black, engraved additional folding title, 23 of 28 engraved folding plates by [J]ohann [G]eorg Puschner; lacking nos. 20-24. Browned and stained in places; some pencil annotations; marginal tears; lightly wormed; plates 7, 14 bound out of order; some plates starting to tear at creases, clumsy tape repair to plate following p. 216. Modern tan morocco.

Rubens 539-67; Freimann 148.

Paul Christian Kirchner first published Jüdisches Ceremoniel in 1717, following his 1709 conversion from Judaism to Christianity, and in his foreword, announces his intention to convince other Jews to follow his example. In 1724, the amateur Hebraist Sebastian Jugendres collaborated on a new edition of Jüdisches Ceremoniel.  Jugendres corrected Kirchner's speeling and grammar, at the same time refining and softening the sharp language and scornful tone. This new annotated version included a new foreword and a series of copperplate engravings depicting Jewish customs and rituals. Jüdisches Ceremoniel is a work of extraordinary documentary value underscoring  popular contemporary Christian perceptions of Jews and Judaism in German speaking lands in the 18th century. The present edition was printed in 1734.