Jüdische Merckwürdigkeiten, (Jewish Notabilia), fourth volume, by Johann Jacob Schudt. Frankfurt: Wolffgang Christoph Multzen, 1718. German, some Hebrew and some Yiddish.
Johann Jacob Schudt (1664-1772) was a Hebraist, Ethnographer and rector of the gymnasium in Frankfurt. His book "Jüdische Merckwürdigkeiten", published in four parts from 1714 to 1718, deals with an ethnographic examination of Jewish congregations worldwide and the Jewish community in Frankfurt that he knew well. Schudt describes the various characteristics of Jews, cites earlier writings and provides new information concerning different customs. He compares the manner in which Jews follow commandments with similar customs in other religions. The book is anti-Semitic in nature; for example, Schudt claims that on the eve of Yom Kippur Jews transfer their sins to Christians. At the same time, it should be noted that ethnographic writings of the period about non-Christian groups was always characterized by prejudice and by emphasizing the superiority of Christianity.
This is the fourth volume with supplements and additions to the first three parts, all printed in one volume.
[16] leaves, 320 pp; pp; 47, [1], 192 pp; [19] leaves, 48 pp, [1] leaf + [5] engraving plates, three are folded and two are smaller than the size of the book. Two additional full-page engravings are paginated.21 cm. Good condition. Bound in a contemporary vellum binding. Two open tears. Restored open tears. Some tears to margins of several leaves. Foxing. Dark leaves. Ex-Libris. Ink stamps. Pen inscriptions. Pen inscription on the binding.