Kestenbaum and Company: Auction of Hebraica & Judaica Rare Printed Books and Manuscripts Including the Eretz Israel / Holy Land Collection of the late Dr. Gershon Hait.
Auction Reports
| Auction Name | Auction of Hebraica & Judaica Rare Printed Books and Manuscripts Including the Eretz Israel / Holy Land Collection of the late Dr. Gershon Hait. | Total Sales (USD) | 257,350.00 |
| Auction Date | November 18, 2025 - November 18, 2025 | Low Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) | 195,000.00 |
| Sale Number | #114 | High Estimate of Lots Sold (USD) | 298,950.00 |
| Total Lots | 371 | ||
| Sold Lots | 220.0 | Low Estimate of All Lots (USD) | 375,040.00 |
| % of Lots Sold | 59.30% | High Estimate of All Lots (USD) | 570,110.00 |
| Unsold Lots | 151 | Total Sales as a % of High Est. | 45.14% |
Top twenty-five by sale price
| Lot Number | Author Name | Book Title | Year Published | Estimate | Actual Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 193 | Siddur [prayers for throughout the year]. Minhag Aschkenaz. |
1746 | USD 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 | USD 35,000.00 | |
| 110 | KALONYMOS BEN KALONYMOS OF ARLES | (Maestro Calo). Even Bochan [ethics]. Edited by Yom Tov Tzarfathi ben Peretz. |
1489 | USD 15,000.00 - 25,000.00 | USD 16,250.00 |
| 287 | HENRY M. BRACKENRIDGE, J. W. D. WORTHINGTON; & JOHN S. TYSON. | Speeches on the Jew Bill in the House of Delegates in Maryland. |
1829 | USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 | USD 10,625.00 |
| 33 | (CEREMONIES). | Minhagim. Prepared by Shimon HaLevi Gunzburg. |
1589 | USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 | USD 7,500.00 |
| 121 | Seder Tikun Shovavim [Tikunim for Shobavi"m Ta"t]. |
1740 | USD 1,000.00 - 2,000.00 | USD 7,500.00 | |
| 172 | Masecheth Nazir. |
1522 | USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 | USD 6,875.00 | |
| 216 | The Jewish Manual; Or, Practical Information in Jewish and Modern Cookery, With a Collection of Valuable Recipes & Hints Relating to the Toilette. Edited by a Lady. |
1846 | USD 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 | USD 6,875.00 | |
| 300 | NOAH, MORDECAI M. | Discourse on the Restoration of the Jews. |
1845 | USD 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 | USD 5,625.00 |
| 239 | Clement VIII. | Clement VIII. Papal Bull: Cum Hebraeorum Malitia [against the 'impious writings and books of the Hebrews.'] |
1593 | USD 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 | USD 5,500.00 |
| 196 | (WOMEN). | Sha'arei Rachamim -- Techinah Prayers. |
1749 | USD 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 | USD 4,000.00 |
| 14 | (AZULAI, CHAIM YOSEPH DAVID). (The Chid'a). | Eliyahu ibn Chaim of Constantinople (RANa"CH). Teshuvoth Shailoth [responsa]. |
c. 1610. | USD 3,000.00 - 5,000.00 | USD 3,750.00 |
| 47 | EGOZI, MENACHEM. | Gal shel Egozim [commentary to Bereishith]. |
(c.1593-95). | USD 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 | USD 3,750.00 |
| 270 | MONIS, JUDAH. | Dickdook Leshon Gnebreet. Grammar of the Hebrew Tongue. Being an Essay to Bring the Hebrew Grammar into English to Facilitate the Instruction of All Those who are Desirous of Acquiring a Clear Idea of this Primitive Tongue by their Own Studies...Published |
1735 | USD 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 | USD 3,750.00 |
| 62 | EMDEN, YA'AKOV. | Lechem Shamayim [commentary to the Mishnah and to the Rambam's Hilchoth Beth HaBechirah]. |
1768 | USD 2,500.00 - 3,500.00 | USD 3,500.00 |
| 69 | HESS, SIMCHA BEN YEHOSHUA. | ("The Magid of Zalozitch.") Ahavath Zion [travelogue of the Holy Land]. |
1790). | USD 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 | USD 3,500.00 |
| 10 | ARAMA, YITZCHAK. | Yad Avshalom [commentary to the Book of Proverbs - Mishlei, with text]. |
c. 1565). | USD 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 | USD 3,250.00 |
| 219 | SCHUDT, JOHANN JAKOB. | Judischer Merkwurdigkeiten ["Jewish Curiosities."] |
1714-18. | USD 3,000.00 - 4,000.00 | USD 3,125.00 |
| 150 | NAJARA, MOSHE. | Lekach Tov. |
1575 | USD 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 | USD 3,000.00 |
| 63 | EMDEN, YA'AKOV. | Derush Tephilath Yesharim. |
1775 | USD 800.00 - 1,200.00 | USD 2,750.00 |
| 376 | Seder HaTephiloth [prayers for the entire year]. Translation into Judeo-German. |
1705 | USD 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 | USD 2,750.00 | |
| 38 | (CHASSIDISM). | Amaroth Tehoroth...al Sepher Tehilim. |
1838 | USD 1,500.00 - 2,500.00 | USD 2,500.00 |
| 182 | YA'AKOV BEN ASHER. | Arbah Turim [Rabbinic Code]. |
1610 | USD 2,000.00 - 2,500.00 | USD 2,500.00 |
| 195 | (KABBALAH). | Ya'akov Tzemach. Kol Beramah. |
Early 18th-century. | USD 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 | USD 2,500.00 |
| 11 | ASCHKENAZI, ELIEZER BEN ELIYAHU HA'ROPHE. | Ma'asei Hashem [commentary to the Six Days of Creation, Ethics of the Fathers, the Passover Hagadah (with text) and various Biblical portions]. |
1583 | USD 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 | USD 2,250.00 |
| 75 | Seder LeSimchath Torah. |
1876 | USD 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 | USD 2,000.00 |
![<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/0a99416d-9c0f-4fa3-afdd-7532ca8a2b2c.jpg "<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case.")
![<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY!](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/a077b4a5-0477-4c47-9847-0158cf045843.jpg "<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY!")
![<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/6363a735-e622-4d0a-852e-07cef58eccbe.jpg "<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY.")
![<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/3ee16d5b-a2ec-4c03-aeb6-aa3fcfec3a5e.jpg "<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911.")
![<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/d5f50485-7faa-423f-af0c-803b964dd2ba.jpg "<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663.")
![<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ].](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/fb024365-7d7a-4510-9859-9d26b5c266cf.jpg "<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ].")
![<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/a7c0eda0-9d8b-43ac-a504-58923308d5a4.jpg "<b>Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4:</b> PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD.")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
