FIRST SEPARATE PRINTING OF THE HA-TIKVAH IN JUDEO-PERSIAN

IMBER, Naphtali Herz. Ha-Tikvah. Teheran: No publisher, circa 1918. Octavo, original paper self-wrappers; pp. 4. $2200.

First separate printing of the national anthem of Israel—once known as the Zionist anthem—in Judeo-Persian.

Written in 1878, Ha-Tikvah first appeared as “Tikvatenu” (Our Hope) in 1886. This 1918 Teheran printing is believed to be the first edition of Ha-Tikvah in Judeo-Persian, as well as one of the earliest Judeo-Persian and Hebrew Teheran imprints. The first recorded Judeo-Persian book to be printed in Teheran, Sefed Hizzuk Sefat Ever by Solomon b. Joseph Kohen, was published in 1918, but contained only the Hebrew text of Ha-Tikvah. A later Judeo-Persian printing, Hayyim Ben Mordechai More’s Sefer Gedulat Moredechai, published in 1924, included Ha-Tikvah in Judeo-Persian, but in a different and arguably inferior translation. Published in dual columns of Hebrew and Judeo-Persian, this four-page pamphlet features the anthem in nine stanzas. The title page/front self-wrapper features a bold Star of David with the Hebrew word “Zion” in the center. The Judeo-Persian translation of this edition is by Shlomo Avishor ben Abraham Yosef Kashani.

A rare and fragile item in about-fine condition.