Lot 20
  • 20

Seder ha-Tefillah (Tephilloth, Containing the Forms of Prayers...), Translated by B. Meyers and A. Alexander, London: W. Tooke, 1770

Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

8vo (6 5/8 x 4 1/8 in.; 168 x 105 mm). ff.[3], 3-203, pp.205-213, ff.8 + a blank. Hebrew and English on facing pages. Two title-pages; Hebrew title with woodcut vignette and border of printer's ornament, loose and a bit short; letterpress title, woodcut head and tailpiece; ff. 43-45 with repaired tear affecting but not obscuring text, f. 56 with hole at margin affecting a single letter, p. 209 with torn lower corner and loss of a few words, very lightly browned. Old boards; rebacked in brown buckram, endpapers renewed.

Provenance

Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati Ohio (embossed library stamp on two titles)

Literature

Vinograd, London 60; Roth 16

Condition

8vo (6 5/8 x 4 1/8 in.; 168 x 105 mm). ff.[3], 3-203, pp.205-213, ff.8 + a blank. Hebrew and English on facing pages. Two title- pages; Hebrew title with woodcut vignette and border of printer's ornament, loose and a bit short; letterpress title, woodcut head- and tailpiece; ff. 43-45 with mended tear affecting but not obscuring text, f. 56 with hole at margin affecting a single letter, p.209 with torn lower corner and loss of a few words, very lightly browned. Old boards; rebacked in brown buckram, endpapers renewed.
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Catalogue Note

The first translation of the daily prayer book in the English language

In 1770, Alexander Alexander, pioneer of the Hebrew press in London, produced this liturgy according to the Ashkenazic rite in partnership with Benedict Meyers (Jost) of Halberstadt. The first English translation of the daily prayer book, it was printed on a subscription basis and interestingly, the list of subscribers included many non-Jews.  The translators Alexander and Meyers took note in their preface, that despite the cultural and religious significance of the Hebrew language, "being imperfectly understood by many, by some not at all, it has become necessary to translate our prayers into the language of the country wherein it has pleased Divine Providence to appoint our lot." They also belittled the earlier attempt at an English translation of the Hebrew liturgy, the prayer book published in 1738 by the apostate Abraham Mears under the pseudonym Gamaliel Ben Pedahzur.