Spectacular Copper-Engraved Miniature Sefiras Haomer
Nitra, 1834
Only 9 cm!
Judaica Masterpiece
Beautiful one-of-a-kind printed Sefiras Haomer. Measuring only 9 cm, this treasure was fashioned with dozens of fine copper intaglio by Mordechai Sofer , a scribe from Nitra. Each page of this book is bordered and features distinguished engravings, with not one page similar to the other!
Nitra was one of the oldest Jewish communities in Slovakia, and yet a printing house was never established in the city. The present item, a true masterpiece, was thus the only work ever produced in Nitra.
Valuable collectible! To the best of our knowledge and research, there are only 3 known copies of this book one in the National Library in Jerusalem (Sándor Scheiber Collection); the second in the Jewish Museum in Budapest; and the present lot offered.
The title page of this book is illustrated with the figures of Moshe and Aharon. The beginning and end of book boast the entire Megillos Sir HaShirim and Rus on a single page, written in micrography. Page 6 features the chapter of Tehillim ‘Lamnatzeach’ in the shape of the menorah.
The page borders are all illustrated differently with geometric designs, leaves, flowers, birds and animals including lions, oxen, deer, rams, horses and peacocks.
In the 19th century, the popular art of illustrated manuscripts slowly began to peter out, which was why this creation by Mordechai (Markus) Donat of Nitra, who produced this masterpiece during the 1830s is so exceptional. Donat’s pieces, both handwritten and printed were influenced by Renaissance art which flourished in Moravian art schools in the 18th century.
Nitra, 1834. [33] sides. Page size: 9×6 cm. Signs of use. The page after the title page is slightly cropped on the top with 2 lines of micrography missing, as well as a minor tear with minimal text missing. All damage was repaired with paper filler. Light stains to top corners. Bound in delicate light-brown binding and preserved in green cloth-covered cardboard box.
Owner’s signature dated shortly before the Holocaust: “Belonging to the honorable maiden Miss Aidel Golda bas Esther Kramer tichyeh. 5703 (1943).”
Selected bibliography on other works by Mordecai Sofer of Nitra (Markus Donath).
Zsuzsanna Toronyi, Héber betűk. Dokumentumok a Magyar Zsidó Levéltárból. Budapest, 2012, p. 35.
Zsuzsanna Toronyi, Markus Donath / Mordecai Sofer Stam of Nitra, [in:] Emile, Schrijver Eds. “Windows on Jewish Worlds. Essays in Honor of William Gross, ” Collector of Judaica, Amsterdam 2019, pps. 246-271.
Ernő Naményi, “Ein Ungarisch-Jüdischer Kupferstecher der Biedermeierzeit (Markus Donath[” in: Jubilee-Volume in Honour of Prof. Bernhard Heller, ed. A. Schreiber, Budapest 1941, pps. 252‒257.
Alexander Scheiber, “Markus Donath’s Second Misrah-Plate.” Studies in Bibliography and Booklore, 1973-1974, no. 10, 80–82.
