Set of Festival Prayers (Machzor) by one of the pioneers of Hebrew printing in London with incredible provenance of the De Rothschild family.

The Fourth volume contains a prayer for King George IV and the Royal Family (p.92). Sixth volume contains a list of subscribers, which includes Mr & Mrs. Nathan Mayer Rothschild. This set was removed from the De Rothschild library at Exbury House, Hampshire and contains a note in French documenting its acquisition by Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild. Exbury House was acquired in 1919 by Major Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1882-1942), the grandson of Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1808-1879), British Jewish banker, politician and philanthropist and the first Jewish MP.

The volumes are divided according to the five most important holidays in the Jewish calendar: Vol. I. New Year (Rosh HaShanah); Vol. II. & III. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur); Vol. IV. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot); Vol. V. Feast of Passover (Pesach); Vol. VI. Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot).

David Levi (1742-1801), was an erudite Whitechapel cobbler and one of the most remarkable characters of 18th-century English Jewry. He was born in London and after failing to make a living as a shoemaker, went to the opposite extreme and became a hatter, meanwhile continuing his studies at the Great Synagogue of London. In 1783 he produced a succinct account of the 'Rites and Ceremonies of the Jews, in which their religious principles and tenets are explained'. From that date onwards, he was constantly engaged in literary work, in the intervals of trying to earn his livelihood. He produced grammars, dictionaries, apologetics, pamphlets and polemics. For years on end he was a one-man Anti-Defamation Committee, always prepared to fight with his quill whenever the good name of Jews or Judaism was impugned. In addition, he produced a series of liturgical and other translations, considered to be superior to A. Alexander's. Alexander, who was a well-known and established rival London-Jewish publisher, saw in Levi an imitator.

Third revised edition. Six volumes, small 4to (23.5 x 15.5 cm); publishers embossed and gilt black calf with floral ornaments to spine, edges gilt, corners rubbed; parallel English and Hebrew text, frontispiece with engraved portrait of Rev. Solomon Hirschell to Vol. I, engraved illustration depicting holiday customs to frontispieces of the rest of the volumes.