Artwork from the 15th century Jewish prayer book set to be auctioned off by Christie's in Paris. Photo: Christie's.

Christie’s New York will be unveiling to the public for the first time since it’s creation in Tuscany during the late 15th century, an extremely rare Jewish prayer book believed to be the only work of its kind by Giovanni di Giuliano Boccardi.

The 400 page Hebrew book was purchased in Frankfurt in the early 20th Century and covers an entire year’s worth of prayer, from Passover to Yom Kippur.  A coat of arms on the front of the book features a lion holding a flaming chalice and the sun, with a crescent moon pictured on the side of the lion.

Jewish families in Italy are known to have used differing coats of arms to distinguish themselves, and while the marking on this Mahzor can’t be completely traced back, Christie’s believes it to have “some resemblance to the coat of arms of the Ambrom family”.

A two day exhibit featuring the prayer book begins today in New York before Christie’s planned auction of the work in Paris next month.  It will be the first time this piece is part of a public auction and Christie’s estimates the value between $540,000 and $800,000.

Artwork from the 15th century Jewish prayer book set to be auctioned off by Christie's in Paris. Photo: Christie's.

Scripture inside the15th century Jewish prayer book set to be auctioned off by Christie's in Paris. Photo: Christie's.

The 15th century Jewish prayer book set to be auctioned off by Christie's in Paris. Photo: Christie's.