Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller - Old and Rare Books

Hagadah shel Pesah/ Haggada Sela Pesaha Athava Balhandanasanacen Nirupana/ The Institution of Passover [THE PUNE HAGGADAH, IN ORIGINAL CLOTH WRAPPERS WITH PAPER LABEL]

Talkar, Moshe Yaakov; Aharon Daniel Talkar (eds.)

Pune: [Prepared and published by Moshe Jacob Talkar and Aaron David Talkar, at Vital Skharam Agnihorty's Press], 1874. First edition. Softcover. Octavo. 2, [18], 5-44pp. (+ Marathi pages interleaved), 45-50pp. 5pp. (in Hindu numerals). Housed in a modern custom brown leather chemise, with a pouch inside, and gilt lettering on the spine. Original purple limp cloth wrappers, with printed paper label pasted on the front cover, as issued.

This now extremely scarce Passover Haggadah is the earliest to have been printed in Pune, India. Primarily published to serve the needs of the 'Bene Israel' Jewish community, concentrated in the Maharastra region of India, the text here is printed in Hebrew, with full translation into the local Marathi language. At the time Pune was home to the second largest Jewish community in India, after Bombay. Although this work is based on an earlier Bombay Haggdah of 1846, there are a total of three earlier editions of the Passover Haggadah known to have been published in Bombay, starting in 1832 (all of which included Marathi text to some degree). This publication is notable for having different and new illustrations, especially the more distinctively Indian visual motifs in its illustrated content, which can most prominently be seen in the second woodblock illustration, showing men and women of the community baking matzot for Passover. The work contains a total of 17 b/w woodblock images, all located at the front, including an interesting set of images depicting people arround the passover table engaging in the each of activities of the various portions of the seder.

The intial pages have a combination of Hebrew and Marathi text. Following this, the largest section of the text, (numbered page 5 through 44) has the Hebrew text on one side (with Hebrew numeral pagination) and the Marathi translation on the facing page (including corresponding pagination in Hindu numerals). This is equivalent to 79 pages in total. The final 5-page section contains a list of subscribers who funded the publication, printed entirely in Marathi.

This work is quite scarce, and rarely seen in its original binding with the mounted paper label.

Wrappers with some rubbing and stains, as well as rubbing and chipping to the cloth along the spine. paper label chipped at the corner. Interior with pages sunned and slightly brittle. Some stains and closed tears throughout. Wrappers and interior in good- overall, chemise in fine condition. g- to fine. Item #55292

Marathi title: हग्गादा शेल पेसाह अथवा बल्हांडणसणाचें निरूपण
Publication: पुणें येथें विठ्ठल सखाराम अग्निहोत्री यांच्या छापखान्यांत छापिलें
Hebrew title: הגדה של פסח

Alternate titles/transliterations: Pesaha Sanace Varnana; Moses Jacob Talker; Aaron Daniel Talker, Poona Haggadah,

Bibliographic references: Yaari 1077; Yudlov 1437; Yerushalmi 107-110; 'Bilbiography of the Hebrew Book, 000185478', Otzar Haggadot 1437.

Price: $10,000.00