Miniature Prayer Book with Calendar in Spanish – Amsterdam, 1681 – Splendid Silver-Ornamented Binding

Miniature Prayer Book with Calendar in Spanish – Amsterdam, 1681 – Splendid Silver-Ornamented Binding

Orden de las Oraciones cotidianas por estilo seguido y corriente, con las de Hanucah Purim, y Ayuno del solo, como tambien de las tres Pascuas, de Pesah, Sebuoth, y Sucoth [Prayer book for all year round, for holidays and special Jewish occasions]. Amsterdam: David Tartas, [1681]. Bound together with Calendario de Ros-Hodes, fiestas y ayunos, que los Hebreos celebran cada año [Calendar of New Months and holidays], a calendar for the years 1680-1710 (with separate title page). Amsterdam, [1681]. Spanish.
Prayer book for all year round and for holidays and special occasions, in miniature format; bound together with a calendar for the years 1680-1710. Both the prayer book and the calendar were printed in Spanish only, and were intended for Marranos, conversos, and members of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish communities of Amsterdam.
Pocketbook (miniature) format, in elegant binding with silver floral ornamentation, including four corner ornaments, a pair of buckles, and additional silver ornaments that serve as hinges connecting the front and back covers to the spine of the book. Gilt edges, with floral patterns stamped onto edges of book block.
This style of binding is rather typical of bindings for 17th and 18th century European bibles and prayer books, especially from the Netherlands. However, this particular style is actually not commonly seen in Jewish sacred books from that period, and insofar as it does appear in a Jewish context, it is primarily in books belonging to Amsterdam’s Jewish communities of Spanish and Portuguese origin.

593, [1] pages; [40] pages (calendar). 9.5 cm. Very good condition. Minor blemishes.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, NHB.126.