Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The First Known Book-Covers with Magen Davids

The First Known Book-Covers with Magen Davids are:

”Beur al sefer Shaarei Dura” by Rabbi Joseph Ben Rabbi Moshe from Kremnitz, which was printed in Prague in 1609. In a similar design were issued in Prague in 1611 the books " Imrei Binah" and Mekor Chokhmah".
Thanks to Eli Eshed, journalist who calls himself a "culture detective", for directing me to this piece of information.

See: http://www.notes.co.il/eshed/56005.asp

P.S.

Daniel Putík from Flickr:  

Just to let you know that a Magen David does appear on the front page of a Siddur printed in Prague by Gershon Ha-Kohen (Katz) as early as 1512. Unfortunately, I can not find a picture now. My father wrote a study about this. Alexandr Putík, "The Origin of the Symbols of the Prague Jewish Town. The Banner of the Old-New Synagogue. David's Shield and the Swedish hat“. Judaica Bohemiae vol. XXIX (1993).







Fleur-de-Lis on Printers Marks


The printers from the Giunta family printed in Florence and Venice from 1480 to 1598

Pictures are copied from

Gutenberg project: Printers' Marks, a Chapter in the History of Typography by William Roberts, 1893

Haarlem Hexagrams

Hexagrams appear in the printers mark of Jacobus Bellaert from 1483- “the arms above the Griffin are those of the city of Haarlem”. 



Picture copied from Gutenberg project: Printers' Marks, a Chapter in the History of Typography by William Roberts, 1893


Coat of arms of Haarlem, the capital of the province of North Holland

From Wikipedia Commons courtesy of Mcke