Song of Songs, illustrated by Ze'ev Raban. Berlin: HaSefer, 1923. Hebrew and English. First Edition.
26 illustrated color plates by Ze'ev Raban, glued to leaves of book, to the right of each spread. The biblical text of the Song of Songs appears in the margins of the illustrations. The English translation is printed on the left side of each spread. Ze'ev Raban created this set of illustrations to the Song of Songs in the years 1911-18. It was during this period that he immigrated from Poland to Palestine and joined the art faculty of the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts. The present copy represents the first edition of the book. With regard to this edition, in an article published in the local newspaper Haaretz (December 7, 1923), Mordechai Narkiss – a Bezalel graduate who later became director of the Bezalel Museum – wrote (in Hebrew) that "this book deserves attention, for the Hebrew reader has truly never seen the likes of it – works created by Bezalel artist Z. Raban. This artist has been endowed not only with a deep and delicate sensitivity that penetrates the depths of the pristine poetry, the poems of King Solomon, but he has also displayed an ability to create works [that are] the essence of beautiful simplicity [in a language] clearly understandable to the people as a whole […] The artist Z. Raban is fortunate to be [capable of] creating a [truly] original work, the illustration of an ancient Hebrew book, and he has succeeded in large measure in imparting the ancient Hebrew spirit in simplicity, beauty, and softness, and most importantly … in the unseen tears of love […] Aiding this effort, not insignificantly, was the painter's great love for the subject matter and for the beautiful Land of Israel".
31 ff., approx. 33 cm. Thick, high-quality paper. Good condition. Minor creases. Few stains. Original binding, blemished and worn. Tears to length of spine.