Auction 83 - Part I - Rare and Important Items
Miniature Manuscript on Parchment – Year-Round Roman Rite Siddur – Italy, 15th Century – Unique Texts
Miniature manuscript on parchment, year-round siddur following the Roman rite. [Italy, ca. 15th century].
Thick, impressive volume. Miniature format. Thin parchment. Particularly neat Italian scribal script (square and semi-cursive); mostly vocalized, with initial panels and headings in red ink. Fine decorative elements in several places.
Larger lettering in several places (Kol Nidrei, Ne'ilah prayer, VaTodi'einu addition, and more).
The manuscript includes: weekday and Shabbat prayers (with special text of Kriyat Shema blessings for Friday night unique to the Roman rite, beginning with the words "Asher Kilah Maasav BaYom HaShevii"); Rosh Chodesh prayers; additions for Chanukah, Purim and fast days; Rosh Hashanah prayers (with the addition of the Av Lo Chamal and Av Lo Chas piyyutim in Zichronot and Asufim Asufei Ashpatot in Shofarot; and with the Et Pnei Hashem Yom Tera'u piyyut after the mussaf prayer, under the heading "Oseh HaShalom for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur"); Yom Kippur prayers; prayers for the Three Festivals with order for Hoshana Rabba; Shevachot for Simchat Torah; Reshut for Borechu and Oseh HaShalom for Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot; order of Hatavat Chalom; the Eftach Na Sefatai piyyut (for the removal of the Torah scroll from the ark) and Untanneh Tokef.
The siddur includes texts unique to the Roman rite (such as additional morning blessings: "Who made me a Jew and not a non-Jew", "Who made me circumcised and not uncircumcised", "Who did not place me as a slave", "Who did not place me as an ignoramus", "Who strengthens the humble", "Who guards the proselytes", "Who loves the righteous", "Who provides sustenance for every person", and more). A few marginal emendations (some trimmed). Several sections in later script on the first and final leaves.
[267] parchment leaves + [4] later parchment leaves bound at beginning and end of volume. 8 cm. Good condition. Stains and creases. Worming in several places. Tears affecting text to later leaves at beginning and end of volume. Gilt edges. Restored leather binding, incorporating parts of early binding (gilt decorations to these parts, including the inscription "Vito Piazza" – Chai or Chaim, Piazza – a family from Rome). Damage to binding.
Collation: [1] 10, 2 8, 3 7, 4-9 8, [10]-[11] 8, 12-17 8, [18] 8, [19]-[30] 10, [31] 2 (gatherings numbered irregularly).