Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
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Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $60,000
Unsold
Huge and significant collection of approximately 125 Yemenite manuscripts [17th century until early 20th century]. Diverse collection, various compositions: including significant autographs, unprinted compositions, illustrated and ornamented manuscripts, Kabbalistic illustrations and symbols. Halacha books and Taj books – Keter Torah, books of Haftarot and Megillot, prayer books, divans, books of poems, destinies and Sgulot. Some manuscripts contain list of “colophons” of authors, glosses and signatures of rabbis. Following is a partial list of the collection (a complete detailed list will be provided upon request): * Ancient prayer book from Sana, large format (30 cm.). Fine writing with upper vowelization. Prayers, with laws and instructions. Version of bills, poems, Passover Haggadah, Hoshanot, Azharot, Slichot, eulogies, Ashmorot, Keter Malchut, Seder Avoda, Haggadah of Hasmonean dynasty, and more. Calendars begin with year 1689; scribe noted (in Jewish-Arabic) that he begins the calendars from 1689, present year. * Prayer book for weekdays and holidays. Poems, Slichot, Passover Haggadah, Azharot, tractates, Megillot. Fine writing, upper vowelization, intercalary [leap year] table, beginning with year 1732. Two volumes. Kabbalistic composition ‘Tola’at Ya’akov’ by Rabbi Meir ben Gabai integrated with prayer book. * Version of bills and calendars (remnant of prayer book). Colophon from 1640 “… flower Yona ben Yosef ben Me’oded ben Yona… writer… Avraham ben Aharon ben Zecharia…”. Upper vowelization. Additions from later period. * Sefer Kneh Chochma Kneh Bina (Kabbalah), by Rabbi Avigdor Kara. (Uncommon in Yemenite manuscripts). 18th-19th century. Signature of Rabbi Avraham ben Shlomo Almashta. * Prayer book. C. 1820-1860. At end, passage in Jewish-Arabic pertaining to Jews and Mohammed, founder of Islam. * Sefer Me’ah She’arim, by Rabbi Yitzchak Shani (printed in Thessaloniki, 1543). Including glosses, 19th-20th century. * Laws of slaughtering. Colophon with calligraphic signature. * Seasons, from 1786. Illustrated title page. * Collection. Laws of slaughtering. Logical basis “reasoning of the Ari”, matters of Kabbalah. In middle of manuscript: receipt for slaughtering from city of Al-Qaeda from 1786. Bound with a miniature manuscript on laws of slaughtering. * Laws of slaughtering from Tur, Yemin Moshe and Zevach Toda. Tzeda. Colophon from 1807. * Shir HaShirim with translation. Colophon from city Alcazar. Signature. (1818). Autographic manuscripts of well-known authors and copyists, Yemenite scholars: * Sefer Reshit Chochma, second section of composition, beginning with Sha’ar HaKedusha until middle of Or Olam. Copy autograph in handwriting of leading Torah giant of Yemen – Maharitz [Rabbi Yichyeh Tzalach – who copied books for livelihood]. * Sefer Sha’arei Tahara. Sana. Close to period of author, Rabbi Yichyeh Tzalach. [Possibly his handwriting? Heading with his name in different handwriting]. * Three Megillot, 19th-20th century. Including collection of commentaries on three Megillot, possibly autograph of author. Colophon on other side of title page: Shmuel HaKatan Korach, (1886). * Notebook of Tijan. Signature and stamps of Rabbi Yichyeh Omsi Av Beit Din of Reda, including lengthy list in his handwriting at beginning of each book: “How do I express my appreciation to the Almighty… that he assisted me in purchasing this book…”. At end of manuscript, copies in his handwriting from 1930. Response from court of justice of Sana. [“Sa’id Yichyeh ben Yichyeh Omsi”]. Fine ornamented manuscripts: * Shulchan Aruch with commentary "Shtilei Zeitim", large and elegant copy which served as basis for the first printed edition in Jerusalem. [Gloss in handwriting of Ashkenazi copyist; addition of gloss of Rabbi Moshe Isserles [Rama] omitted by author, Rabbi David Maserki, who omitted glosses of Rama which are not customary in Yemen. This gloss indeed appears in first printing, however, was omitted in recently printed edition]. * Three Megillot with Tikkun Leil Shavu’ot. Elegant manuscript. Illustrated title page. Ornamentation in red ink. Includes poems and Azharot. Colophon: “Written for good friend… Sa’adi ibn Salam Al Kapach… (1864). * Book of translation of Haftarot, Fine manuscript. Written for Rabbi “Saliman ben Ibrahim Alkara” (Av Beit Din of Sana?). Signature: “David ben Shlomo Agori?”. * Collection (small fine manuscript): Sha’arei Tahara. Prayer for Rabbi Shalom Shabzi. Laws of divorce. Explanation of Ketubah. Reasoning. Tragic occurrence in city of Damascus. On last leaf, colophon: “Shlomo son of Avraham Elnadaf, rabbinical emissary of Yemenites of Jerusalem who signed above, I have arrived for Ten Days of Repentance…”. Notation in different handwriting: “Time in which Yichyeh ben Nachum… visited us…”. * Three Megillot, with translation and commentary of Rashi. Fine copy. Ornamentation in red ink. Illustrated title page. Upper vowelization. “Copied in congregation of Rada”. Glosses ‘Shoshanat Ha’Amakim’. Copied glosses by Rabbi Yichyeh Tzalach (“I have found written in manuscript of Rabbi Yichyeh Tzalach…”). Signature of Rabbi Avraham ben Chaim Elnadaf. Rada. * Zohar on Sefer Shemot. Complete copy in fine handwriting from 19th century. Approx. 125 manuscripts, various sizes and conditions; very good to poor. Research and cataloguing of manuscripts is based only on preliminary examinations; it is possible that this collection contains significant discoveries which we have not addressed.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $500
Sold for: $2,750
Including buyer's premium
Collection of leaf remnants removed from the "Binding Geniza", Jewish-Arabic work, apparently a translation or adaption of Mishne Torah L'HaRambam. [Yemen, 15th/16th century?].
Approximately 35 leaf sections. Varied size, various damages caused by binding.
Approximately 35 leaf sections. Varied size, various damages caused by binding.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $300
Unsold
Manuscript, Tikun Lel Shavuot. [Yemen, 18th/19th century?]. Seder Tikun Lel Shavuot, written as a scroll on paper sheets sewn with string, rolled on wooden poles. According to kabalistic custom, the opening and concluding chapters of each book in the Bible should be read on Shavuot night. According to some opinions, also the beginnings and endings of the Mishnayot tractates are also read. This rendition is considered as if the reader had fully studied these books. This unique scroll includes all the tikun (including the Mishnayot). At the beginning of the scroll is a prayer to be said before starting to study, and at the end is the version of Hadran Alach on concluding the six Sidrei Mishna. At the beginning of the scroll after the opening prayer, one sheet is lacking [beginning of the book of Bereshit], replaced with another sheet with later writing. Height of sheets: 17 cm. Fair-good condition, stains, wear and tear. Lacking sheet, replaced with later sheet. Tear to first sheet, restored by sewing.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $400
Sold for: $500
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript; Shir HaShirim, Ruth and Kohelet with commentary of Rashi and translation; Hoshanot with commentary of Rabbi Yitzchak Vana and poems for Simchat Torah; portion of Torah reading for eve of seventh day of Pesach. [Yemen, 19th century].
Commentary of Rabbi Yitzcahk Vana, among the scholars of Yemen during 16th-17th century. Authored many compositions, most of which have not yet been printed. This commentary is part of his Pa’amon Zahav commentary on order of prayers – HaTichlal.
[61]; [21]; [18] leaves. 22.5 cm. Thick paper, good-fair condition, stains and tears. Ornamented and worn leather binding.
Commentary of Rabbi Yitzcahk Vana, among the scholars of Yemen during 16th-17th century. Authored many compositions, most of which have not yet been printed. This commentary is part of his Pa’amon Zahav commentary on order of prayers – HaTichlal.
[61]; [21]; [18] leaves. 22.5 cm. Thick paper, good-fair condition, stains and tears. Ornamented and worn leather binding.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $1,500
Unsold
Manuscript, Taj – Chamisha Chumshei Torah with Onkelos translation and Rashi commentary. [Yemen, early 20th century]. Large volume containing all Chumashim. On majority of pages [vowelized] text appears in center, surrounded by translation with commentary of Rashi below. In Sefer Vayikra and in part of Sefer Bamidbar translation integrated in verses. Colophon at end of Sefer Shmot: “… completed on Thursday, 29th of Adar, 1920…”. Yemenite calligraphic signature; “Shlomo ben Shlomo Amar”. [288] leaves (apparently missing last leaf containing end of Rashi commentary). 32 cm. Quality paper. Good condition. Stains, wear and tear.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $200
Sold for: $400
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer, with Avot tractate. [Yemen, 19th? century].
Title page at beginning of manuscript: “Sefer Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer is Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkenos… copied in city --- Titzdi VeTachrov VeYerushalayim…”. [In Yemen it was customary to sign name of city as “Titzdi Ve’Tachrov Ve’Yerushalayim”, i.e. that their dwelling place shall become desolate and the city of Jerusalem shall be rebuilt. In this copy, name of city VeGorer was erased from leaf; possibly because owner immigrated to Eretz Israel].
At end of Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer one or two leaves missing; followed by complete tractate of Avot [in different writing].
Ownership signature on first leaf: “Hada Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer Ha[Katan] Yosef Gahli”.
Approx. 200 written pages. Approx. 17 cm. Good condition, many stains, wear and scotch tape restorations. Worn binding.
Title page at beginning of manuscript: “Sefer Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer is Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkenos… copied in city --- Titzdi VeTachrov VeYerushalayim…”. [In Yemen it was customary to sign name of city as “Titzdi Ve’Tachrov Ve’Yerushalayim”, i.e. that their dwelling place shall become desolate and the city of Jerusalem shall be rebuilt. In this copy, name of city VeGorer was erased from leaf; possibly because owner immigrated to Eretz Israel].
At end of Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer one or two leaves missing; followed by complete tractate of Avot [in different writing].
Ownership signature on first leaf: “Hada Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer Ha[Katan] Yosef Gahli”.
Approx. 200 written pages. Approx. 17 cm. Good condition, many stains, wear and scotch tape restorations. Worn binding.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $400
Sold for: $575
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, Sefer Ba’al HaTurim on Torah / Five Megillot with commentary of Rashi. Yemen (1835).
Leaf margins of Ba’al HaTurim manuscript contain glosses and additions. At beginning of Five Megillot notation on corner of page: “Began writing on Monday, 26th of Iyar 1835”. Blurry colophon at end of volume.
Approx. 122 leaves, approx. 16 cm. Fair-poor condition, wear and stains. Tears with missing sections. First leaves missing half. Unbound.
Leaf margins of Ba’al HaTurim manuscript contain glosses and additions. At beginning of Five Megillot notation on corner of page: “Began writing on Monday, 26th of Iyar 1835”. Blurry colophon at end of volume.
Approx. 122 leaves, approx. 16 cm. Fair-poor condition, wear and stains. Tears with missing sections. First leaves missing half. Unbound.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $400
Sold for: $500
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript Mekor Chaim on laws of slaughtering. With book of laws of slaughtering by Rambam with Serach translation and commentary. Al Bayda (Yemen), (1888).
Title page and colophon leaves ornamented. Colophons by author Saliman son of Rabbi Sa’id Al’Makitan “Al Bayda will be built until Jerusalem will be rebuilt soon [!] Amen”.
In middle of volume between both books: signed authorization certificates, for slaughterer Yehuda son of Saliman Sa’id Al’Shaer, from 1896.
Approx. 139 leaves, approx. 17 cm. Fair condition, stains, wear and tear. Leather and cloth binding, worn and damaged.
Title page and colophon leaves ornamented. Colophons by author Saliman son of Rabbi Sa’id Al’Makitan “Al Bayda will be built until Jerusalem will be rebuilt soon [!] Amen”.
In middle of volume between both books: signed authorization certificates, for slaughterer Yehuda son of Saliman Sa’id Al’Shaer, from 1896.
Approx. 139 leaves, approx. 17 cm. Fair condition, stains, wear and tear. Leather and cloth binding, worn and damaged.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $300
Sold for: $475
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript of Siddur Tichlal for Pesach, Shavu’ot and Sukkot, including Pesach Haggadah, Pirkei Avot, Tikkunei Shabbat and Tikkun Purim. Yemen, [19th century].
97 leaves. 22.5 cm. Quality paper, good-fair condition, usage stains, several leaves with wear and moth damage. Simple cloth binding.
97 leaves. 22.5 cm. Quality paper, good-fair condition, usage stains, several leaves with wear and moth damage. Simple cloth binding.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $200
Sold for: $400
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, Ibur Shanim. [Yemen, 1935-1938].
Square writing in black and purple ink.
Colophon: “14 complete years… today Thursday, 27th of Nisan, 1938… Pinchas…”. Includes stamp of copyist. On last line: “I, his father Pinchas…”.
Several pages with copy of both poems following colophon.
Approx. 50 written pages. 18 cm. Good-fair condition, stains and wear.
Square writing in black and purple ink.
Colophon: “14 complete years… today Thursday, 27th of Nisan, 1938… Pinchas…”. Includes stamp of copyist. On last line: “I, his father Pinchas…”.
Several pages with copy of both poems following colophon.
Approx. 50 written pages. 18 cm. Good-fair condition, stains and wear.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $200
Sold for: $275
Including buyer's premium
Manuscript, “Aggadah” - Passover Haggadah – Jerusalem [1860’s].
Square Yemenite writing, with decorations to headings and some of the words. Illuminated design at the beginning of the Haggadah. After the text “Mah Nishtanah” paragraph in Judeo-Arabic: “Ma kvar hada…” [according to the Yemenite rite].
Colophon: “This Aggadah completed in Jerusalem.”. Ornate signature on the last page.
19, [1] leaves. 14 cm. Good condition, wine stains, number of tears. Stamps of owners.
Square Yemenite writing, with decorations to headings and some of the words. Illuminated design at the beginning of the Haggadah. After the text “Mah Nishtanah” paragraph in Judeo-Arabic: “Ma kvar hada…” [according to the Yemenite rite].
Colophon: “This Aggadah completed in Jerusalem.”. Ornate signature on the last page.
19, [1] leaves. 14 cm. Good condition, wine stains, number of tears. Stamps of owners.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue
Auction 33 - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters
August 28, 2013
Opening: $500
Unsold
* Handwritten Ketubah, Sivan 1869. On reverse side of leaf, authorization of acquisition of dowry. Tishrei, 1869. Caligraphic Rabbinic signatures.
* Handwritten Ketubah, Adar 1887. Caligraphic signatures of Sena rabbis: "Yosef Ebn David Manzali" [Yemenite dayan, 1804-1899] and "Chaim Ebn Yosef Korach" [a leading Sena yeshiva scholar, 1824-1894]. On reverse side of leaf are authorizations of dowry transaction, signed by aforementioned rabbis.
2 ketubot, 31-33 cm. Good-fair condition.
* Handwritten Ketubah, Adar 1887. Caligraphic signatures of Sena rabbis: "Yosef Ebn David Manzali" [Yemenite dayan, 1804-1899] and "Chaim Ebn Yosef Korach" [a leading Sena yeshiva scholar, 1824-1894]. On reverse side of leaf are authorizations of dowry transaction, signed by aforementioned rabbis.
2 ketubot, 31-33 cm. Good-fair condition.
Category
Yemenite jewry
Catalogue