[Miscellany on Hebrew prose and writing]; [קובץ במליצות ומכתבים]

Timespan:

17th century; 18th century

Date:

1775

Description:

This is a manuscript miscellany composed of works on Hebrew prose, writing, and grammar; the first work is an epistolary by Jacob ben Reuben Ibn Ẓur (f. 3r-41v), and the second by Saul ben Matityahu Serero (18th century; f. 43r-56r, alive as of this manuscript), both of Fès, and both are called "Leshon limudim" in this manuscript (taken from Isaiah L:4, and used commonly as a title for works on language, composition, and grammar). The manuscript also contains an organized anthology of suffixes to be used in writing Hebrew prose attributed to Isaac b. Judah ha-Kohen Rappaport called "Leshon ḥakhamim" (f. 69v-80r; title taken from the Talmud, Hullin 137b; attributed by Jacob Moses Toledano (his description laid in with the Jewish Theological Seminary of America manuscript). Serero's work is introduced (and contains edits) by "David Oḥayo" (likely Oḥayon; f. 43r).

Language:

Hebrew

Provenance:

Formerly owned by Tel Aviv collector William L. Gross (Kedem); former call number The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, MO.011.015.; Formerly exhibited in Paris for Arts et cultures du Maroc, 2004 (Kedem).; Sold by Kedem Auctions (Jerusalem), Sale 93 lot 111 (as part of selections from the Gross Family Collection).; Assayag, Yosef Yitsḥaḳ, former owner.; Gross, William L., former owner.

Relation:

The Elis & Ruth Douer Endowed Fund Home Page: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/1229047

Subject:

Epistolary poetry -- Early works to 1800; Hebrew language -- Composition and exercises; Zodiac; Rabbis -- Morocco -- Fès -- Correspondence -- 17th century; Rabbis -- Morocco -- Fès -- Correspondence -- 18th century

Form/Genre:

literature (general genre); anthologies; tuǧras; codices (bound manuscripts); manuscripts (documents)

Physical Description:

85 leaves : paper; 205 x 148 (160 x 115) mm bound to 210 x 158 mm.

Rights:

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

Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Elis & Ruth Douer Endowed Fund.; Ms. codex.; Hebrew.; Title supplied by cataloger.; Table of contents: 880-03 1. f.3r-41v: Leshon limudim/Ibn Ẓur, Jacob ben Reuben -- 2. f.43r-56r: Leshon limudim/Serero, Saul ben Matityahu -- 3. f. 60v-80r: Leshon ḥakhamim/Rappaport, Isaac b. Judah ha-Kohen [attributed].; Layout: Written mostly in 25 long lines, with blind-ruling around the textblock; Leshon ḥakhamim portion written in three columns, mostly of 32 lines, ruled (verticals) in ink; running titles.; Script: Written in a Maghrebi cursive script; captions and some highlights written in a Sephardic square script.; Decoration: Decorated title page featuring calendrical and zodaical calculations in an open palm scheme, for the year 5536 (1775-6; f. 2r).; Binding: Modern red faux-leather binding, with white endpapers; blind-tooled frame on front board.; Origin: Written in Morocco (script, usage) in the Hebrew year 5536 (1775-6; the contiguous blind-ruling indicates the decorated opening folio was part of the original manuscript; f.2r).; Related Work: Ibn Ẓur, Jacob ben Reuben, 1673-1752. Leshon limudim.; Related Work: Serero, Saul ben Matityahu, active 18th century. Leshon Limudim.; Related Work: Rappaport, Isaac ben Judah, ha-Kohen, -1755, attributed name. Leshon ḥakhamim.

Physical Location:

Library at the Katz Center, Rare Book Manuscripts, CAJS Rar Ms 661

Collection:

Elis & Ruth Douer Endowed Fund