Bidspirit auction | Rare Miniature Hebrew Bible –

Rare Miniature Hebrew Bible – Berlin, 1710–1711 – Original Gilt Binding – Signed by David Friedländer - Torah, Prophets, and Writings in an impressive miniature edition. Berlin, 1710–1711. An exceptionally rare edition of the Hebrew Bible, among the most attractive and remarkable miniature Hebrew books printed in the early eighteenth century. The present copy is particularly appealing, preserved in its original binding decorated with gilt tooling. At the beginning of the volume appears an engraved copperplate frontispiece bearing the title “Torah, Prophets and Writings”, accompanied by engraved portraits of Moses and King David. An additional title page in a European language is dated 1711. A distinctive feature of this edition is the inclusion of separate title pages for each section of the Bible: the Five Books of Moses, the Former Prophets, the Latter Prophets, and the Writings—a feature not found in all miniature Bible editions of the period. This copy is of special significance due to its ownership inscriptions. Among them is the signature of David Friedländer (1750–1834), one of the leading figures of the early Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah) in Germany and a close associate of Moses Mendelssohn. Friedländer was among the most influential personalities in Berlin Jewry during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and books from his library are of particular interest to collectors and scholars of Jewish intellectual history. Contents: Part I – Five Books of Moses: [6], 219, [1] pp. Part II – Former Prophets: [1], 187 pp. Part III – Latter Prophets: [1], 194 pp. Part IV – Writings: [1], 231 pp. Height: 11 cm. Condition: Very good. Small hole on the title page. Minor age staining. Original gilt-decorated binding. A rare, aesthetically appealing, and historically significant copy, combining early Hebrew printing, the art of the Hebrew book, and fascinating provenance from the formative era of Berlin Jewry and the Jewish Enlightenment.