Bidspirit auction | Woman’s Prayer Book – Amsterdam,

Woman’s Prayer Book – Amsterdam, 1819–1823 – Magnificent Leather Binding with Silver Clasps - Woman’s Prayer Book – Amsterdam, 1819–1823 – Magnificent Leather Binding with Silver Clasps and the Owner’s Name – Family Birth Records A woman’s prayer book containing prayers for the entire year according to the Polish rite, Psalms and Tchines – Amsterdam, 1819–1823. A distinctive personal copy in an elaborate original leather binding, decorated in gilt and fitted with hallmarked silver clasps. The front cover bears the name of its female owner: “Nana, wife of Avraham von Emden.” Seder HaTefillot MiKol HaShanah, according to the Polish rite. Amsterdam, printed by Yochanan Levi Rofe and his son Binyamin, 1819. Bound with: Sefer Tehillim, arranged according to the days of the week, with a sufficient commentary in Yiddish, and Seder Tchines. Amsterdam, printed by Yochanan Levi Rofe and his son Binyamin, 1822–1823. Separate title pages for the Psalms and Tchines. Magnificent Leather Binding with Hallmarked Silver Clasps The prayer book is housed in an elaborate period leather binding, decorated with gilt tooling and fitted with two silver clasps. The clasps bear a complete set of hallmarks, including the Amsterdam city mark – a lion within a lozenge; the year mark – the letter P within a circle, indicating 1849; and the maker’s mark – the initials AL and the number 20 within a square, for Adrianus Hoolbos Lanzonder. The binding retains its original colored endpapers, and the edges of the leaves are gilt. The front cover bears the gilt-stamped name of the woman who owned the prayer book: “Nana, wife of Avraham von Emden.” Nana’s Personal Siddur – Records of Her Children’s Births in Her Own Hand The significance of this copy extends beyond its impressive binding. On the front flyleaf, the owner recorded in her own handwriting family records documenting the births of her children. The inscriptions record the births of three daughters in 1851, 1853 and 1857. An additional entry from 1851 records the birth of a son but was later erased – possibly following the child’s death. The siddur thus transcends its function as a personal prayer book and becomes an intimate family document, accompanying its owner over the years and preserving the record of her family life. Prayer for a Woman in Childbirth – Mentioning the Owner by Name Accompanying the siddur is a handwritten leaf containing a prayer for a woman in childbirth, explicitly mentioning the owner by name: “Nana, born to Chana.” The combination of the name stamped on the binding, the handwritten birth records, and the personal prayer mentioning Nana by name gives this copy an exceptional personal character and preserves a chapter in the life of a Jewish woman in 19th-century Europe. An impressive item of women’s Judaica – a personal prayer book actually used by its owner, in an elaborate leather binding with hallmarked silver clasps, bearing her name, records of her children’s births, and a personal prayer for childbirth. [1], 243; 64–135, [1]; 36 leaves. Psalms and Tchines: 144 leaves. Lacking 92 leaves from the second foliation of the siddur. In their place, leaves 64–135, [1], apparently belonging to another edition, were bound into the volume. 20.5 cm. Gilt edges. Most leaves in good condition; approximately the final 30 leaves in moderate condition. Numerous stains. Wear. Tears in several places. Period leather binding with silver clasps; wear and damage to binding.