The importance of the Victor (Avigdor) Klagsbald Collection can hardly be overestimated, charting nearly a millennium of Jewish life across the globe – some one thousand years of religion, culture, literature and art.
Mr. Klagsbald, who passed away 5 years ago, was one of the most prominent collectors of Jewish art in the second half of the 20th century and a noted scholar, who built a collection of exceptional quality, much of which is now being offered for auction.
Each item in the collection was professionally catalogued by Mr. Klagsbald himself, who also added detailed descriptions in neat, cursive French along with enclosed photographs. These descriptions were indexed by subject and kept in organized dossiers, of which our researchers made use while preparing the present catalogue. Many items from the collection were made known to the public throughout the years in books and articles he authored; we select for particular mention Klagsbald's catalogue of Moroccan manuscripts, published in Paris in 1980 – Catalogue des manuscrits marocains de la collection Klagsbald – and his book A l'ombre de Dieu: dix essais sur la symbolique dans l'art juif, published in Belgium in 1997. Mr. Klagsbald was also one of the founders of the Museum of Jewish Art and History (mahJ) in Paris, and authored the catalogue of the Cluny collection now preserved in the museum, which was exhibited in the Israel Museum in 1982.
The present catalogue contains a selection of manuscripts, important printed books in first and rare editions, copies of distinguished ownership and with annotations, and letters and signatures spanning Orient and Occident, all scarce to be found. The two hundred lots featured in the catalogue include early manuscripts such as Sefer HaPeliah scribed in Tripoli (Lebanon), 1497; Moshav Zekenim, scribed in Crotone (Italy), 1473 – formerly Ms. Sassoon 409; Midrash HaGadol, written by the renowned scribe R. David son of Benaiah of Sanaa (Yemen), 1473; and several volumes of halachic rulings from Morocco, including hundreds of autographs and thousands of signatures by Moroccan rabbis from various cities. One of the volumes contains a letter handwritten and signed by R. Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim (many items in the collection originate from the Abensour collection in Fez).
The parchment manuscripts include decorated and illustrated siddurim such as the Arizal's Tikunei Shabbat, crafted by the scribe and illuminator Meshulam Simmel of Polna in Vienna, 1714, and Haggadot illustrated in the style of the Moravian school. The books with handwritten glosses include Zohar Chadash – the personal copy of kabbalist R. Moshe Zacuto, with his glosses, as well as the signature of the Chida; a manuscript of Sefer HaKavanot compiled by kabbalist R. Natan Nata Hannover, with his signature and many glosses in his hand; and a Pri Etz Chaim manuscript, scribed by R. Moshe of Liuboml, which belonged to R. Avraham Gershon of Kitov, brother-in-law of the Baal Shem Tov. The catalogue also includes unpublished manuscript works, including one authored by a disciple of the Pnei Yehoshua and R. Yehonatan Eibeshitz, with an original letter of ordination from the latter; and a Chassidic work with original letters of approbation by Rebbe Mordechai Dov of Hornostaipil and his sons.
On the occasion of its 16th anniversary and its 100th catalogue, Kedem Auction House is honored to present the Klagsbald Collection for public auction. We strive – and will continue to strive – to offer our clients rare and important items and to present them in high-quality and accurate catalogues. We have endeavored to uphold this aspiration in the present catalogue as well.
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LOT 19:
Manuscript, Tiklal Etz Chaim Siddur – Two Volumes – Yemen, 18th Century
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Start price:
$
2,000
Estimated price :
$3,000 - $8,000
Buyer's Premium: 25%
VAT: 17%
On commission only
Users from foreign countries may be exempted from tax payments, according to the relevant tax regulations
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Manuscript, Tiklal Etz Chaim Siddur – Two Volumes – Yemen, 18th Century
Manuscript, Tiklal Etz Chaim siddur, with commentary and halachot by the Maharitz – R. Yichya Tzalach (son of R. Yosef son of R. Tzalach). [Yemen, ca. 1780s]. With additions and supplements on additional leaves from later periods [Yemen, ca. 1886]. Two volumes.
The first volume contains: Prayers and blessings for weekdays and Shabbat, tikun for Rosh Chodesh and Chanukah, order of blessings over meals, laws of mitzvot, blessings for circumcisions and weddings, calendrical calculations, and formulae for halachic documents. At the beginning and end of the volume are additions by various writers, from different time periods: a story involving Yehoshua bin Nun and the king of Armenia; hashkavah prayers and hakafot for the deceased; calendar of seasons from 1886; havdalah prayers; mnemonics for seasons and constellations; "Atzat Achitofel, which is a book of Goralot" [written ca. 1880s].
The second volume contains: Festival and high holiday prayers – Pesach tikun and Haggadah; prayers and Azharot for Shavuot; order of five fast days; lamentations for Tishah BeAv (which mention the year 1777 – see p. 69a; apparently this date is copied from another author, and not the date of writing of this siddur); Ashmurot; Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayers, with Avodah and Keter Malchut; prayers for Sukkot, with Hoshanot, prayer for rain for Shmini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah prayers; selichot for Yom Kippur and piyyutim for Rachamim prayers. At the beginning and end of the volume are additions by various writers, from different time periods, including: prayers "for the beating of the willow", for Sukkot evening kiddush and shaking of the lulav; Zevach Pesach by R. Suleiman son of R. Yosef Tzalach; Pitron Chalomot by R. Hai Gaon, and other prayers and piyyutim.
Two volumes. [230] leaves; [228] leaves. Approx. 22 cm. Thick, high-quality paper. Overall good condition. Stains and many signs of use. Wear and tears. Light worming. New bindings (uniform).
