Esther scroll. [Trieste, Italy], Tevet 1812.

Ink on parchment, Small format. Italian script. 18 lines per column. Rolled on a wooden rod (without handles).
At the beginning of the scroll is the colophon of the scribe in a decorated frame, dated 27 Tevet, 1812, with the names of the person it was made for and the intended recipients.

Height of parchment: Approx. 12 cm. Maximum height: 17.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. Tears at the top of the first membrane, slightly affecting text, repaired.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Esther scroll, placed in ornamented silver case. Vienna, ca. 1886-1890; late inscription dated 1963.

Ink on treated parchment; silver, turned, pierced, repoussé and engraved (marked, maker's mark VC = Vincenz Czokally, operated in 1864-1890); gilt.
HaMelech scroll (most columns begin with the word "HaMelech"); Lamed in "HaMelech" with crownlet decorations. Written in fine, small script on two treated parchment membranes, 13 columns of text, 32 lines per column.

The scroll is placed in a cylindrical silver case with engraved vegetal motifs, partially gilt. A crown-shaped ornament tops the case, comprised of a wreath of clover-shaped leaves; lid at bottom of case and handle with matching ornaments. Oval-shaped cartouche in the center of the case, bearing the following (late) inscription: "Dr. David Moshe Rosen, chief rabbi of Romania, 1963".
Rabbi Dr. David Moses Rosen (1912-1994), chief rabbi of Romania for 45 years, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania in 1964-1994, and from 1957, deputy in the Romanian parliament. Brother-in-law of R. Dr. Zeev Wolf Gottlieb.

Height of parchment: 13.5 cm, height of case (including handle): 35 cm. Overall good condition. The scroll is from a later period than the case.

Provenance: Estate of R. Zeev Wolf Gottlieb (1910-1983, brother-in-law of Rabbi Dr. David Moses Rosen, chief rabbi of Romania).

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Manuscript, decorated Esther scroll. [Morocco, 19th century.]

Ink and paint on parchment, in small format. 5 parchment membranes, sewn together. Western Sephardic script. 26 columns, 20 lines per column. Letters alluding to Holy Names decorated throughout the scroll.
The text columns are arranged in frames styled as pointed trefoil arches, alternately colored green, red and purple. Between each arch are tree decorations (cypresses), with a large flower with eight petals in the crowns of the trees; from each flower extend stems sprouting additional flowers. On the column with the names of the ten sons of Haman, the text is written along the margins, and the inside of the column is left blank.

Height of parchment: 12 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Faded ink and paint in several places.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Book of Shoftim on parchment. [Lithuania or Eretz Israel, ca. 20th century].

Neat Ashkenazic (Beit Yosef) script, on 8 parchment membranes. Rolled on Atzei Chaim, with matching fabric mantle.

Height of parchment: 56 cm. Maximum size of Atzei Chaim: 86 cm. Overall good condition. Many stains. Cracked letters in several places. Faded letters on some membranes. Corrections in several places.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Book of Melachim on parchment. [Lithuania or Eretz Israel, 19th/20th century].

Neat Ashkenazic (Beit Yosef) script, on 17 parchment membranes. Rolled on Atzei Chaim, with matching fabric mantle.
The scribe left three blank lines between I Melachim and II Melachim. R. Shmuel Strashun (Rashash) mentions that this scribal custom existed in Vilna, and objects to it at length.

Height of parchment: 56 cm. Maximum size of Atzei Chaim: 87 cm. Overall good-fair condition. Many stains. Cracked letters in several places. Faded letters on some membranes. Left Etz Chaim partially broken and missing bottom handle.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.