9 volumes containing Luach Achi’asaf, printed in Warsaw. Starting from the first calendar (1894), continuing with 1895, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1903, 1905. With pictures and calendars that open up. Advertisements and notices in some are in color. Additional two books published by Achi’asaf: Jewish Literature 1897; part of Jewish Literature 1902.
Original bindings (worn), stains, a few detached leaves, overall good condition. Not checked thoroughly for missing pages, appear to be complete copies.
Achi’asaf Calendars in Hebrew were published once a year by Achi’asaf, from 1893-1904 in Warsaw (one additional time in 1923). It included the Jewish calendar, quotes from Jewish literature in Hebrew, poems, pictures, articles, a list of new Jewish literature in Hebrew from the year, eulogies, as well as “practical tables” such as unit conversions (like weight), a list of cities and their populations, postal laws, train schedules, telegraph offices, banks, etc.
The goal was to create a practical calendar for a Hebrew and educated home, which would be a cultural foundation “to provide enjoyment for Jews, for them to enjoy Hebrew Scripture and Jewish literature and to provide them the important notices so they know what’s going on”, as declared in the letter to readers in the opening fold of the first calendar. It created a Jewish culture, in the spirit of Chaim Nachman Bialik’s quote: “Every nation must create a culture…truly to create it by itself, using its own tools and material and with its own stamp.”
