Two items from Italy, 17th and 18th centuries:

Approx. 58X39 cm. Fair-good condition. The ketubah served as book binding, and its margins were trimmed accordingly: right part lacking and additional pieces missing in all four corners. Creases, stains and folding marks. Several holes, affecting text. Many pinholes across outlines of illustrations, apparently as an aid to copying them.

For a similar ketubah from Ferrara (fragmentary), decorated by the same artist, see NLI catalogue, item 997009840836405171.

Our thanks to Prof. Shalom Sabar for his assistance in preparing this description.

Perek Shira (Chapter of Song), verses of praise and glorification of G-d. Parchment manuscript, with illuminated initial words. [Apparently created by the scribe and illustrator Meshulam Simmel of Polna (Bohemia), Vienna, ca. 1720].

[20] leaves (title page missing). 8X6 cm. Overall good condition. Some stains. Ink slightly faded in some places. Original leather binding, with impressed decorations. Old ownership signature on verso of final leaf: "Meyer Salomon".

Passover Haggadah. Illuminated parchment manuscript by an unidentified scribe and illustrator. Niedernai (German: Niederehnheim), Alsace, 1759.

1. 14 illustrations depicting the narrative of Haggadah, based on the "Amsterdam Haggadah" (printed in Amsterdam in 1695 and 1712). Included in this category are the illustrations appearing on pp. [2b], [3a], [4a], [4b], [5a], [5b], [6a], [6b], [7a], [7b], [8a], [8b], [9a], and [15a]. These illustrations portray the following scenes or subjects: The "Four Sons"; Abraham smashing the idols; Abraham and the three angels (depicted here as female angels); Moses smiting the Egyptian; the finding of Moses; Moses's staff converting into a serpent; the Plague of Frogs; and more. Many of the illustrations bear relevant captions, as do the illustrations of the Amsterdam Haggadah, after which they are modeled.

2. 16 illustrations depicting biblical scenes, scenes related to the Passover holiday, or urban scenes with human figures in period costume. Included in this category are the illustrations appearing on pp. [1b], [9b], [10a], [10b], [11b], [13b], [14a], [14b], [17a], [18b], [19a], [20a], [22a], [22b], [23a], and [24a]. Among these illustrations are depictions of Adam and Eve, the Binding of Isaac, Samson and the Lion, King David playing his harp, a sentinel standing guard over the gate of a city wall upon which a cannon is mounted, human figures holding a rifle and blowing the shofar, and more. The illustration on p. [14b] presents the Prophet Elijah blowing the shofar to announce the arrival of the Messiah. All these illustrations are apparently based on early, printed editions of the Passover Haggadah – possibly the Mantua Haggadah (1560) or the Prague Haggadah (1590 edition) – as well as on illustrations from the Merian Bible (1625-1630).

3. 13 medallions bearing portraits of men and women in period costume, appearing on pp. [3b], [11a], [12a], [12b], [13a], [15b], [16a], [16b], [17b], [18a], [20b], [21a], and [25a]. These portraits are highly reminiscent of a dozen round portraits which appear in a series of Esther scrolls printed in Europe (specifically the Netherlands) beginning in the early 18th century. In these Esther scrolls, the depicted figures represent the characters of the biblical Book of Esther, with King Ahasuerus holding a scepter, Esther holding a flower, and Haman's wife Zeresh holding a handkerchief. Similarities can be found between these figures and those appearing in the present Haggadah on pp. [12a], [13a], [15b], [16b], [17b], and [25a], in which the female figures are shown holding a flower or fan, while the men are depicted holding a scepter.

[26] leaves. 20.2X14.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Many creases. Stains and wear. Water damage, affecting text and illustrations. Marginal tears to several leaves. Original binding, contemporary, parchment-coated cardboard, with impressed decorations. Signature on front pastedown: "I. Isaqe(?)"; additional signature on rear endpaper.

Parchment manuscript, Ashkenazic-rite siddur, for year-round and festival prayers. [Ca. 14th/15th century].

Several leaves of the original manuscript are missing at the beginning and were supplied by a third scribe, ca. the same time period. The first leaf of the original siddur (leaf 7) begins in the middle of the second blessing of the weekday morning Amidah prayer. It is preceded by 6 supplementary leaves, beginning from the middle of Pesukei DeZimra. Likewise, leaves missing from the middle are supplied by the third scribe (leaves 15-22 – from middle of Aleinu until middle of Shabbat morning Kedushah). The original leaves are made of thick parchment and written in black and red ink, while the supplementary leaves are made of thinner parchment and written only in black ink.

[101] leaves. 18.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, including dark stains and traces of mold to some leaves. Letters faded or broken. Marginal open tears to several leaves (on leaf 14, tear affecting text, repaired). Censorship expurgations in several places. New parchment binding. Placed in new slipcase.

Manuscript, Sefer HaPeliah, Sitrei Torah – on the Book of Bereshit. Tripoli, Lebanon, 1497.