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Kestenbaum and Company: FINE JUDAICA: PRINTED BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, GRAPHIC & CEREMONIAL ARTS

Auction Reports

Auction Name FINE JUDAICA: PRINTED BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, GRAPHIC & CEREMONIAL ARTS Total Sales (USD) 686,593.75
Auction Date November 12, 2020 - November 12, 2020 Low Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 384,300.00
Sale Number #91 High Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) 574,800.00
Total Lots 235
Sold Lots 169 Low Estimate of All Lots (USD) 546,950.00
% of Lots Sold 71.91% High Estimate of All Lots (USD) 814,600.00
Unsold Lots 66 Total Sales as a % of High Est. 84.29%

Top twenty-five by sale price

Lot Number Author Name Book Title Year Published Estimate Actual Price
5

Fürth Memorbuch. A Yizkor - Memorial Volume, 1650-1828.

1650-1828 USD 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD 56,250.00
50 HALBERSTAM, YECHEZKEL SHRAGA.

(The Shinaver Rav, 1815-98). Autograph Letter Signed, written on letterhead in Hebrew.

1893 USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 45,000.00
96 STEINER, YESHAYAH OF KERESTIR.

(“Reb Shayele,” Grand Rabbi of Kerestir, 1851-1925). Letter Signed written on letterhead in Hebrew.

n.d USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 32,500.00
60 HIRSCH, SAMSON RAPHAEL

(Founder of German neo-Orthodoxy, 1808-88). <>

1548 USD 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD 25,000.00
159

The Haggadah. Executed by Arthur Szyk. Edited by Cecil Roth.

1939 USD 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD 22,500.00
117

Mordecai, Jacob (1762-1838). Autograph Manuscript, written in English (with some Hebrew): Collected articles, all of a religious and philosophical nature. Approx. 120 pages.

1820’s USD 15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD 17,500.00
36 FRIEDMAN, MORDECHAI SHRAGA FEIVUSH.

(Grand Rebbe of Husiatyn, 1835–1894). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to his son-in-law, <>

n.d USD 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD 16,250.00
37 FRIEDMAN, DOVID MOSHE.

(Grand Rebbe of Chortkov, 1828–1903). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew.

1899 USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD 16,250.00
9

“Hazkorath Neshamoth…” Anthology of Hebrew prayers for the Sabbath, mostly for the Hazan.

1762 USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD 15,000.00
35 FRIEDMAN, AVROHOM YA’AKOV.

(Grand Rebbe of Sadigura, 1820–1883). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to his brother-in-law, <>

USD 8,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD 15,000.00
142

Archive of approximately 60 legal manuscripts concerning <> and his sons.

1790-1805 USD 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD 15,000.00
76 PICK, YESHAYA.

(1725-99). Yoseph Karo. Sepher Torath Kohanim, Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat. With commentary Me’irath Einayim and Sifthei Kohen. Owned and heavily annotated by Rabbi Isaiah Berlin (Pick).

1691 USD 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD 13,750.00
92 SOLOVEITCHIK, CHAIM.

(“R. Chaim Brisker,” 1853-1918). Autograph Letter Signed and stamped, written in Hebrew to Baron Horace (Naftali Herz) Günzburg (1833-1909).

1909 USD 12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD 13,750.00
97 TEITELBAUM, CHAIM TZVI.

(Atzei Chaim, Admor of Sighet, 1879-1926). Autograph Letter Signed on letterhead, written in Hebrew to Rabbi Yisrael Chaim Samet.

1916 USD 7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD 11,875.00
102 TWERSKY, AHARON.

(Third Grand Rebbe of Chernobyl, 1784-1871). Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to his son-in-law, Rabbi Dovid Moshe Friedman of Chortkov (1828-1903).

(circa, post-1855) USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 11,875.00
104 TWERSKY, PINCHAS.

(“R. Piniele,” Grand Rebbe of Ustile, 1880-1943). Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew, on letterhead to R. Yechiel (of London).

1938 USD 10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD 11,250.00
129

Cyrus Comstock and John Tucker. Three important <> concerning <> expelling the Jews from the Department of Tennessee.

1866 USD 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD 11,250.00
65 KARELITZ, AVRAHAM YESHAYAH.

(The Chazon Ish, 1878-1953).  Autograph Letter Signed, written in Hebrew to Rabbi Moshe Blau.

1945 USD 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD 10,625.00
114

Darmsdate, Joseph. An extensive <> doggerel written in English, offered as a Purim gift to Jacob I. Cohen.

1789 USD 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD 10,625.00
175

‘GLOVES THAT CAPTURED EICHMANN 11.6.60.’

1988 USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD 10,000.00
4

Sepher Takanoth of the Chevra Kadishah of Bamberg.

1778-91 USD 7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD 9,375.00
113

Congregation Mikveh Israel. Dedication Ceremony. <> in Hebrew and Yiddish. Written by(?) Hazan <>

1782 USD 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD 9,375.00
18 ABUHATZEIRA, YA’AKOV.

(The Abir Ya’akov, 1806-1880). Autograph Document Signed, written in Hebrew to Rabbi Menashe.

USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD 7,500.00
180

Raziel HaMalach [celebrated cornucopia of mystical texts and magical recipes].

1701 USD 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD 7,500.00
13 RAWNITZKI, YEHOSHUA CHANA.

(Israeli publisher and literary partner of Bialik, 1859-1944). Archive of miscellaneous papers. Texts in English, Hebrew and Yiddish.

USD 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD 6,875.00
  • 19th Century Shop
    Catalogue 198 just published
    19th Century Shop. Darwin and Wallace, first printing of the first paper on natural selection
    19th Century Shop. Shakespeare’s Poems, first collected edition
    19th Century Shop. Walt Whitman portrait inscribed with a Leaves of Grass poem
    19th Century Shop. Major Elizabeth Barrett Browning manuscript notebook
    19th Century Shop. Spock's Baby Book, original MS
    19th Century Shop. Cellarius, Harmonia Macrocosmica, the great celestial atlas
  • Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [RUTH, George Herman “Babe” (1895-1948)]. Signed photograph. Circa 1930s. 191 x 248 mm. $1,500 to $2,500.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HARRISON, Benjamin. Document signed (“Benj Harrison”) as governor of Virginia, certifying the service of Daniel Cumbo, a Black Revolutionary soldier. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: ONE OF THE FIRST PRINTED ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: FIRST PRINTING OF LINCOLN’S IMMORTAL GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: HIGHLY IMPORTANT MORMON ARCHIVE. ALLEY, George. Archive of 23 Autograph Letters Signed by Mormon Convert George Alley to His Brother Joseph Alley. $10,000 to $20,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [AVIATION]. [ARMSTRONG, Neil A.] Aviation Hall of Fame Gold Medal MS64 NGC, Awarded to Neil Armstrong in 1979. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: NEWLY DISCOVERED FIRST PRINTING OF "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE... " FROM THE ONLY NEWSPAPER ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL PROCESSION. $4,000 to $8,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: THE MOST IMPORTANT GEORGE WASHINGTON DOCUMENT IN PRIVATE HANDS; GEORGE WASHINGTON’S COMMISSION AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, 1775, ONE OF ONLY TWO ORIGINALS. $150,000 to $250,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: A VERY RARE ACCOUNT OF BLACKBEARD’S DEATH AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIRATE ITEMS EXTANT. $3,000 to $5,000.
    Potter & Potter Auctions
    How History Unfolds on Paper:
    Choice Selections from the Eric C. Caren Collection
    Part IX
    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: EDISON, Thomas. Patent for Edison’s Improvements on the Electric-Light, No. 219,628. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office], 16 September 1879. $2,000 to $3,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [VIETNAM WAR]. The original pen used by Secretary of State William P. Rogers to sign the Vietnam Peace Agreement, Paris, 27 January 1973. $10,000 to $15,000.
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: SONS OF LIBERTY FOUNDER COLONEL BARRÉ ANNOTATED TITLE-PAGE, “WHICH OUGHT TO ROUSE UP BRITISH ATTENTION”. $4,000 to $6,000.
  • Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: [Langland (William)]. The vision of Pierce Plowman, nowe the seconde time imprinted..., Roberte Crowley, 1550. £8,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: [Shakespeare (William)]. [Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies], second folio edition, [by Tho.Cotes, for Robert Allot], [1632]. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Bible, Czech Biblia Bohemica, first complete Bible printed in the Czech vernacular, Prague, August 1488. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Shabthai Tzvi.- Collection of four printed and illustrated broadsides detailing the appearance, rise and fall of the false messiah, Shabthai Tzvi, Augsburg, 1666-67. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Leaf from the Beauvais Missal, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, [Northern France (perhaps Beauvais or Amiens)], [fourteenth century (c.1310)]. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Aubrey (John). [Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme], manuscript in English, Latin and Greek, [c. 1693]. £30,000 to £50,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: Byron (George Gordon Noel, Lord). Poems on Various Occasions, first edition, Harriet Maltby's copy, Newark, Printed by S. & J. Ridge, 1807. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, second impression with dust-jacket, 1937 [but 1938]. £7,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Blake (William).- Thornton (Robert John). The Pastorals of Virgil, 2 vol., engraved plates by William Blake, 1821. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Forum Auctions
    Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: America.- Mount (William J.) & Thomas Page. The English Pilot…, [bound with] The Fourth Book, describing The West Indies Navigation from Hudson's-Bay to the River Amazones, 1721. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Oldfield (Henry Ambrose), Rajman Singh Chitrakar & others. An album of 160 photographs and 13 original artworks, (1833-1919), [c. 1850s-1880s]. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Audubon (John James) [and William MacGillivray]. Ornithological Biography…, 5 vol., first edition, presentation copy inscribed by Audubon, Edinburgh, 1831-49 [i.e. 1831-39]. £10,000 to £15,000.
  • Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Winston Churchill. The Second World War. Set of First-Edition Volumes. 6,000 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: A.A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard. A Collection of The Pooh Books. Set of First-Editions. 18,600 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Salvador Dalí, Lewis Carroll. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Finely Bound and Signed Limited Edition. 15,000 USD
    Sotheby’s
    Modern First Editions
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ian Fleming. Live and Let Die. First Edition. 9,500 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter Series. Finely Bound First Printing Set of Complete Series. 5,650 USD
    Sotheby’s, Available Now: Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell to Arms. First Edition, First Printing. 4,200 USD
  • Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG BEADED JUDICIAL COLLAR. $80,000 - $120,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: ONLY KNOWN COPY OF THE ONLY BOOK BY THE REMARKABLE EVE ADAMS. $8,000 - $12,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A COMPLETE RUN OF VISIONAIRE MAGAZINE THROUGH 2010. $6,000 - $9,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: LAW REVIEW OFFPRINT SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY RUTH BADER GINSBURG. $3,000 - $5,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: META REBNER'S WORKING SCRIPT OF THE LOVED ONE. $1,500 - $2,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A KATHY GROVE PORTRAIT OF CYNDI LAUPER FOR THE FEBRUARY 1989 DETAILS COVER. $800 - $1,200
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A PLASTIC COAT BY MILLIE DAVID FEATURED IN SOHO NEWS STYLE SECTION, FROM THE COLLECTION OF ANNIE FLANDERS. $500 - $700
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A RUTH BADER GINSBURG JEWELRY BOX. $600 - $900
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A SET OF JONI MITCHELL LYRICS FOR "IF I HAD A HEART." $2,000 - $3,000
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