A rare and important 1884 Judaica correspondence ensemble: an original letter from Sir Moses Montefiore (1784–1885) to Dr. Abraham Berliner (1833–1915), one of the leading German-Jewish scholars of the 19th century, preserved together with the original registered envelope in which it was sent from Ramsgate to Berlin. The letter is written in Hebrew on Montefiore's distinctive private stationery, headed in blue: “HOLY LAND SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE, BART.” At the foot appears Montefiore's large autograph signature in Hebrew, “משה מונטיפיורי.” The original cover is manuscript-addressed: Herrn Dr. A. Berliner 151 Invalidenstrasse Berlin Prussia The recipient is identified as Dr. Abraham Berliner (1833–1915), the distinguished German-Jewish historian, Hebraist and scholar. From 1873 Berliner taught Jewish history and literature at Rabbi Esriel Hildesheimer's Rabbinical Seminary in Berlin and became an important figure in German Jewish scholarship. Berliner was particularly renowned for his work on Hebrew manuscripts, biblical commentary, Rashi and the Aramaic Targumim. Significantly, in 1884 – the very year in which this letter was sent to him – Berliner published his important critical edition of the Targum Onkelos, adding considerable historical interest to the date of the correspondence. The original envelope was sent by Registered Mail and bears Victorian British postage stamps, Ramsgate postal cancellations dated June 1884, and additional registration and postal markings. The face also bears Sir Moses Montefiore's autograph signature in English. The flap bears Montefiore's distinctive blue “HOLY LAND – SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE, BART.” device and retains his heraldic silver wafer seal. The year 1884 was Montefiore's centenary year, when his 100th birthday was celebrated throughout the Jewish world and his reputation as an international Jewish leader and philanthropist had reached extraordinary proportions. The correspondence therefore brings together two major figures of 19th-century Jewish history: Sir Moses Montefiore, the internationally celebrated philanthropist and communal leader, and Dr. Abraham Berliner, an important scholar of Jewish history, Hebrew literature and biblical textual tradition. The ensemble combines the original letter and its original registered postal cover, Montefiore's Hebrew and English autograph signatures, “Holy Land” stationery, silver wafer seal, Victorian postage, postal markings and a significant identified Jewish recipient. A rare and historically important piece of 19th-century Judaica. The dimensions stated above refer to the letter. Envelope dimensions: 14.5 cm wide × 9.5 cm high.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art