2009-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009
Although undated and unsigned this note (3 x 8) of 9 penned lines in his tiny (but easily read) recognizable hand was clearly written in 1840 / 1841 to a major Philadelphia newspaper and undoubtedly his first draft of rebuke for that newspaper's recent review of his newly published (1841) "The Claims of the Jews to an Equality of Rights; Illustrated by a Series of Letters to the Editor of the Phila. Gazette." Leeser writes: "It is singular enough that an article emanating from this celebrated periodical which appeared in July, 1828 should have caused me to appear before the public, the second time I ever ventured to offer any- thing to the press, with an entended [sic] defence of our people and our religion, which has since given rise to the 'Jews and Mosaic Law' [Leeser's famous work published in 1833/34] which was published 7 years ago [thus clearly dating this note to 1840/41]. It is not likely that the Reviewer ever saw my strictures; but these repeated attacks proceeding from the organ of one of the great parties of Great Britain prove to my satisfaction at least, that the same spirit of [??] to use a mild term, towards us as a separate religious society does yet prevail with the same activity now as during the ages of persecution." Likely that letter and the ensuing published book by Leeser were all related to his first national prominence, gained by leading the protest against charges of a ritual murder in the Mid-ast known as the "Damascus Blood Libel" which erupted Feb. 1840 (The entire story and more is well detailed in L. J. Sussman's "Isaac Leeser and the Making of American Judaism," 1995). Normal aging; minor light damp stain; clean diagonal tear (not affecting any writing) in right corner; all intact. Accompanied with photostats of original letters by Leeser to compare and verify handwriting. Significant American Judaica…
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