Kirchliche Verfassung der heutigen Juden, sonderlich derer in Deutschland, by Johann Christian Georg Bodenschatz. Frankfurt and Leipzig, 1748-1749. Four parts in one volume. German. First edition.
Book by the German theologian Johann Christian Bodenschatz (1717-1797) on the Jewish religion and its customs, particularly the customs of Ashkenazi Jewry. The book contains precise and objective descriptions of Jewish customs during the author's time, constituting an important source of information on Jewish history in the 18th century.
Alongside Bodenschatz's study, the book contains twenty-nine engraved plates and an additional engraving facing the title page. The engravings mostly show the customs and ways of life of the Jews in Germany: the Kiddush Levana (Sanctification of the Moon), synagogue prayers, 9th of Av, lighting Hanukkah candles, and more.
[14], 206 [2], 328, 331-386 [i. e. 384], [16], 256, 270, [36] pp + [30] plates, 21.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Slight defects. Bookplate on inner side of front binding and ink inscriptions on the front free endpaper. Binding with vellum spine and corners, somewhat damaged.