Subject: Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Religious life

First edition of "Catechism for Younger Children: Designed as a Familiar Exposition of the Jewish Religion," published in Philadelphia in 1839. Dedicated to Rebecca Gratz. Includes two pages of advertisements. Note: A second (or third) edition (1845) was offered in the Bauman special Judaica catalog in 2003 for $950. A second edition (1844) sold on 11/13/14, lot 10 at the Keatenbaum auction for $19,000 + 28%. Singerman 674; WorldCat lists 5 copies in institutions.

A four-page printed letter dated August 10, 1850, from Abraham de Sola, Rabbi of the Portuguese and Spanish Congregation of Montreal, to the members of Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia. De Sola seeks the position of rabbi, recently vacated by Isaac Leeser, and includes numerous testimonials. The letter is a broadside.

A one-page letter dated November 29, 1854, from E. H. Lindo in Curaçao, Dutch West Indies, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lindo discusses selling prayer books and prayer shawls for Leeser, requests a set of tefillin, and announces his impending emigration to Australia due to economic hardship in Curaçao.

Two-page letter written by Henry Illowy in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 21, 1865. Illowy discusses his father's departure as rabbi in New Orleans and includes a commentary on the unsuccessful candidacy of Mr. Wechsler for the ministerial position.

Letter from Nathaniel Levin in Charleston, South Carolina, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated November 3, 1852. Levin forwards a charity sermon by Rev. Solomon Jacobs for printing and discusses a potential reunion with the reformed congregation. Levin was the government inspector of imports and later wrote the history of Temple Beth Elohim.