Bidspirit auction | Two Journeys to Jerusalem -

Two Journeys to Jerusalem - Contains a Very Early Composition about Shabtai Zvi and Woodcuts in his Image - London, 1719 - English - Rare - A book by a Christian author trying to prove, by means of pseudo-science and historical stories which combine fantasy and reality, the truth of Christianity and its ”Messiah”, therefore, he describes in detail Shabtai Zvi, the Messiah claimant, who turned out to be false. This is a very early book describing the Shabtai Zvi affair. With engravings. There are several different editions of the book. The edition before us does not appear in the National Library. The author and publisher: Nathaniel Crouch and colleagues. Crouch (1632-1725) was an English painter, the author of popular historical books that combine fantasy and reality who used the pen name Richard Burton (or R.B.). The book before us is a collection of compositions about the Land of Israel, Judaism and the Jewish nation, with an introduction by Crouch. The introduction manifests the Christian orientation of the composition, presenting ”evidence” regarding the despised state of the Jews in exile. Each composition has a separate title page. List of compositions: • Pp 3-55: Comments on the ancient and modern state of the Jewish nation. By R.B. a description of the Holy Land, its state, fertility and the like; the exiles of the Jews after their banishment from Canaan; hypothesis as to the fate of the ten tribes; description of the Jewish state since the destruction of the Temple; the present state of Palestine; the Septuagint. • Pp. 56-78: A strange, true description of the journey of two English pilgrims to Jerusalem, Cairo and Alexandria and the unusual events that happened to them on the way. By Henry Timberlake. • Pp. 79-104: Description of the journey of 14 Englishmen to Jerusalem (Bethlehem, Jericho, the Jordan River and more) in 1669. By T.B.T. Burrel. • Pp. 106-117: Impressions from a Jewish congress that took place in Hungary in 1650 to discuss the New Testament. By Sam Beert, an Englishman who was present there. • Pp. 118-123: A short chronology of the Jews between the years 1659-1666. By Nath. Homes. D.D.. • Pp. 123-160: The Messiah claimant of the Jews of Smirna in 1666. An early composition about with Shabtai Zvi. Written by ”a trustworthy Englishman”. Introduction by Crouch. • Pp. 160-166: The destruction and banishment of the Jews from the Persian Empire during the years 1663-1666 and their causes. • Pp. 167-174: The Jews in England in 1655 (Cromwell and Rabbi Menashe Ben Yisrael). • Pp. 174-182: Passages from Christian writings. The book contains four woodcuts: Shabtai Zvi on a camel (title page); Jerusalem today; the Jesus' tomb; David's Citadel; the house of Maria; the congress of the Jews in Hungary; a group of Jewish believers bowing to Shabtai Zvi. On the first page, a stamp: ”Weiss [Cleric?] , Manchester” 82 pp and 10 more pages of a catalog of Crouch's books. 15x9 cm. Condition: the binding and several leaves are detached from the spine. Stains. Wrinkles and several tears, mainly to the spine.