Celebration of the Passover by the Jews [Haggadah of the London Times] - Haggadah - Bauman Rare Books

Celebration of the Passover by the Jews [Haggadah of the London Times]

HAGGADAH

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Celebration of the Passover by the Jews [Haggadah of the London Times]

Celebration of the Passover by the Jews [Haggadah of the London Times]

“ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS OUTBREAKS OF THE BLOOD LIBEL IN MODERN TIMES”: 1840 HAGGADAH OF THE LONDON TIMES, PRINTED TO PROVE THE ABSURDITY OF THE INFAMOUS “DAMASCUS AFFAIR”

HAGGADAH. Celebration of the Passover by the Jews [Haggadah of the London Times]. London: London Times, 17 August 1840. Large folio (17-1/2 by 23-1/2 inches), eight pages as issued. Housed in a custom portfolio.

Very scarce 1840 newspaper printing of the Haggadah, printed by the Times of London in an attempt to dispel the Blood Libel myth, fictional charges renewed by the notorious “Damascus Affair.” A lovely copy of this rarity.

“One of the most notorious outbreaks of the Blood Libel in modern times erupted in Damascus, Syria, in February 1840. With the connivance of the Pasha and the French Consul, a group of Jews were thrown into prison and accused of having murdered a Franciscan friar for ritual purposes. The news spread rapidly throughout the world, and while diplomatic and rescue efforts were being launched, the ‘Damascus Affair’ was everywhere discussed and argued. As might be expected, the Times of London gave the developing story extensive coverage, the newspaper printed letters upholding or condemning the charge, and devoted several editorials of its own to the topic. On August 17, 1840, the Times went further. On page 3 of the issue that day, it printed a complete English translation of the Passover Haggadah. It was an attempt to submit further evidence of the absurdity of the charge that Jews require Christian blood for the Passover ritual. Coincidentally, the Times also editorialized favorably on prospects for the restoration of the Jews to Palestine. Of the Jews who had been imprisoned and tortured, one died and another accepted conversion to Islam in order to avoid further suffering. The rest were freed at the end of August, largely as a result of Sir Moses Montefiore’s journey to the Near East in order to intercede personally in their behalf” (Yerushalmi). Yerushalmi, Haggadah and History, plate 95. Lipman, The Century of Moses Montefiore (1985), 13148. Tax stamp in red ink, page 6.

Page 7 marred by printer’s error, not affecting any pertinent information. About-fine condition.

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Aquatint Copperplate process by which the plate is “bitten” by exposure to acid. By changing the areas of the plate that are exposed and the length of time the plate is submerged in the acid bath, the engraver can obtain fine and varying shades of gray that closely resemble watercolor washes. Although the name contains the word “tint”, this is a black-and-white printing process; aquatint plates can often be hand colored, however.
Armorial Used to describe a binding bearing the coat of arms of the original owner, or with bookplates incorporating the owner’s arms.
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