Sterneberch. Vã den bosen joden volget hyr eyn gheschicht [Sternberg, here follows a story of the evil Jews]; two facsimiles of an antisemitic pamphlet, published in the early days of printing in Europe, accusing the Jews of Mecklenburg of desecrating the host:

1. Facsimile of the pamphlet on paper from the time of the original 15th-century publication. Apparently, this is an exemplar from an edition of 100 copies published in Vienna by Gilhofer & Ranschburg, 1889 (the edition was published with a title page and printer's device, missing in the present copy).
[4] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Minor worming. Leaves detached. Inscriptions and stamps. Paper strap glued along spine. Paper pastings.

2. Geschichte der Juden zu Sternberg mit dem Sakrament [Story of the Sternberg Jews with the Sacrament]. Arizona: Thorn Books, 2009. Fine volume, with introduction by James Owen (facsimile is placed in a small paper file at the end of the volume). The present copy is no. "E", of an edition of 120 numbered copies.
[11] leaves + [4] pages. Approx. 19.5–21 cm. Good condition.

The Sternberg Blood Libel
During July 1492 the Jews of the city of Sternberg [Mecklenburg, Germany], were accused of desecrating the sacramental bread. Antisemitic propaganda pamphlets published shortly after the event, claimed that the local Jew Elazar took advantage of the priest Peter Däne's dire financial situation, to acquire from him two hosts. During the wedding of Elazar's daughter, the Jews stabbed the sacramental bread, which bled profusely. Elazar's wife attempted to dispose of the bleeding host in a garbage heap outside the city, but failed to so, and returned the hosts to Däne, who buried them in the cemetery.
As result of the blood libel, the Jews of Mecklenburg were put on trial; 27 of them were severely tortured, and later Burned at the stake. The remaining Jews were expelled from Mecklenburg. The priest Däne was also immolated.
In the wake of these events, many pamphlets emerged, chronicling the events in Sternberg. The present lot comprises two facsimiles of a pamphlet printed in Lübeck, in late 1492 or early 1493, written in Plattdeutsch, and published by Matthaeus Brandis. Notably, adorning the pamphlet's cover is a meticulously detailed woodcut depicting the Jews purportedly committing the blasphemous act of stabbing the host during the wedding of Elazar's daughter.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, NHB.154.