Arcana:

(JUDAISM). Vorspan, Max & Lloyd P. Gartner. Philadelphia, PA: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1970. First Edition. 8vo. Cloth in Printed Dust Jacket. Religious History Monograph. Near Fine/Very Good -. 374pp, illustrated in b&w. "The History of the Jews of Los Angeles" was at the time of its publication in 1972 the most comprehensive historical survey of the subject. One of the city's then-most recognized if not unlikely members of the faith was the consummate entertainer, Sammy Davis, Jr. Davis, was born in Harlem to a Catholic mother and Baptist father, and after his near-fatal automobile accident in 1954 began studying the history of Jews. He converted to Judaism 1961. He is not mentioned in this book which takes a fairly scholarly approach, nor does this show his bookplate. It does however bear the SIGNED PRESENTATION from author Max Vorspan " To Sammy - / From the / murky darkness of Harlem / to the lights of a / better world - may / peace be in your times. / your friend of / four decades / Max." While again, there is no provenance for this tracing it to Sammy Davis Jr.'s library, there is likely not another person to whom that inscription in this title could apply. An internally most handsome example whose dust jacket shows some light sunning, creasing, closed tears, and mild paper loss along the extremities. LC 71-111799 Inventory Number: 027058