Amsterdam Haggadah with the Rare Map of the Holy Land, Amsterdam: Solomon Proops, 1712

Small folio (11 ½ x 7 ¼ in.; 292 x 184 mm). collation: ()^{1, 1-74, 82, 91=32 leaves. Engraved title, letterpress title, 15 half-page engraved illustrations, folding engraved map, some historiated woodcut initials; map silked and mounted on a stub, lower outer corner of first eleven leaves mended, upper and fore-edge of engraved title cropped entering image, some soiling, a few light stains. Antique three-quarter calf.}

Sander Koletch (bookplate)

Yudlov 120; Yaari 73; Yerushalmi, plates 66-69

Folio, Second edition of the enormously influential Amsterdam Haggadah, complete illustrated with engraved additional title page depicting Moses at the burning bush removing his shoes, 16 copper engravings, numerous woodcut initials, and engraved folding map of the Land of Israel.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Second edition of the enormously influential Amsterdam haggadah

This rare Amsterdam Haggadah is a milestone in the history of Hebrew printing and illustration. Of all the early printed illustrated Passover haggadot, the Amsterdam Haggadah of 1695 had the greatest impact on subsequent editions. The artist Abraham ben Jacob—a convert to Judaism—borrowed most of the illustrations from Mathaeus Merian, a Christian artist. Between 1625 and 1630 Merian produced a large number of illustrations for both Bibles and history books which were well known all over Europe. It was from among these engravings that the illustrations for the Amsterdam Haggadah were chosen.  Their popularity with the Jews of Europe was such that they were copied and recopied in succeeding haggadot printed in Europe and later in the United States well into the 20th century. Abraham ben Jacob introduced a whole new iconographic approach to haggadah illustration. Among his innovations were the image of the Temple in Jerusalem as well as a map of Canaan depicting the route of the Exodus and the boundaries of the Land of Israel. These images, as well as his famous grouping of the Four Sons, appear in countless haggadot down to the present day.

The illustrations of the 1712 Amsterdam Haggadah were identical with those of 1695, however the frontispiece was changed and two new illustrations were added: a page with 13 vignettes depicting the sequence of the Passover Seder, and a page with the images of the Ten Plagues. These were borrowed from the Venice Haggadah of 1609. The name of Abraham ben Jacob does not appear on the title page of the 1712 edition although it would have been possible for him to have executed the new frontispiece since he was still alive when the 1712 edition was published.