Anglo-Jewish Portraits.

Alfred Rubens (1903-1998) was Chairman of the Jewish Museum (1958-1983) and an avid collector. In the 1920s, he started to collect prints and drawings of Jewish interest and eventually built up a collection of world importance. When, in 1932, the Jewish Museum was founded in London by Rubens's friend Wilfred S. Samuel, he invited Rubens to join the museum's committee as its expert on prints and drawings. Rubens outlived all other members of that original committee.

The museum started with a major purchase of antique ceremonial objects at Christie's and built up a fine collection, illustrating both the ceremonies of Judaism and the social history of the Jewish community in Britain. Exhibits included silver, textiles and furniture from London's former 18th-century synagogues.

During his lifetime Rubens published several works which were based on his extensive collection. He first published the Anglo-Jewish Portraits (1935), followed by a similar work of wider scope, A Jewish Iconography (1954; rev. ed. 1981) which contained engravings of scenes of Jewish life and continental engraved portraits. Later came his History of Jewish Costume (1967).

4to, text in English with occasional Hebrew; publisher's half-vellum boards, with gilt title to spine; numerous plates, printed on textured paper; [4], vii-xxiii, [2], 2-191 pp. (excluding plates). A fine copy.