FROM YELLOW STAR TO FULL EMANCIPATION, 1602-1859: SUPERB COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL ITALIAN GOVERNMENTAL DECREES

(JUDAICA—ITALIAN). Collection of seven printed governmental decrees regarding the Jews of Modena, Italy, 1602-1859. Modena, Italy: various publishers, 1602-1859. Various sizes, broadside (the largest measures 17 by 23 inches) to octavo.    $18,000.

Superb collection of official governmental decrees charting the history of the Jewish community of Modena, in north-central Italy, from the stigma of wearing a yellow mark in 1602, to the grant of full emancipation in 1859.

“Because of the advantageous conditions it offered to the Jews, in the 17th and 18th centuries the duchy of Modena attracted a large Jewish settlement; over 1000 Jews lived in the town itself. Some Sephardi immigrants maintained their own synagogue. Modena was long a principal center of scholarship of Italian Jewry and was distinguished as a seat of kabbalistic study. Among its scholars were the remarkable bibliophile Abraham Joseph Solomon Graziani, Aaron Berechiah of Modena, Abraham Rovigo [see item #3 below, a dispute involving his ancestor], and Ishmael Cohen. Although they were confined to the ghetto in 1638, the Jews of Modena were allowed to carry on their business activities freely. Moneylending survived officially until 1767, far longer than in most other Italian towns. In 1796 Modena was occupied by the French and became part of the Cisalpine Republic… The Jews of Modena contributed effectively to the Italian Risorgimento, collaborating with the Carbonari, the secret revolutionary movement, and financing it. In periods of reaction the ghetto restrictions were renewed [see items #4 and #5 below]” (Encyclopaedia Judaica).

Items #4 and #5 illustrate how quickly the fortunes of the Jewish community could change. After helping the carbonari in their successful coup against the Duke, the Jews were granted full equal rights in a decree issued February, 1831. Just one month later, however, after the Duke had been restored to power, the government published a decree reenacting all former restrictions and imposing a fine against the Jews-presumably to punish them for having helped with the coup.

This superb collection includes, in chronological order:
1. Grida Sopra Gli Ebrei… [Decree enforcing all Jewish males and females from age nine to wear a yellow mark on their hat or clothing. Jews cannot hire non-Jewish servants. Despite these restrictions, non-Jews are not to vilify Jews]. Modena: July 28th, 1602. Small folio, single leaf printed on recto. Woodcut official crest; woodcut initial.
2. Decretum Super Usuris Hebraeorum Foeneratorum totius Status Celsitdinis Suae… [Decree regulating collateral on defaulted loans in the hands of Jewish bankers and money-lenders]. Modena: Juliani Cassiani, 1635. Octavo, two disbound leaves, four printed pages. Woodcut official crest on first page.
3. Notificazione Sopra I Pegni Rubati nel Banco del già Abram Rouighi Ebrao… [Decree regarding a controversy among the heirs of Abraham Rovigo involving liability for collateral securities stolen from the deceased]. Modena: Andrea Cassiani, September 22, 1654. Folio, single leaf printed on recto. Woodcut official crest; woodcut historiated initial.
4. Il Dittatore della Città e Provincia di Modena… [Decree granting full equal rights to the Jews of Modena following a successful coup against the Duke]. Modena: Stamperia del Governo Provvisorio, February 20, 1831. Broadside, printed on recto.
5. Francesco IV. Per la Grazia di Dio. Duca di Modena, Reggio, Mirandola, Massa e Carrara… [Decree retracting the grant of equal rights to the Jews and re-enacting all former restrictions upon the reinstatement of the toppled Duke and a fine imposed on the Jews of Modena]. Modena: Eredi Soliani Tipografi Reali, March 22, 1831. Broadside, printed on recto. Woodcut official crest of the Duke Francesco IV.
6. Il Ministro Dell’Interno… [Decree of the Ministry of the Interior permitting Jews to pay a fine to be excused from the Military Draft]. Modena: Eredi Soliani Tipografi Reali, November 26, 1851. Broadside, printed on recto. Woodcut official governmental seal.
7. Il Minicipio per Provvedimento Straordinario Decreta… [“Full Emancipation” decree, annulling all restrictions and granting Jews full equal rights of citizenship]. Modena: June 13, 1859. Broadside, printed on recto.

A few of the larger broadsides show faint fold lines and light foxing. Item #2 with small stain affecting both leaves; item #7 with three tiny holes at center of document. Overall, however, a superb collection of official documents in extraordinary condition. Rare.