Seder Tefillos, Amsterdam 1739. A Rare Miniature Siddur – Variant Copy in Painted Vellum Binding

Seder Tefillos, Amsterdam 1739. A Rare Miniature Siddur – Variant Copy in Painted Vellum Binding

A magnificent copy of perhaps the smallest ever Hebrew prayer book to be printed, measuring only 6cm! This Siddur, which was printed according to the Sephardic rite, contains prayers for the entire year, including Shabbos and Yom Tov. It is divided into two parts, with a separate divisional title page for part two. 

A variant copy, which features a beautiful floral decorative border around the first title page. The second divisional title page is without a border. In all other copies however, the main title page is seen without the floral border, whereas the divisional title page features a floral border. 

Likewise, the printed text on recto and verso of the first title page differs from all other copies. In all other copies, the title page states that this was brought to print by the children of Meir Crescas, followed by an introduction by Meir Crescas himself. In it, he relates that while in Amsterdam, he noticed young children struggling to read from a very small Siddur which was printed without Nekudos. He felt for them, and therefore printed another small Siddur, this time with Nekudos, for the benefit of the children. In this copy however, no mention of Meir Crescas appears on the title page, nor does the introduction on verso contain any reference to helping children. Rather, it states merely that the printer had decided to print this tiny Siddur in order to help those traveling. 

With an interesting ownership inscription dating back to the late 19th century. This Siddur was purchased in Hamburg by a Jewish family who came for vacation most likely from Italy, in the summer of 1884. On verso of leaf 222 (last leaf before second title page), we find an inscription written partly in Italian stating as follows: “I bought this book in Hamburg on the 17th of August 1884, when we were in Norderney with dear Mica and Regina”. Norderney is an island off the North Sea coast of Germany, which was a popular tourist spot during the late 19th century. 

In excellent condition. All edges gilt. Bound in original painted vellum binding with blind tooling, with floral endpapers. Another copy with this identical binding is currently held in the Jesselson collection (Zurich), and can be found on the website of The National Library of Israel. See also: Bondy, Miniature Books, Page 31, who describes a copy in “red painted vellum with Dutch floral endpapers”, which is most likely this very copy. 

Page size: 5.5cm (!)

222, [1], 224-318 pp.