Meah_Bemeah_Cropped_Master

Hebrew Antique Judaica books, manuscripts and postcards

Lot 51:

prev Back to the catalogue next

Foundations of Modern Yiddish Literature: Two Volumes by Yehoash (Solomon Bloomgarden) יהואש 1. געזאמעלטע לידער 1907 2. פאבלען 1912

Auction will begin to close in __ days and __ hours

Start price: £100

Buyer's Premium:

Description

An exceptionally rare lot containing the primary poetic and philosophical works of the most celebrated modern Yiddish poet and linguist, documented from early 20th-century New York.

This unique lot features two separate foundational works by the giant of Yiddish modernism, known by his pseudonym Yehoash.


About the Author: Solomon Bloomgarden (Yehoash, 1870–1927)

  • Significance: Born in Lithuania, Solomon Bloomgarden (pen name: Yehoash) became the foremost Yiddish poet in America. He played a singular role in elevating Yiddish from a regional vernacular to a sophisticated literary language, capable of expressing complex, universal, and philosophical themes.
  • Controversy and Modernism: His poetry was initially controversial among traditional circles because it introduced secular, philosophical, and universalist themes—such as ancient mythology and nature poetry—into Yiddish, challenging the language’s traditional association solely with religious life and folk culture.
  • Legacy: Yehoash is also celebrated for his monumental achievement: the complete translation of the Hebrew Bible into modern Yiddish.

_____________

Lot Details:


Item A: Gezammelte Lieder (Collected Poems)

  • Title: געזאמעלטע לידער (Collected Poems)
  • Year of Printing: 1907
  • Provenance: Printed in New York by the A. M. Evalenko publishing house.
  • Content: This essential early collection represents the peak of Yehoash’s poetic output in his American period, establishing him as a leader of the cultural renaissance in the immigrant community.
  • Format: Green cloth binding with embossed gold title.

Item B: Fabeln (Fables)

  • Title: פאבלען (Fables)
  • Year of Printing: 1912
  • Provenance: Published by the Yehoash Publication Society, New York.
  • Content: A collection of the author’s original philosophical and ethical fables, presenting moral and social lessons through a modernized, artistic Jewish lens.
  • Format: Red cloth binding.

This is a significant opportunity to acquire two major first-generation Yiddish works from early 20th-century New York, representing the intellectual and cultural heights of the modern Yiddish renaissance.


Condition report:

Both books reflect their status as actively read and treasured cultural artifacts from the early 20th century:

  • Integrity: Both volumes are textually complete, with all pages present and fully legible.
  • External Wear: The cloth bindings show honest, commensurate wear, rubbing, and some fading (particularly on the spine), consistent with their age and use as popular reading material in the immigrant community.
  • Internal Condition: Pages show typical age-toning. There is no evidence of widespread dampstaining or major tears.