2009-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009
…or merely dampen "the flames" and mitigate the plausibility of such a relationship? In the scholarly biography "Isaac Leeser and the Making of American Judaism" by L. J. Sussman (1995; Wayne State University Press). Leeser was urged to change lodgings (because of a personal affair) by his Uncle Zalma Rehine from the home of the Peixotto's, finding new lodgings in a sublet apartment of a seamstress Mrs. Deliah-Cozens. Apparently members of his congregation Mickveh Israel did not approve of such an arrangement as there were rumors abounding that Leeser was neither eating kosher food (as Mrs. Cozens was Christian) and that "he had become fond of Mrs. Cozens' daughter, Ellen." (Later that year in 1833 he contracted smallpox that left him physically and emotionally scarred; Mrs. Cozens served as his nurse, a kindness so important to him that he never forgot, even to including an annual stipend for her in his will… (all this is included in photostat copies that accompany these two letters). Although undated these two nicely penned, short letters are obviously circa 1833, written during those days while residing at the Cozens' home. Both by a very young lady (or teenager) and each just slightly over two pages (4 x 6) to her "Dear Many [sic] and Uncle Sam." She profusely and charmingly expresses her great love for them in both letters; talks a bit about some "relatives" and of the dancing school she was then attending, writing "I can daince [sic] a Cotillian…I like dancing school…Mama as well, always goes with me to dancing school…wish you were here to go with me and Uncle Sam could help me dance" [etc. etc.] and in one letter: "MR. LEESER IS VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN HIS OCCIDENT." (Note: clearly indicating Leeser's initial planning to write and edit that famous monthly periodical which did not come to final birth for another 10 years in 1843!). Both letters are exc.+ Reverse of one addressed to "Dr. Samuel Wolff" (obviously Ella's "Uncle Sam."). There is evidently more to the story and more to be researched. The L. J. Sussman biography of Leeser mentions in an important footnote, that more was written about his relationship with young women and Ella Cozens in a published manuscript on Leeser by Emily Solis-Cohen and a well known "research institute." It is further significant that these two letters had actually been included in the noted collection of personal papers and documents of Isaac Leeser and of an eminent earlier 20th century author, researcher and collector of American Judaica…
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