Treasures from 2,000 years to go on display

The exhibition features some 100 items from around the world. Highlights include 2,000-year-old fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the first printed version of Hatikva, art by Lucian Freud, some of which has not been shown before, one of the earliest Jewish cookbooks published in Britain, written by Lady Judith Montefiore, and a precious collection of wedding rings.

There are also first editions of Theodor Herzl's Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State), the famous pamplet setting out the Zionist cause, as well as manuscripts written by David Ben Gurion.

"It's the most fantastic snapshot of Jewish culture and life which has never been presented like this before," said Mr Shapero.

"I think there's a huge market of interested people who would want to buy something Jewish that they can relate to."

The show is open to the public and every item is for sale, with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand pounds.

Curator Bela Goldenberg Taieb said: "The assembled artifacts offer a truly compelling picture of the Jewish contribution to world culture."

'2000 Years of Jewish Culture' is at Shapero Rare Books in central London from November 3