2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
LEWIS N. DEMBITZ (1833-1907), prominent American attorney, public official and author. Three letters in his hand and each with his full signature. Each on his printed letterhead as attorney at law, Louisville, Kentucky. All three addressed to Mayer Sulzberger, prominent Phila Jurist and then chairman of the pub. committee of the Jewish Pub Society. All are 8 x 10; single page; blank reverse. (1) Nov. 10, 1896 “…four years ago I began writing a book on the Jewish ritual and wrote what might be the first draft of the greater part of it. The…list of the chapters already written will give an idea of the scope of the work. Wherever parts of the prayerbook are translated, I made my own version and tried to employ as plain words as possible. [He offers examples, writing in both English and using Hebrew characters as well]. After working awhile on the manuscript I had to take up work on ‘Land Titles in the U.S.’ [a famous legal book he authored] which was under contract…since the completion of that, poor eyes, law business and political campaign kept me from taking it up. There are a number of historical researches…in one or the other part of the liturgy which I have not had time to work up. I would also append some synagogal melodies and the ‘trope’ both German and Sephardic so that a full idea of the Jewish services in all their parts and features could be gained from the book.” (2) June 4, 1897 “since I quit corresponding with you about the proposed book I got several letters from Dr. Jastrow [president of the J.P.S.] one of which he told me to go on with the work as the reading committee had approved it and promised he would see to it that the Pub Committee would make a formal contract, even intimating they would reserve the right to strike out any matter which in their opinion might appear partisan. …Have not since heard from him or committee, though I am nearly done with the first draft…and in a position to send the ms. Completely revised by August…my original price was $1,000 but by insistence of the committee on the historic feature, my work has doubled… I thought to confine myself to a few references to the Mishna indicating what is old and what new. Now I’d like to have some sort of contract before finishing the work [and discusses why necessary to increase the price to $1,200…and that] I may get it all typewritten in order to be able to measure it better...Any kind of historical work for which authorities have to be quoted and where exactitude is looked for involves an immense amount of labor, as you know best from writing lawyer’s briefs and judge’s opinions.” (3) January 20, 1897 just a short 6 line note: “if the committee of J. P. S. has at its meeting last Sunday acted favorably on my proposed book…please let me know at once as I won’t have a day to spare if I want to get through by October 1’st.”Just normal aging. All three exc. +. With copy of bio sketch of Dembitz. Admitted to the Kentucky Bar 1853 he soon became an anti-slavery agitator and active in Jewish communal affairs; an early member of the executive board of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. In 1884 KY legislature named him commissioner to draw up the tax law for Louisville and became city attorney for the city; drafted the first American law establishing the closed ballot for city elections; wrote many articles and works on legal matters as well as Jewish affairs.
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