[Astronomical anthology]

Name:

Jacob ben David ben Yom Tov

Timespan:

Early works to 1800

Date:

1391

Description:

Collection of astronomical texts, including a copy of a treatise on the calendar originally compiled for Pedro IV, King of Aragon, with an almanac of oppositions and conjunctions of the sun and moon and predictions of lunar and solar eclipses; four short works by the 12th-century scientist Abraham Ibn Ezra on an introduction to astrology, choosing the most auspicious moment for a given activity, the zodiac, and astrology concerning humankind collectively; and numerous tables (including tables for converting between Christian and Jewish calendars), diagrams, and illustrations.

Language:

Hebrew

Provenance:

Formerly owned by David Solomon Sassoon (Ms. 823), probably purchased in the mid-1920s.; Offered for sale as part of Sassoon's collection at auction at Sotheby's (Zurich), 5 November 1975, lot 15.; Offered for sale as part of Sassoon's collection at auction at Sotheby's (New York), 4 December 1984, lot 88.; Formerly owned by the Carl Alexander Floersheim Trust for Art and Judaica (Bermuda).; Sold at auction at Sotheby's, 10 December 1996, lot 48, to Lawrence J. Schoenberg.; Gift of Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle, 2013.; Sassoon, David Solomon, 1880-1942, former owner.

Relation:

Video orientation: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/1333424; The Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative Fund Home Page: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/366278; Digital facsimile for download (OPenn): https://openn.library.upenn.edu/Data/0001/html/ljs57.html

Subject:

Astronomy -- Early works to 1800; Astronomy; Astrology -- Early works to 1800; Astrology; Jewish illumination of books and manuscripts; Zodiac in art

Resource Type:

Text

Form/Genre:

manuscripts (documents); codices (bound manuscripts); diagrams; illuminations (paintings); treatises; tables (documents); Manuscripts, Medieval

Physical Description:

114 leaves : parchment, color illustrations; 275 x 204 (190 x 132) mm bound to 288 x 224 mm

Rights:

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Notes:

Ms. codex.; Title supplied by cataloger.; Table of contents: 1. p.1-23: [Canons and tables / Jacob ben David ben Yom Tov] -- 2. p.25-60: [Reshit ḥokhmah (Beginning of wisdom) / Abraham ben Meïr Ibn Ezra] -- 3. p.61-68: [Sefer ha-mivḥarim (Book of elections) / Abraham ben Meïr Ibn Ezra] -- 4. p.69-76: [Mishpeṭe ha-mazalot (Book of the judgments of the zodiacal signs) / Abraham ben Meïr Ibn Ezra] -- 5. p.77-86: [Sefer ha-mabaṭim / Abraham ben Meïr Ibn Ezra] -- 6. p.86-92: [Sefer ha-ʻolam (Book of the world) / Abraham ben Meïr Ibn Ezra] -- 7. p.93-94: [Sefer ha-mivḥarim li-Baṭlamyus (Book of elections of Ptolemy)] -- 8. p. 95-102, 107-108: [Tables for converting between the Christian and Jewish calendars] -- 9. p.103-106, 114-115, 145-146, 179-182: [Astrological tables for the equation of houses at latitude 42°] -- 10. p.110: [Perpetual calendar for the molad] -- 11. p.116-144: [Illuminated star catalog for the year 1391] -- 12. p.147-178: [Astronomical tables of Don Pedro, King of Aragon] -- 13. p.195-228: [Astronomical tables by Abraham bar Ḥiyya and others] -- 14. p.223: [Hebrew-Arabic star list] -- 15. p.226-228: [Astrological-anatomical-physiological-mystical text].; Foliation: Parchment, iv (modern paper) + 114 + iv (modern paper; [1-228]; modern pagination in pencil, upper outer corners.; Layout: Text written in 2 columns of 37 lines; some leaves ruled in faint ink.; Script: Written in Sephardic cursive script by multiple hands, one perhaps of a scribe named Moshe (p. 2); headings written in square script.; Decoration: 2 full-page color illustrations in gouache and ink of constellation maps (p. 112-113); 43 smaller illustrations of constellations in gouache and ink with gold bezants for stars (p. 117-144); panel headpiece in interlaced red and green penwork and full border of gold bezants flourished in colored ink (p. 1); numerous full-page diagrams and tables in red and brown ink; Gothic penwork infilling frames on some tables (p. 196-211); headings in red or green ink.; Binding: Modern blind-stamped morocco, with 2 sets of clasps and catches.; Origin: Written in Catalonia, probably 1391 (Langermann).; Dimensions of original manuscript: 275 x 204 (190 x 132) mm. bound to 288 x 224 mm.; Lawrence J. Schoenberg & Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative.; Hebrew.; Related Work: Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meïr, 1089-1164. Reshit ḥokhmah.; Related Work: Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meïr, 1089-1164. Sefer ha-ʻolam u-maḥberot ha-meshartim kulam.; Related Work: Ptolemy, active 2nd century. Almagest. Hebrew.

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Oversize LJS 57

Collection:

Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection (University of Pennsylvania)