Rare Books

LBI's Rare Book Collection consists of ca. 4,000 volumes primarily in the field of German Judaica, dating from the earliest period of printing. Rarities include incunabula, early 16th century writings, the works of Christian Hebraists, Jewish calendars, prayer books, educational publications of the Haskalah movement, first editions of the works of Moses Mendelssohn and Heinrich Heine, first editions and dedication copies of works by more recent prominent German-Jewish writers, the newsletters and periodicals of German Jewish communities, publications of exile presses. An important part of the rare book collection is a collection of illustrated and art books. Among them are many limited editions of twentieth century artists’ portfolios and several illustrated eighteenth century books on Jewish customs. The Institute also has one of the most significant collections of publications and periodicals related to “Science of Judaism” (Wissenschaft des Judentums). The emergence and establishment of modern Jewish scholarship in the 19th and 20th century in Germany and Europe became the cornerstone and predecessor of Jewish Studies.