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Judaica and Hasidic Books and Manuscripts

Lot 80:

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Historic 1890 Hungarian Autograph Postcard – Rabbi Zusman Katz Stern of Kisvárda (Author of Imrei Noam) to Philanthropist S. Eldod of Höchberg, Germany

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Start price: £100

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Description

A highly elegant and collectible late 19th-century rabbinic correspondence card capturing the close intellectual and charitable ties linking Hungarian rabbinic authors with elite West German Orthodox philanthropists.

  • Overview: An official handwritten and signed rabbinic postcard written in a beautiful, classic Austro-Hungarian rabbinic cursive script. The card is postmarked from Kisvárda (קלינורדא / קוזוארדא, Hungary) on July 6, 1890 (90 JUL 6).
  • The Author: Written entirely by the noted Hungarian halachic scholar and author, Rabbi Zusman Katz Stern (הגאון רבי זוסמן כ"ץ שטרן זצ"ל). He proudly signs his name at the base of the text using his distinct literary calligraphic signature: "Zusman Katz Stern" (זוסמן כ"ץ שטרן).
  • Published Works: Adding exceptional bibliographic value to this lot, Rabbi Stern is celebrated as the author of the profound multi-volume homiletic and halachic treatise Sefer Imrei Noam (ספר אמרי נועם), which includes advanced commentaries on the Books of Bamidbar and Devarim, as well as collections of rare insights from the early sages (Rishonim).
  • The Content & Recipient: The postcard is addressed to Herr S. Eldod (הנגיד ש. אלדוד), a wealthy and pious lay leader residing in Höchberg, near Würzburg (היכברג / ווירצבורג, Bavaria). In the text, Rabbi Stern extends warm expressions of gratitude following a personal visit, offering a string of heartfelt blessings for the donor’s health, material success, and spiritual prosperity. Per standard catalog practices, the body text remains untranscribed.
  • Collector’s Highlight: Postcards from elite 19th-century Hungarian authors that preserve clean international postal markings, complete signatures, and explicit links to German-Jewish Orthodox historical geography are highly prized by collectors of European rabbinica.

Condition report:

Status: Fine Archival Condition.


Details: The postal card is structurally flawless, showing sharp corners, crisp edges, and a warm, uniform uniform natural cream patina. The front displays clean, unbroken ink cancellations from the Höchberg and Würzburg sorting offices. The reverse features a highly uniform, dense, and dark handwritten ink text block, with the critical signature of Rabbi Zusman Katz Stern perfectly bold and completely intact.