A Jewish Bestiary: a Book of Fabulous Creatures Drawn from Hebraic Legend and Lore by Mark Podwal (1945- ) - 1984

xii+52 pages with drawings and bibliography. Octavo (8 3/4" x 6") bound in original publisher's purple cloth with gilt lettering to spine and blind-stamped pictorial to cover in original pictorial jacket. First edition. The world of the animal kingdom has illuminated the Jewish imagination throughout the centuries. Indeed, the earliest printed Jewish book, as far as is known, is a collection of illustrated medieval animal fables, Meshal HaKadmoni ("The Ancient Parable"). A Jewish Bestiary is a fit heir to this tradition. Mark Podwal, the creator of A Book of Hebrew Letters, once again reveals a vital stream in the Jewish imagination by depicting twenty-five creatures, both real and fanciful, from among those which can be found in the traditional Jewish sources - biblical, talmudic, midrashic, and kabbalistic: from the ant to the ziz. Once more, the author and artist combines traditional Jewish themes with his own distinctive line. A spider plays on King David's harp The "pious" stork is shown donning phylacteries. The despised swine is represented merely by a shadow. Each drawing is accompanied by a facing text that enhances our understanding and appreciation. The resulting juxtaposition of art with Jewish legend and lore is indicative of Podwal's profound sensibility. Here are the creatures that exert a special force on the Jewish fancy. Condition: Jacket with two inch closed tear to front hinge else a very good copy in like jacket.