Collection of 18 paper items, including handwritten contracts, documents and envelopes, related to the sale and inheritance of seats in the Ashkenazi synagogue in Amsterdam. Amsterdam, 1688-1808.
The collection includes:
• Nine documents written from 1688-1733, regarding the transfer of ownership of seats in the synagogue through sale or inheritance. Two specific seats recur in eight of these documents, and one can follow the succession of owners over the course of a half a century. The documents are signed by the owners of the seat - the sellers and buyers, as well as by the leaders and trustees of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam.
• Three documents recording the ownership of seats in the synagogue, dated 1779, 1783 and 1784. The first is a printed document completed by hand.
• Six envelopes of ownership documents of seats in the Amsterdam synagogue (without the documents), from ca. 1801-1808. The envelopes are inscribed with the names of the owners and various details.
The Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam was founded in the 17th century. The first Ashkenazi Jews to settle in Amsterdam were mostly refugees from the 30 Years' War (1618-1648), mostly escaping from the Rhine area. In 1648, after the Khmelnytsky Uprising, many Jewish refugees from Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine arrived and established their own community.
18 items. Size varies. Overall good-fair condition. Stains, wear and tears. Folding marks. Some documents with cuts, to render them invalid.

Handwritten and illuminated certificate of appreciation. Issued by the Eastbourne Hebrew Congregation to the chairman and treasurer of the congregation, George Marks Esq. England, [1920s/30s].
The text is written in calligraphic script, with color, ornate initials, within a fine, decorative foliate frame. Some of the ornaments and the Star of David at the top are painted gold.
Thick paper, 38X50 cm. Good condition. Minor damage. Two strips of paper glued to verso.

Illuminated ketubah, for the wedding of Elisha son of Elazar of Fano and Mazal Tov daughter of Abraham Campos. Ancona, 2nd Nissan 1872.
Ink and watercolor on parchment.
The text of the ketubah is set in a wide foliate frame in hues of green, red, blue and gold. The top of the ketubah is arched, inscribed with the customary wish "BeSimana Tava…" within a wreath of roses. Signatures of witnesses Rafael Meshulam of Pesaro and Asher Nissim Halaf at the foot of the ketubah.
Approx. 59X37 cm. Good condition. Minor defects to decorative elements. Folding marks. Mounted with double sided (detachable) adhesive tape on card. Framed.

Five pictures of Lithuanian rabbis and yeshiva deans. [ca. early 20th century].
• Portrait of a rabbi, studio photograph (cabinet card). [Early 20th century].
Handwritten inscription on verso: "R. Itzel Ponovezher" [this photograph is different from the famous pictures of R. Yitzchak Yaakov Rabinowitz Rabbi of Ponovezh (1854-1919), who was known in the Torah world as R. Itzele of Ponovezh, yet it may have been taken in his old age].
• Portrait of R. Chaim Rabinowitz, studio photograph (carte de visite). [Telz, ca. 1910]. Handwritten inscription on verso: "Chaim Rabinowitz".
The present photograph is unknown, and it predates the photograph from his final years appearing on the class picture of the Telz yeshiva in 1928.
R. Chaim Rabinowitz (1860-1930), dean of the Telz yeshiva. His lectures were published in the Chiddushei Rabbi Chaim MiTelz series.
• Portrait of R. Chaim Segal of Rotzki, photograph printed on postcard (trimmed). [Lithuania, ca. 1910s-1920s]. Handwritten inscription in the margins: "R. Chaim Segal, der Rotzker".
R. Chaim Segal (1845-1914), rabbi of Rotzki (Raczki) and Yanova. He authored Orach LeChaim.
• Real photo postcard, "Leadership of the Rabbinical Conference in Lithuania - 6th Iyar 1926 - Kovno". [Kovno, 1926]. The photograph depicts nine rabbis sitting at the head table, and other rabbis. The leading rabbis include R. Avraham Dov Ber Kahana Shapira - rabbi of Kovno, and R. Zelig Reuven Bengis - rabbi of Kalvaria. Stamp of the Executive Committee of the Union of Rabbis in Lithuania on verso.
• Portrait of R. Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, the Ponovezher Rav, photograph (pasted on card). [Bnei Brak?, ca. 1960s].
5 items. Approx. 11.5X7 cm to 17X11 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and minor damage. Folding marks and tiny tears to postcard of rabbinic conference in Lithuania.

Portrait of the Gaon of Vilna - large color lithograph. Breslau (Germany): Salo Schottländer, [early 20th century].
The Gaon of Vilna is seen seated at his desk, wrapped in a tallit, holding a book in one hand and writing with a feather on a paper laid out before him.
The inscription reads: "The Gaon R. Eliyahu of Vilna… author of Shenot Eliyahu, born 1st day of Pesach 1725, d. 19th Tishrei 1794".
50X37 cm. Good-fair condition. Marginal tears. Open tears to lower margin, slightly affecting text.