The Ethical Will of Eleazor of Mainz (d. 1357)
Los Angeles: The Plantin Press, 1977. Limited to 200 copies. 26x14cm, [12]pp. Title page wood engraving by Ilya Schor, gold typographical border around text. Blue paper, saddle stitched wraps, printed paste-on to front cover. Some sunning to front cover along spine else near fine. Laid in is a nine line holograph letter from Lillian Marks presenting this sample copy to Jake Zeitlin, dated in December, 1977.
Special copy of this finely printed, traditional document from 13th century German Jew, Eleazar ben Samuel HaLevi of Mayence (d. 1357). The text is important in reflecting the moral and ethical views of the time, and quite specific in its direction:
"...At a distance of thirty cubits from the grave, they shall set my coffin on the ground, and drag me to the grave by a rope attached to the coffin. Every four cubits they shall stand and wait awhile, doing this in all seven times so that I may find atonement for my sins."
Zeitlin was apparently interested in this text and had asked Lillian previously to print it. Her letter reads:
"Sometime time [sic] ago you were interested in having printed "The Ethical Will" of Eleazor of Mainz. I showed you my plan for the booklet and perhaps you couldn't visualize what I had in mind. You then said, you will recall, that if I went ahead with it you would buy some copies. ¶ Well during a lull in the shop, I decided to complete it since the type had been set. Voila! Here is a sample copy. Let me know what you think of it, Affectionately, Lillian."
A wonderful association copy from two icons of the 20th century Los Angeles book scene.
. Item #5568
Price: $175.00