Auction of Judaica. Including a large offering of Americana from a distinguished Private Collection. Focusing on Jews in the American Civil War, featuring photographs, autograph letters and printed books.
Judaica books and manuscripts (non-Hebraic) are offered next.
This includes two important letters from the United States regarding Edgardo Mortara (Lot 31); an exceptionally rare E.M. Lilien livre-de-artiste (Lot 150); an impressive 18th-century plate-book featuring the Holy Land (Lot 156); a recently discovered illustrated letter by Arthur Szyk (Lot 199).
Utilize the Search-bar to locate books that are of regional interest, including: Austria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Russia, South Africa and Spain.
The final portion of the auction includes a wide selection of Jewish Graphic Arts, many formerly in the collection of the late Peter Ehrenthal; and Ceremonial Objects from a distinguished four-generation collection.
For any and all inquiries please contact Shaya Kestenbaum: jack@kestenbaum.net.
תיאורי הפריטים המוגשים בעברית אינם מכילים את כל המידע על הפריטים. חובת המציע לעיין בקטלוג באנגלית לפני ההשתתפות במכירה. לא ניתן להחזיר פריטים שמצבם מתוארים באנגלית.
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LOT 199:
SZYK, ARTHUR.
more...
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Sold for: $10,000
Start price:
$
10,000
Buyer's Premium: 25%
sales tax: 8.875%
On the full lot's price and commission
Users from foreign countries may be exempted from tax payments, according to the relevant tax regulations
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SZYK, ARTHUR.
ILLUSTRATED AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED. Written in French to SENATOR ANATOLE DE MONZIE in purple ink.
Szyk writes to his patron of family and related news: His wife Julia in recovery from illness; their move from Rolleboise into more commodious accomodations; the dispatch to America of Szyk’s Hagadah manuscript; regards from fellow artist Chana Orloff; the enrollment, at the suggestion of Monsieur Decour, of son Georges in a new school; closing with much affection “a thousand kisses.”
FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS:
* 1. Szyk penning this letter at the bedside of his sick wife (self-portrait of the artist hanging on wall).
* 2. The Szyk family motoring to their new home: Arthur seated alongside his wife Julia, their son George, their daughter Alexandra, and a further unknown figure (the nanny?).
* 3. The Haggadah on the ship Aquitania en route to America.
* 4. Chana Orloff with the Légion d'Honneur medal pinned to her dress.
* 5. Self-portrait of the artist.
Paris, 27th September, 1926.
NEWLY DISCOVERED LETTER. Aside from its sparkling artistic merit, THE CONTENT OF THIS LETTER IS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE IN REGARD TO SZYK’S OEUVRE.
Szyk here informs his patron: “The manuscript of the ‘Haggada’ has gone to America, for a subscription, and will be returned to me, to be given to you.”
Szyk's sumptuously illustrated Haggadah, that was the pinnacle of his artistic career, was published by the Beaconsfield Press in London in 1940. As Ansell has noted, “Szyk worked on the illuminations between 1932 and 1938.” Yet in this letter Szyk makes clear reference to a finished Haggadah manuscript sent off to America.
None of the scholarship pertaining to Szyk makes any mention of this early Haggadah.
- What was it?
See J.P. Ansell, Arthur Szyk: Artist, Jew, Pole (2004) pp. 92-4.
SENATOR ANATOLE DE MONZIE (1876-1947) was a French political figure, scholar and champion of the arts. He served several governments in roles including Minister of Finance, Minister of Education & Fine Arts and Minister of Public Works. He was deeply supportive of Szyk’s work, indeed the year this letter was written, de Monzie provided the preface to Szyk’s ‘Le Juif qui Rit.’
CHANA ORLOFF (1888-1968) was a Ukrainian-born French and Israeli Art deco and figurative art sculptor. In 1925 the French government made her a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
AUGUST DECOUR was a Paris-based antiques dealer who organized three major exhibitions of Szyk’s work in his gallery in 1922, 1925 and 1928. He took a benevolent view of Szyk and provided him with.
TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LETTER:
Monsieur A. de Monzie, Sénateur, ancien Ministre. Revery, près St. Céré, Lot.
Paris le 27 Septembre 1926.
11 Villa du Parc Montsouris. XLV.
Mon cher Patron,
C'est au chevet du lit de Julia qui a été très sérieusement malade (inflammation du sein) que je vous écris ma lettre. Mais heureusement, elle est en convalescence déjà, et je respire! Nous avons quitté Rolleboise il y a déjà un mois pour venir habiter notre charmant pavillon.
Nous nous plaisons beaucoup dans notre coin, nous avons un petit intérieur à nous et nous sommes heureux, cher Patron! Le manuscrit de la "Haggada" est parti en Amérique, pour une souscription, et me sera rendu, pour vous être remis."Le Puits de Jacob" paraitra bientôt.
Nous voyons souvent notre amie Chana Orloff, qui m'a priée de vous transmettre ses hommages.
J'ai inscrit Georges à l'école communale du quartier, selon le conseil de monsieur Decour.
Ma famille vous adresse mille baisers, Notre cher Patron, et j'y joins mes hommages les plus affectueux.
Vôtre à jamais dévoué.
Fait à Paris.
11 Villa du Parc Montsouris.
Arthur Szyk.
