Subject: Jewish Americana

First edition of "A Biographical Sketch" by Simon Wolf, published by The Levytype Company in Philadelphia in 1897. This early work by the famous historian focuses on early Jewish Americana.

A printed and ink-completed form letter, signed by John S. Meehan, Librarian of the Library of Congress, acknowledging receipt of Isaac Leeser's 'The Book of Daily Prayers for Every Day in the Year According to the Custom of the German and Polish Jews,' published in 1848 by Sherman. This letter, dated July 14, 1848, may represent the first notification of an American Jewish prayer book in the Library of Congress collection.

A baptismal certificate, printed in German and filled in by hand in Hebrew (Yiddish) with watercolor and red ink. The certificate includes a Jewish star and was completed by Martin Wetzler, a Jewish scrivener, in Rockhill Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 1858. The document is notable for Wetzler's unique practice of using Hebrew and a Jewish star on a Christian baptismal certificate.

14 KT. gold medallion plaque (4 x 2.5 CM) inscribed on one side "Presented by his godfather, J.M. Loewenstein" and on the reverse with the Hebrew symbol for luck and the engraving "Born August 25th, 1868". The medallion has a ring for wearing on a chain. The medallion may be related to the Loewenstein family of Rockville, Texas, with Joseph Loewenstein establishing a business there in 1873. A similar spelling, Loevenstein, appears in *Jews of South Carolina*, suggesting a possible family connection due to the common interchange of Vs and Ws by German Jews. A J. Loewenstein is documented in Beth Elohim records as early as 1818. Further research is needed.

A poorly handwritten copy of the obituary of Joseph Simon. This is a later copy of an earlier obituary (20.600), differing by at least 20 years. The original obituary was written in English.

A Jewish New Year's greeting card depicting a rabbi blowing the shofar. The card dates from 1906. The image shows a rabbi in traditional garb blowing a shofar.

Printed ketubbah on vellum, filled in by hand in New York City on July 5, 1865, for the marriage of Morris Phillips and Bilabat Zekhariyah HaLevi. The ketubbah was printed in Holland. Rabbi Samuel M. Isaacs officiated, and Benjamin Phillip served as a witness. The document is signed by all three individuals.

Handwritten and illuminated ledger of the Chevra Mishnayot (Mishna study society) of Congregation Anshei Sfard in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Created between 1918 and 1925, this ledger contains hundreds of entries written in Hebrew cursive, many decorated with gold paint and black ink borders. Some pages feature colorful illustrations of flowers and leaves. The ledger includes bylaws, membership records, and other details of the society's activities. The binding is black leather with silver tooling, a red leather inset, and marbled endpapers. A pink receipt from the 1920s is included within the ledger. The watermark on the paper indicates "Artright Ledger". This manuscript offers insights into early 20th-century Jewish life in Boston and the practices of one of the earliest Sephardic congregations in the United States. A receipt from the Kaminski Auction House documenting its purchase in 1999 is also present.

Nickel-plated advertising piece featuring Hebrew numerals and the inscription "The time to sell to R. Lowenthal." This object was likely used as a pawnbroker's token, given to customers when they pawned their watches. It was exhibited at the Library of Congress in Cincinnati (AJA) from February to May 2005, and at the AJHS 350th anniversary exhibition in New York City from May to September 2005. Date: circa 1905

A postcard featuring Jewish and American flags. A raised pink star, possibly made of cloth, is at the center. The star and flags are bordered with sparkles and a lion. Hebrew greetings are also present. The postcard dates from around 1900.

Pre-Civil War trade token issued by Kohn, Daron & Co. in New Orleans, Louisiana. The front of the token reads "GOOD FOR ONE LOAD." This rare merchant token is considered significant, with an example selling for $797.50 in a PCAC June 1991 sale. It's noted as the earliest known American Jewish trade token. Date: circa 1845.

Large silver wedding wine cup inscribed with the initials 'A.B. Maertz' and the dedication 'Seinen geliebten Eltern Fur silbernen Hochzeit, Jany 1st 1867' (To his beloved parents for their silver wedding). The cup lacks a hallmark. This piece comes from a collection passed down through a family of Jewish settlers who arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio around 1840. Cincinnati's Jewish community is notable for being the oldest west of the Appalachian Mountains. The current owners include the president of an international literary society, who has since retired from New Jersey to central Florida. The family and society's identities are being withheld at their request.

A silver soup spoon stamped with the name "E. Benjamin". The spoon's Jewish origin is uncertain. The object dates from January 1, 1835, and its physical location is currently unknown.