World culture: The 18th century Haggadah found at the Manchester Garage

A forgotten 18th-century Passover liturgical book is discovered in an Osem soup carton in Manchester.

William Forrest from Adam Partridge Antiques took a tour of the Manchester residence and when he came to the garage, was handed an old Osem soup carton filled with Hebrew books. ”Is there anything you can do with these?” he was asked.

Inside the hand-painted Haggadah was inscribed: No 47 Exposition du Alvert Hall (a reference to a catalog listing at the Anglo-Jewish Exhibition at the Albert Hall in 1887); Written 5486 – 1726; Written by Aaron son of Benjamin Woolf for Mendel Oppenheim.

Initial research actually dates the rare goatskin vellum volume to 1725, and points to it having been written and illuminated by Aaron Wolf ben Benjamin Zeev Schreiber Herlingen of Wewitz. Herlingen was a scribe and illustrator who also held an official position at the Imperial Library in Vienna.

The “Manchester Garage Haggadah” will be listed at the Partridge Judaica sale on November 22. It “is certain to reach a six-figure sum,” says Partridge.