Sotheby’s to Auction the Extremely Rare Rothschild Vienna Mahzor
In February 2026, the auction house Sotheby’s in New York will offer for sale one of the most significant monuments of medieval Jewish book culture — the Rothschild Vienna Mahzor, dated to 1415.
The work is a monumental illuminated prayer book for the High Holy Days – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — created in the early 15th century, presumably in southern Germany or Austria. The manuscript is distinguished by its rich artistic decoration, complex iconography, and exceptional state of preservation, making it one of the most important Jewish liturgical books of its time to have survived to the present day.
The history of the mahzor is closely connected with the Rothschild family. In the 20th century, the manuscript was confiscated by the Nazis and for decades remained in the holdings of the Austrian National Library. Only recently, after prolonged disputes over its provenance and ownership, did the Austrian government decide on restitution, returning the artifact to the heirs of the Rothschild family.
The expected sale price is US$5–7 million. For comparison, the similar medieval illuminated Luzzatto Mahzor was sold at Sotheby’s in 2021 for $8.3 million, setting a record.
