Tephilah Ke’phi Minhag Roma [prayers for the entire year]. According to Roman rite. With the Order of Readings of the Bible portions. A HANDSOME COPY PRINTED ENTIRELY ON VELLUM

A HANDSOME COPY PRINTED ENTIRELY ON VELLUM. The second of only nine books printed by the Jewish Silk Weaver’s Guild who operated a Hebrew Press at Bologna between 1537 and 1540. Each work was beautifully prepared; a tribute to the involvement of Jewish artisans and craftsmen in the formative years of Hebrew printing. Printing on vellum during the 16th century was reserved for copies that were prepared especially for wealthy patrons and in keeping with the refined tastes of early printers. By the time differing liturgical rites were set on the newly invented printing press, many age-old local styles of prayer had wholly disappeared. Italian Jews however were more literate than most and many of their prayers existed in manuscript. The Roman rite, rich in piyutim and originating in early medieval Rome maintained an identity of its own. The close association of the Italian Jewish community with their particular custom helped to ensure the survival of the traditional rite. This Bologna prayer book includes the Biblical readings as arranged by the 11th century Elijah Hazaken of Le Mans. See S.C. Reif, Judaism and Hebrew Prayer (1993) pp. 164-66; Amram, The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy, pp.232-35. Provenance: Aldenham Abbey,. Salman Schoken,. Sotheby’s, New York, Important Judaica, March 16th, 1999 Lot 24.