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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ЛОТ 40:
(AMERICAN-JUDAICA).
далее...
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Продан за: $500
Стартовая цена:
$
500
Эстимейт :
$800 - $1 200
Комиссия аукционного дома: 25%
НДС: 8.875%
Полностью на цену лота и комиссию
Пользователи из других стран могут быть освобождены от налоговых платежей согласно соответствующим налоговым нормам.
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(AMERICAN-JUDAICA).
MIRIAM GRATZ Autograph Letter Signed, written in English to her son, Simon Gratz in Philadelphia.
Miriam Gratz writes to her children in Philadelphia; the letter is addressed to Simon, the eldest surviving child, but refers to him as she does the others, in the third person. The letter was meant to be read by all her children.
Two pages, with integral blank attached, verso with autograph address panel. Taped along folds. 4to.
Baltimore, 22nd June 1797.
Miriam writes from Baltimore, where she and her husband are staying with their daughter Fanny and her husband Reuben Etting. It is evident that Miriam’s husband Michael Gratz is convalescing. She updates the children on their father’s health: “His appetite is increasing, he is drinking frequently, which is a relief in the heat.” She is looking forward to their planned return to Philadelphia the next week and hopes that the heat will not increase too much so that it will be a pleasant trip.
Although signing “My blessed son from your Ever Loving and affectionate mother Miriam Gratz, ” Miriam subsequently added what amounts to a second letter. Here she acknowledges receipt of letters from “my lovely Hyman, Becky & Rachel” - referring to her other children; Becky is Rebecca Gratz (1781-1869) who would go on to a lifetime of leadership and service to the American Jewish community. Miriam hopes that “my dear Becky’s finger is Better.”
Ever the loving mother, Miriam tells her children that “it appears an age since I left home.” This time she signs “Children May Every happiness attend you” and signed Miriam Gratz.
MIRIAM GRATZ (1749-1808) was the matriarch of a great American Jewish family. She was married to Michael Gratz, and birthed 12 children, including REBECCA GRATZ. Her father was JOSEPH SIMON (1712-1804), Michael Gratz’s business partner, in whose Lancaster, PA home a religious Minyan was established as early as 1747.
The Port-Folio, a Philadelphia magazine, contains these words about Miriam Gratz in its February 1809 number:
“Departed this life on Monday the 12th September last, after a short, but very severe illness, which she sustained with pious resignation, Mrs. Miriam Gratz, wife of Mr. Michael Gratz of this City.
By the death of this exemplary lady her afflicted husband has lost a faithful and attentive partner, her family are bereaved of a tender and affectionate parent, and society of one of its most useful members. Her life exhibited the practice of every virtue. In adversity she was patient and cheerful, in prosperity she was humble and charitable; and always obedient to the will of heaven, she saw the approach of death with serenity and meekness, and met its cold embrace without a struggle. In contemplating the steadfast virtue which supported her at that awful moment we may all find reason to exclaim: ‘Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my latter end be like hers.’”
