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Add MS 11639
- Record Id:
- 032-003367249
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-003367249
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100040683931.0x000001
- LARK:
- SLARK:
- Format:
- TEI
- Reference (shelfmark):
- Add MS 11639
- Title:
- Miscellany
- Collection Area:
- Oriental Manuscripts
- Project / Collection:
- Hebrew Manuscripts Digitisation Project
- Hierarchy Tree:
- [{ "id" : "032-003367249", "parent" : "#", "text" : "Add MS 11639: Miscellany" , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-003367249
- Is part of:
- not applicable
- Hierarchy:
- 032-003367249
- Container:
- not applicable
- Record Type (Level):
- Fonds
- Extent:
- 746 folios
- Digitised Content:
- http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Add_MS_11639 (digital images currently unavailable)
- Thumbnail:
-

- Languages:
- Hebrew
- Scripts:
- Hebrew
- Start Date:
- 1277
- End Date:
- 1324
- Date Range:
- 1277-1324
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
- Restrictions to access apply please consult British Library staff
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- Material Type:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)
- Names:
- Avraham ben Mosheh of Coburg
Binyamin
Eliyahu Menaḥem, ha-Zaḳen
Eliyahu, ha-Zaḳen
Frederic Madden
Isaac ben Joseph, fl 13th century
Isaac ben Joseph, fl 13th century
M. Reina of Milan
Mosheh ben ῾Ezra
Shemu᾿el ben Ḥayim
בנימן הסופר - TEI:
-
Hebrew Manuscripts Digitisation Project
Add MS 11639
Miscellany
Contents
Summary of Contents: Miscellany of biblical and other texts ('The Northern French Miscellany' or earlier 'the British Museum Miscellany'): including the Pentateuch, Hafṭarot, Tiḳun Soferim, Five Scrolls, prayer book for the entire year with Hagadah, legal texts, poetry, calendars, the book of Tobit in Hebrew, etc.Language(s): Hebrew
ff. 1r-746vTitle: MiscellanyTitle: קובץNumerous inhabited initial-word panels, and inhabited and decorated panels in colours and gold attached to initial words and numerous decorated initial-word panels with gold letters.
36 full-page miniatures. f. 114r, 115r, 116r, 117v, 118r, 118v, 119r, 119v, 120r, 120v, 121r, 121v, 122r, 259v, 260r, 260v, 516v, 517r, 517v, 518r, 518v, 519r, 519v, 520r, 520v, 521r, 521v, 522r, 522v, 523r, 523v, 524r, 525v, 526r, 527v
7 textual illustrations in colours. f. 205r, 205v, 206v, 207v, 208r, 292r, 309v
Micrography (in geometric form).
ff. 124r-168rColophon in decorated panel with gold letters. f. 142v
2 full-page diagrams of the celestial bodies and the zodiac signs. f. 542r, 542v
f. 740v, 741r, 741v, 742r, 742v, 743r added quire including 6 full-page miniatures in colours and gold.
Colophon: חזק ונתחזק הסופר לא יזק. לא היום ולא לעולם עד שיעלה חמור בסולם: לא היום ולא יומים עד שיעלה חמור בשמים: אמן: ברוך נותן ליעף כח ולאין אונים עצמה ירבה: אמן: f. 113vColophon: בנימן סופר קורא וקרא חזק ואמץ אל תערץ ואל תירא אמן סלה: f. 142vColophon: בנימן הסופר: f. 306vColophon: חזק ונתחזק הסופר לא יזק: לא היום ולא לעולם עד שיעלה חמו' בסולם: לא היום ולא יומים עד שיעלה חמו' בשמים: אמן אמן א' חזק: וחזק: בנימן הסופר אמן אמן: f. 514rOne of the most lavishly illustrated surviving Jewish manuscripts made in northern Europe.
It contains one of the earliest copies of Isaac of Corbeil's Sefer mitzvot ḳatan composed in 1277. This data provides a terminus post quem for the production of the Miscellany.
The codex mentions Yeḥiel of Paris (d. 1286) as living, thus this date is a terminus ante quem. The date of the full-page illuminations is debated, on this see the bibliography below.
The Hebrew foliation is written in a cursive Italian hand of the 15th century, beginning with folio 6.
See further Margoliouth 1905, pp. 193-97, [Davidson_1924] , [Leveen_1944] 72-83, [Narkiss_1969] 86, [Metzger_1982] 303, Sed-Rajna 1982, pp. 18-30, [Sed-Rajna_1987] , [Epstein_1997] 143-44, 148, Ameisenowa 1939, pp. 326-45, [Crozet_1966] 1237-53,Ameisenowa 1971, pp. 10-48, [Blumenkranz_1980] 159-86 (162-77), Drewer 1981, pp. 148-56, [Dahan_1985] 185-194, Metzger 1985, pp. 59-290 and 1986,p. 221, Gutmann 1987, pp. 85-86, [Schonfield_2003] , [Jackson_2007] 16-17, 23, 63-65, 121, 128-129, [BL_2007] 148, [Tahan_2007] 119-123, [Flatman_2009] 56, [Kanarfogel_1999] 179 n. 110, [Vezin_1990] 100-104, [Offenberg_2013] .
The book of Psalms is written in the lower margin of folios 14v-113v, the lower and outer margin of 124r-158v, the lower margin of folio 159r, the lower and outer margin of folios 161v-168v, the lower margin of folios 169v-195v, 203v-261r, 264v-272r, 276r, 278v-285r, 291r-292v, 294r-343r.
Folio 113v - there is a part of Barukh ben Shemu᾿el Sabbath hymn written on the inner margin, in a later hand.
Folio 122v - on the verso of an illuminated leaf there is another sabbath hymn, written in square Ashkenazi script of 14th century.
On the outer margin of 170r-184r, 186r-195v, 204r, 206r-219r, 220r-222r - the book of Proverbs.
On the outer and lower margin of folios 184v-185v - a piece with the heading 'Teḥenah'.
Outer margin of folios 222v-257r - the book of Daniel.
Outer margins of folios 257v-261r, 278v-285r, 291r-292v, 294r-338v - Ezra-Nehemiah.
A commentary on a number of Yotsrot for special occasions, written on the outer and lower margins of folios 261v-278r.
A commnetary on pieces belonging to Pesaḥ service, in the outer and lower margin of folios 285v-290v.
Hafṭarot for the cycle of the Pentateuch and for Tish῾ah be-Av at the end occupy the outer margin of folios 340r-439v and the outer and lower margin of folios 440r-451v.
There are blessings following the reading of Hafṭarot, given on folio 452r.The book of Job, written in the lower margin of folios 343v-439v.
A liturgical poem, to be recited before Birkat ha-mazon, in the lower and outer margin of folio 453r.
A commentary on pieces contained between folios 461r-486r, written in the lower and outer margin of folios 462r-492r.
A poetical piece, outer and lower margin of folio 543v.An anonymous treatise on the vocalization of the sacred text, wirtten in the lower and outer margin of folios 546v-593v.
An anonymous treatise on the accents, folios 594r-599v.
A piece on seder ha-ḳeri᾿ah, in the outer and lower margins of folio 600r and the outer margin of folio 609v.
A poem on accents, written in the lower margin of folio 609v, the outer and lower margin of folios 610r-612r and the outer margin of folio 612v. Attributed to either Jacob ben Meir Tam or Jacob ben Meir Nordhausen.
A list of large letter forms in the Pentateuch and special forms of letter nun, lower margin of folio 612v, the outer and lower margin of folios 613r-614r and the outer margin of folio 634r.
Gimatriyot, written in the outer and lower margin of folios 615r-633v, ending on the lower margin of folio 634r. Some further gimaṭriyot are given also on the outer and lower margin of folio 635r.
An arithmetical riddle, written in the outer and lower margin of folio 634v.
A short entry, outer and lower margin of folio 635v and another similar entry, outer and inner margin of folio 636r-636v.
A short piece on the chain of generations, outer and lower margin of folio 637r-638v.
An alphabethical list of rabbis named in the Talmud, outer and lower margin of folios 639r-663r, and the outer margin of folio 663v.
Seder tana᾿im ṿa-amora᾿im, written in the outer and lower margins of folios 664r-681r.
A piece on persons who are disqualified from acting as witnesses in law cases, written in the outer margin of folio 681r, the outer and lower margin of folios 681v-684v, and the lower margin of folio 685r.
The book of Tobit in Hebrew, written in the outer and lower margin of folios 708r-725r. The last section remains unfinished.
ff. 1r-28vTitle: GenesisContains Psalms 113-118 written in the lower margin, folio
ff. 5v-13v.ff. 28v-51vTitle: Exodusff. 51v-68vTitle: Leviticusff. 68v-92rTitle: Numbersff. 92r-113vTitle: Deuteronomyff. 123v-138rTitle: HafṭarotHafṭarot for the four special sabbaths and the festivals.
ff. 138r-142vTitle: Targum of the HafṭarotFor the Passover and the Feast of Weeks.
ff. 143r-144vTitle: Tiḳun soferimParts of this piece occupy also the margins of folios
ff. 123v-142vandff. 145v-158r,ff. 161v-167r, as well as the body of pagesff. 143r-144v,ff. 158v-160randff. 167v-168v.The contents of this text agree with parts of Maḥzor Vitry, dealing with petuḥot u-setumot.
ff. 145v-149rTitle: Song of Songsff. 149r-152rTitle: Ruthff. 152r-161rTitle: Ecclesiastesff. 161r-169rTitle: Sefer maʿarakhahAuthor: Eliyahu Menaḥem, ha-ZaḳenAlso known as Seder R. Eliyahu.
Includes several liturgical pieces.
ff. 169v-194vTitle: SidurContains the Order of daily prayers according to the French rite.
ff. 194v-196rTitle: Special portionsFor Purim, Rosh ha-Shanah, and Ta῾anit.
ff. 196r-203vTitle: Pirḳe avotWith a commentary.
Occupies the body and the margins of folios 196r-203v, and the body of the page of folios
ff. 642r-647v.Cf Maḥzor Ṿitry on Avot.
ff. 203v-205rTitle: PrayersSpecial portions of prayers for festivals.
ff. 205r-209vHagadah for Passover.
Title: Hagadahff. 209v-212vTitle: Targum Be-shalakhA lection for the 7th day of Passover.
ff. 212v-221rTitle: Targum of Exodus 19Followed be a series of targumic pieces on the Ten Commandments.
ff. 221r-225vTitle: PrayersSpecial portions of prayers for festivals.
ff. 226v-232rTitle: Hosh῾anotff. 232r-234rTitle: Pieces for Simḥat Torahff. 234r-241rTitle: Ma῾arivimFor various occasions.
ff. 241r-243rTitle: Seder parashiyotff. 243r-246rTitle: On marriage and birthff. 246r-248rTitle: Rules for Seder Pesaḥff. 248r-249rTitle: Birkat lulavFollowed by the blessings for the marriage service.
ff. 249r-250rTitle: Hilkhot ha-sheḥitahFollowed by Hilkhot ṭerefot, beginning with folio 250r.
ff. 250r-251rTitle: Tsiduḳ ha-dinContains ḳadish after burial and birkat avelim.
ff. 251r-256vTitle: Formulae for legal documentsff. 256v-258rTitle: Taḳanot against informersA person writing here in the first person is apparently R. Ya'aḳov Tam (Rabenu Tam).
Filiation: Cf the contents of Add. 27129, folios 126v-127r.ff. 258r-259rTitle: Taḳanot Rabenu Gershomff. 259r-261vTitle: Seder ḥalitsahff. 261v-285vTitle: YotsrotFor special Sabbaths.
Filiation: Cf. Add MS 10456 (Margoliouth, Catalogue, no. 659).ff. 285v-351vTitle: YotsrotFor Pesaḥ, Shavu'ot and Sukot, and the sabbath following the Simḥat Torah.
ff. 351v-359vTitle: OfanimA series of piyuṭim headed 'Ofanim', but including pieces bearing other designations.
ff. 359v-390vTitle: Yotsrot le-Rosh ha-shanahff. 390v-423vTitle: Service for Yom Kipurff. 423v-433vTitle: Lel Yom KipurKol nidre is followed by a series of biblical verses.
ff. 433v-437vTitle: Lamentationsff. 437v-444rTitle: Estherff. 444r-445vTitle: MoladotLunar calculations for Tishri and Nisan of the years 5040-5056, i.e. 1280-1296.
ff. 445r-461rTitle: Penitentary prayersff. 461r-486rTitle: Seliḥot u-petiḥotff. 486r-506rTitle: Pizmonimff. 506r-510rTitle: Tokhaḥotff. 510r-514vTitle: ῾Aḳedotff. 514v-515vTitle: An index of poetical piecesAn index of the poetical pieces contained under the last four headings, each separately.
ff. 515v-528vTitle: Mezuzahff. 528v-533rTitle: Pesuḳim72 passages, followed by Tefilat ha-derekh and a number of blessings, concluding with Birkat ha-mazon in an old French form.
ff. 533r-536vTitle: Metrical piecesff. 536v-546vTitle: Calendar tablesff. 656r-683vTitle: Commentary on poetical piecesff. 683v-684rTitle: An addition to Megilat Ta῾anitff. 684r-685vTitle: Sedarim aḥerimSome short lists relating to biblical lections, blessings and gimaṭriyot.
ff. 708r-717vTitle: A commentary on piyuṭimA commentary on the piyuṭim for Rosh ha-shanah.
ff. 717v-733rTitle: A commentary on piyuṭimA commentary on the piyuṭim for Yom Kipur.
ff. 733r-734rTitle: Gimaṭriyot aḥerimff. 734r-739vTitle: Dinim le-yamim ṭovimPhysical Description
Parchment codex of the last quarter of 13th or first quarter of 14th century.Form: codexMaterial: parchmentSupport:Extent: 746 foliosDimensions (leaf): 160 × 120 mm.Dimensions (written): 90/80 × 65/55 mm.Foliation:746 folios (+ 2 unfoliated paper flyleaves at the beginning, and 3 unfoliated paper flyleaves at the end).
Hebrew foliation begins on folio 6.
Collation
82 quires (plus one added at the end): i4 (folios 1-4), ii14 (folios 5-18), iii14 (folios 19-32), iv16 (folios 33-48), v16 (folios 49-64), vi14 (folios 65-78), vii12 (folios 79-90), viii16 (folios 91-106), ix10 (folios 107-116), x6 (folios 117-122), xi8 (folios 123-130), xii8 (folios 131-138), xiii6 (folios 139-144), xiv10 (folios 145-154), xv6 (folios 155-160), xvi-xxiii8 (folios 161-225), xxiv6 (folios 226-231), xxv6-1 (folios 232-236), xxvi-xxxiii8 (folios 237-300), xxxiv10 (folios 301-310), xxxv-lviii8 (folios 311-500), lix10 (folios 501-510), lx8-2 (folios 511-515, 515a), lxi4 (folios 516-519), lxii4 (520-523), lxiii4 (folios 524-527), lxiv10 (folios 528-537), lxv-lxvi8 (folios 538-553), lxvii14 (folios 554-567), lxviii10 (folios 568-577), lxix14 (folios 578-591), lxx12 (folios 592-603), lxxi12 (folios 604-615), lxxii14 (folios 616-629), lxxiii14 (folios 630-643), lxxiv8 (folios 644-651), lxxv12 (folios 652-663), lxxvi10 (folios 664-673), lxxvii12 (folios 674-685), lxxviii14 (folios 686-699), lxxix12-1 (folios 700-707, 707a, 708-709), lxxx14 (folios 710-723), lxxxi16-1 (folios 724-739), lxxxii6 (folios 739a-744), lxxxiii2 (folios 745-746).
Catchwords.
Quire lxxxiii consists of two separate leaves artificially conjugated. The missing folio from quire lxxxi is now bound after quire lxxxii as folio 745.
Layout
Columns:1 2
Ruled lines: 36 40
Written lines: 35 39
Ruling is visible.
Hair-side and flesh-side of the folios are not distinguishable.
Many marginal illuminations and illustrations, which consist mainly of letters and designs, in colors or in colors and gold.
Hand(s)
Ashkenazi (French) square and semi-cursive script, partially punctuated. Written by Binyamin: inscribed with his name (folios 142v, 306v, 514r, 535r), the name Binyamin is marked in the text (folios 24v, 26r).
Additions:Illegible Hebrew inscription, undated (on the upper part of folio 1r).
Includes a table of moladot (lunation-commencements) for the period 1279/80 - 1295/95 (folio 444r).
Binding
Pre-1600. Dark brown leather over wooden boards, gold tooled.
History
Origin: ; Germany, S. (Ulm?), France, N. and France, C. (Ile de France or Champagne)Provenance and Acquisition
Note of a loan: the manuscript was given on loan on the 1 Nisan 186 [1426] (folio 745r).
Shemu᾿el ben Ḥayim: sold to Avraham ben Mosheh of Coburg: his record of purchase, [5]191 [1431] (folio 745r).
Obituary entries: death of a later owner's two brothers and a nephew 1479, 1481 (folio 744r).
M. Reina of Milan: sold to the booksellers Payne & Foss in Paris in 1838 or 1839 for the British Museum: note by Frederic Madden that it was 'Purchased of MM. Payne & Foss 13th July, 1839. It came from the collection of M. Reina of Milan, sold at Paris in 1839' (folio 746v).
1839Record Sources
Manuscript description based on Margoliouth, G.: Catalogue of the Hebrew and Samaritan Manuscripts in the British Museum, London 1965.Availability
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Surrogates
http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Add_MS_11639 (digital images currently unavailable)
Bibliography
George Margoliouth, 'An Ancient Illuminated Hebrew MS. at the British Museum', Jewish Quarterly Review 17 (1905), 193-97.George Margoliouth, Catalogue of the Hebrew and Samaritan Manuscripts in the British Museum, 4 vols (London: British Museum, 1899-1935; vols I-III repr. 1965); IV, Introduction, Indexes, ed. by Jacob Leveen (London: British Museum, 1977), no. 1056.Zofia Ameisenowa and W. F. Mainland, 'The Tree of Life in Jewish Iconography', Journal of the Warburg Institute, 2 (1939), 326-45 (p. 338).Zofia Ameisenowa, 'Die hebraische Sammelhandschrift Add. 11639 des British Museum', Wiener Jahrbuch für Kunstgeschichte 24 (1971), 10-48.Lois Drewer, 'Leviathan, Behemoth and Ziz: A Christian Adaptation', Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, 44 (1981), 148-56 (p. 153).Gabrielle Sed-Rajna, 'The Paintings of the London Miscellany', Journal of Jewish Art 9 (1982), 18-30.Mendel and Thérèse Metzger, 'Les enluminures du MS. Add. 11639 de la British Library, un manuscrit hébreu du nord de la France (fin du XIIIe siecle - premier quart du xive siecle)', Wiener Jahrbuch fuer Kunstgeschichte 38 (1985), 59-290; 39 (1986), 221.Bibliography
[Davidson_1924] Israel Davidson. 'Otsar Ha-Shirah Ṿeha Piyuṭ : Mi-Zeman Ḥatimat Kitve Ha- Ḳodesh ʿad Reshit Teḳufat Ha-Haśkalaḥ.'New York: Bet midrash ha-Rabanim de-Ameriḳah 1924-693 1933, 1924.[Leveen_1944] Jacob Leveen. 'The Hebrew Bible in Art / Jacob Leveen.'London: Pubfor the British academy by HMilford, Oxford University Press, 1944.[Narkiss_1969] Bezalel Narkiss. 'Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts. Foreword by Cecil Roth.'Jerusalem; New York: Encyclopaedia Judaica; Macmillan, 1969.[Metzger_1982] Thérèse Metzger. 'Jewish Life in the Middle Ages : Illuminated Hebrew Manuscripts of the Thirteenth to the Sixteenth Centuries / Thérèse and Mendel Metzger.'New York: Alpine Fine Arts Collection, 1982.[Sed-Rajna_1987] Gabrielle Sed-Rajna. 'La Bible Hébraïque.'Fribourg: Office du Livre, 1987.[Epstein_1997] Marc Michael Epstein. 'Dreams of Subversion in Medieval Jewish Art and Literature / Marc Michael Epstein.'University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1997.[Crozet_1966] René Crozet. 'Mélanges Offerts à René Crozet ... à l’occasion de Son Soixante-Dixième Anniversaire, Par Ses Amis, Ses Collègues, Ses Élèves et Les Membres Du C.E.S.C.M. Édités Par Pierre Gallais et Yves-Jean Riou. (Supplément Aux Cahiers de Civilisation Médiévale.) [With Plates, Including a Portrait, and with a Bibliography.].'Poitiers, 1966.[Blumenkranz_1980] Bernhard Blumenkranz, and Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France). Nouvelle Gallia judaïca. 'Art et Archéologie Des Juifs En France Médiévale / [Équipe de Recherche 208, "Nouvelle Gallia Judaica” Du Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique] Sous La Direction de Bernhard Blumenkranz ..'Toulouse: Privat, 1980.[Dahan_1985] Bernhard Blumenkranz, and Gilbert Dahan. 'Les Juifs Au Regard de l’histoire / Mélanges En l’honneur de Bernhard Blumenkranz ; Édités Par Gilbert Dahan.'Paris: Picard, 1985.Joseph Gutmann, 'The Sacrifice of Isaac in Medieval Jewish Art', Artibus et Historiae, 8 (1987), 67-89 (pp. 85-86).[Schonfield_2003] Jeremy Schonfield. 'The North French Hebrew Miscellany (British Library Add. MS. 11639).'London: Facsimile Editions, 2003.[Jackson_2007] Deirdre Elizabeth Jackson. 'Marvellous to Behold : Miracles in Illuminated Manuscripts / Deirdre Jackson.'London: British Library, 2007.[BL_2007] Sacred (Exhibition) (2007 : British Library). 'Sacred : Books of the Three Faiths : Judaism, Christianity, Islam / Edited by John Reeve ; Essays by Karen Armstrong, Everett Fox, F.E. Peters ; Catalogue Contributions by Colin F. Baker ... [et Al.].'London: British Library, 2007.[Tahan_2007] Ilana Tahan. 'Hebrew Manuscripts : The Power of Script and Image / Ilana Tahan.'London: British Library, 2007.[Flatman_2009] Joe Flatman. 'Ships and Shipping in Medieval Manuscripts / Joe Flatman.'London: British Library, 2009.[Kanarfogel_1999] Ephraim Kanarfogel. 'Peering through the Lattices : Mystical, Magical, and Pietistic Dimensions in the Tosafist Period / Ephraim Kanarfogel.'Detroit, Mi: Wayne State University Press, 1999.[Vezin_1990] Henri-Jean Martin, and Jean Vezin. 'Mise En Page et Mise En Texte Du Livre Manuscrit / Sous La Direction de Henri-Jean Martin et Jean Vezin.'Paris: Éditions du Cercle de la Librairie _ Promodis, 1990.[Offenberg_2013] Offenberg, Sara. 'Illuminated Piety: Pietistic Texts and Images in the North French Hebrew Miscellany', 2013.Funding of Cataloguing
BL