DER RABBI VON BACHERACH

A MASTERPIECE OF BOOK DESIGN, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FINE PRESS BOOKS, AND A HIGH POINT OF GERMAN AND FRENCH LITERARY AND ARTISTIC TRADITIONS Number 117 of 400. No copies in 30 years in the American auction records. 17 Original Lithographs, signed twice by Max Liebermann and numbered. Book: HEINE, Heinrich. DER RABBI VON BACHERACH. Propyläen-Verlag, Berlin, 1923. Folio. With 17 ORIGINAL Lithographs by Max Liebermann. 1/2 Black Morocco and boards. This copy SIGNED TWICE, as usual on limitation, and additionally (not in all copies) on frontispiece lithograph. Minor spotting and soiling to beige boards, otherwise a HANDSOME AND FINE COPY and internally clean. This book is a wonderful combination of two Jews, one who brought to France, German literary tendencies, and the other who brought to the Germans, French artistic tendencies. Heinrich Heine has been called 'the first modern intellectual' and became one of the greatest and most respected writers of the 19th century. Leibermann was the Great German artist that led the Berlin secession group and introduced French impressionism to Germany. This fine press book, a magnificent combination of typography, design and illustration, is often lauded as among the most beautiful of Jewish fine press books if not all fine press books. Liebermann demonstrates a refined sensitivity in his artwork that parallels the emotive text. The Rabbi of Bacherach includes a lovely and romantic description of a Passover- the earliest and most expressive of the essence of the festival, in modern Jewish literature. The story here recounts that (in trans. and referring to the Haggadah) " It was an old heirloom, with ancient wine stains. It had come down from the days of her grandfather. The book contained many boldly and brightly colored pictures. As a little girl, she had often looked at it so eagerly on Passover evenings." ; German Language; Folio - over 12" - 15" tall; JUDAISM, HEBREW LANGUAGE, Jewish Literature, Kabbalah, Judaica, Jewish Studies, Hebrew, Talmud, ; Signed by Illustrator