Tractate Avoth [Ethics of the Fathers]

AUCTION 53 | Thursday, December 08th, 2011 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters & Graphic Art

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Lot 288

(JUDEO-PERSIAN LITERATURE)

Tractate Avoth [Ethics of the Fathers]

Manuscript in Hebrew with Judeo-Persian translation. Hebrew text in unvocalized square characters, Judeo-Persian translation in Parsi cursive script (see EJ, Vol. II cols. 733-34, nos. 8-9). Multicolor borders, accompanied by various naive illustrations in red and blue pencil, motifs of hands and birds prevailing. ff. (113). * Piyutim [religious poetry]. Commencing with traditional poetry of the Passover Seder, the Simanei HaSeder, Kadesh U’Rechatz (ff. 114-124) and continuing with Az Rov Nissim Hipletha, etc. (ff. 125-34). Followed by miscellaneous piyutim for various occasions (ff. 135-199). * Blanks (ff. 200-241). * Piyut (ff. 1-2). * Story of Rabbi Ishmael the High Priest (ff. 3-7). * Judeo-Persian compilation in alphabetical order (ff. 8-63). Book reads down from top to bottom. Browned and stained, opening few leaves lacking. Blind-tooled calf, worn. . 8vo

Persia: 1912-1924

Est: $3,000 - $4,000

JUDEO-PERSIAN MANUSCRIPT OF ETHICS OF THE FATHERS (AVOTH). Several colophons with name of scribe, "Joseph Nemd" from year 5673 [i.e., 1912-1913]. Followed by colophons with name of scribe "Abraham Levi" from years 5679 [i.e., 1919] and 5684 [i.e., 1924]. See the in-depth study of Judeo-Persian Avoth manuscripts by D. Yeroushalmi, The Mishnaic Tractate Abot in Judeo-Persian Literature in: Irano-Judaica IV (Jerusalem: Ben-Zvi Institute, 1999) pp. 223-50.