Siddur with Magnificent Silver Binding and Engraved Inscription Honoring R. Yehuda Leib Eger, Rabbi of Halberstadt ...

Siddur with Magnificent Silver Binding and Engraved Inscription Honoring R. Yehuda Leib Eger, Rabbi of Halberstadt, Son of R. Akiva Eger (the First) – Halberstadt, 18th Century – Long Genealogical Inscription Handwritten by His Son, R. Peretz Sabel Eger, Rabbi of Braunschweig

Year-round siddur following Ashkenazi rite, with Torah portions, Shir HaYichud, Yotzerot and Selichot, Hoshanot and Ma'aravot. Amsterdam: Herz Levi Rofe and his son-in-law Kosman, 1752.

Bound with: Book of Psalms arranged according to the days of the week, with German commentary and order of supplications. Amsterdam: Herz Levi Rofe and his son-in-law Kosman, [1760]. Includes Yiddish translation ("Taytsh"); with separate title pages for Psalms and for supplications. Bound in a magnificent silver binding, with dedicatory inscriptions.

Paper, cardboard and fabric; brass sheet; silver, repoussé, pierced and engraved (both clasps are stamped with the 18th century Halberstadt city mark; unidentified maker's mark: the letters F.S with a flower above and below within a shield-shaped frame [not documented in Scheffler], and a stamped letter H, apparently date letter for the year 1761).

It appears that this siddur was given as a "Sivlonot" – a present from the groom to his betrothed, after their engagement. It is bound in a magnificent silver binding on which the names of the couple appear: on the front cover – "R. / Leib son of the Gaon … [A]kiva Eger / of blessed memory", and on the back cover – "Hendele / daughter of Itzek … 1761".

Both sides of the binding are symmetrically decorated, in identical floral patterns typical of the 18th century: a pair of rampant lions in the center, tongues extended, supporting a stylized cartouche and a large crown-shaped ornament. The spine and clasps are also decorated with matching patterns; a pair of silver ornaments soldered to the spine at the top and bottom (covering the thickness of the book).

In addition to the repoussé and engraved decorations, the silver binding also features tiny decorations pierced in patterns of leaves, stars, moons and flowers; a thin brass sheet located under the silver plates of the binding serves as a background and gives them a golden glow. Such pierced decorations are not common in bindings of this type, but are indeed found, for example, in German Torah pointers from the 18th century.

R. Yehuda Leib Yaakov Eger (1741-1814), son of Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi of Zülz and Pressburg ("Rabbi Akiva Eger the First"), served for forty years as rabbi in Halberstadt and was one of the leading Torah scholars of his generation. He was the uncle of the famous Rabbi Akiva Eger, Rabbi of Posen (1762-1837; author of Responsa Rabbi Akiva Eger and Derush VeChiddush, father-in-law of the Chatam Sofer). Together with his brother Rabbi Binyamin Wolf, he published his father's novellae in the book Mishnat D'Rabbi Akiva (Fürth, 1781). His sons were R. Peretz Sabel Eger and R. Avraham Eger of Mezhyrich.

Rebbetzin Chana Hinda Eger (Hendele) née Borchardt was born in Halberstadt in 1736 and died there in 1787. Her father's name was Yitzchak Baruch (see below: "Itzek") and he was called "Köslin" after his city of origin in Pomerania.

On the back endpaper appears a long and detailed genealogical inscription in the handwriting of R. Yehuda Leib's son – R. Peretz Sabel Eger – which was apparently written after he inherited this volume from his father's estate, around 1814: "The young Sabel Eger residing here… Braunschweig son of…. Rabbi Leib Eger of blessed memory who was Rabbi of the holy community of Halberstadt for forty years, son of… Rabbi Akiva Eger… who was Rabbi and Rosh Metivta in… Zülz and Pressburg, author of the book Mishnat D'Rabbi Akiva son of the late… Rabbi Bunem Eger… son of… Rabbi Leib Eger… son of Rabbi Meir… The name of my mother and teacher the righteous Rebbetzin Mrs. Hendela… daughter of… Rabbi Itzek Köslin… son… Rabbi Baruch Köslin… of Pomerania / And my mother and teacher… mentioned above was born to a pious and famous generous woman Mrs. Schönchen of blessed memory".

R. Peretz Sabel Eger (1768-1842) was the cousin of the renowned Rabbi Akiva Eger. In 1809, he was appointed as Rabbi of Braunschweig. He corresponded on halachic matters with his cousin Rabbi Akiva Eger, and dozens of responsa in Rabbi Akiva Eger's responsa are addressed to him. He authored the books Ateret Paz on Tractate Beitzah and Rimon Peretz on Tractate Ketubot.

[2], 243; 85; 128, [1], 130-144 leaves. Misfoliation. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains (many stains on first and last leaves due to dampness on the endpapers). Worming to some leaves, affecting text. Gilt edges. New cloth-covered cardboard binding, with original endpapers, partially restored and reconstructed. Two French bookplates, presumably from the 19th or early 20th century ("Bibliotheque du Chateau, de Livry, CB"; "Candide et Constanter, JWC"). Silver binding 19X13.5 cm, overall good condition.

The binding is documented in the Center for Jewish Art (CJA), item 3909.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 025.001.013.