The Form of Prayers According to the Custom of...

The Form of Prayers According to the Custom of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, Edited by Isaac Leeser.

An extremely rare complete set of the second edition of Leeser’s Sephardic prayer book.

Isaac Leeser (1806 -1868) was an architect of 19th century American Jewish life.

Ashkenazi Jewish religious leader, teacher, scholar and publisher. He helped found the Jewish press of America, produced the first Jewish translation of the Bible into English, and helped organize various social and educational organizations. He is considered one of the most important nineteenth century American Jewish personalities. He was "fiercely opposed" to Reform Judaism and was regarded as one of the most important "orthodox" rabbis of his era.

The present lot is a rare set of the second edition of Leeser’s Sephardic prayer book (Hebrew title: Siddur siftei tsaddikim) for the entire liturgical year (the first edition had appeared in five hundred copies in 1837-1838). In the preface to the first volume, which was printed in 1846 by C. Sherman, Leeser expresses his gratitude for having been able to revise his earlier work and not-so-subtly requests additional funds for the publication of the following parts. By 1853, he seems to have received the necessary monies, as in that year he printed the last five volumes with Slote & Mooney.

Philadelphia: 1846-1853 .

Vinograd, Philadelphia 17, 20 .

6 volumes, bound in 7.
Volume 1: Daily Prayers, 204p, 22.9x14.3cm.
Volume 2: Rosh Hashanah, 163p, 20x12cm.
Volume 3: Yom Kippur, 194p, 20x12cm.
Volume 3: Yom Kippur, Part 2, Half title, bound separately. 144p,20x12cm.
Volume 4: Sukkot, 232p, 20x12cm.
Volume 5: Passover and Shavuot, 247p, 20x12cm.
Volume. 6: Fast Days, 216p, 20x12cm.
All uniformly bound in modern binding, excellent condition.