Bidspirit auction | The Story of Zeresh: A

The Story of Zeresh: A Booklet of Purim songs in Ladino in the Custom of the Salonika Community Salonika, 1862 * Konplas Mu'evas de Purim (New Purim Songs), containing four songs in Ladino, some signed in the acrostic: Sa'adya HaLevi, who is the printer. For centuries, Oriental Jews customarily sang songs in Ladino — some in praise of Mordechai and Esther, and others mocking the downfall of Haman, Zeresh, and their cohorts. Rabbi Sa'adya HaLevi composed several songs that became very popular in the Salonika community. They were printed there many times, but not disseminated beyond it (Atiyash, p. 340). This is one of the earliest editions of these songs, containing the first printing of the poem beginning “Estas disgracias de la babo” (fol. 7b–8). This is a very rare sefer. In the National Library of Israel there is a single copy, originating from the Mehlmann collection. The present copy is the one photographed in the Otzar HaSefer HaIvri database of Winograd. To the best of Zaidy's knowledge, it has not appeared in public auctions in recent years. A free translation of part of the title page text: “New Songs for Purim. This is the third time it has been brought to print and each time I add something new... Once again, you will find the story of Zeresh... The songs are arranged in alphabetical order... My name is Sa'adi and my family name is HaLevi.” Salonika, 1862. First printing of one song. Page Count: 8 leaves. Size: 16.5 cm. Condition: Good to fair, light tears and wear, stains. New binding.  Provenance: William Gross Collection, Tel Aviv. Bibliography: Moshe Atiyash, “The ‘Komplas de Purim in Ladino, ” in: Sefunot, 2 (Jerusalem 1958), pp. 337–376.This edition is listed there: p. 343, no. 21.