Reshit Limudim (First Syllabus), by Shlomo Bloch. Hanover, 1837. Yiddish-Deitsch.
A Hebrew textbook for children and young adults, with illustrations (woodcuts) for each letter of the alphabet.
Ayala Gordon writes about this book: "a kind of primary textbook intended for the children of Israel. The book was written by Bloch and was decorated with twenty-two woodcuts, each letter is decorated with a woodcut. Above each image appears a line in Hebrew and below each image appears an explanation in Ashkenazi Rashi script... The book reflects modern ideas not only due to the fine illustrations... But also because of the explanations provided to the child in his mother tongue. It is possible that Bloch was Moses Mendelssohn’s student" (from: Hebrew Illustrations - The Illustrated Children’s Book, Tel Aviv, 2005, pp. 46-47). Unfortunately, this copy is missing the first five leaves. Printed on bluish paper. [1], pp. 11-60 (missing pages 1-10), 15.5 cm. Fair condition. Wear marks, tears and stains. A tear on page 43.
From the collection of Arnie Druck.