Collection of Poems, [Morocco, 18th century]

This volume is a collection of poems, whose authors include Simeon ben Lavi (fol. 5v), Moses Sultan (fol. 6r), Saadia Shuraki (fol. 6v) and Faragi (fol. 8v). On fol. 16r are pizmonim for weddings. Fols. 28r-55v contain liturgical poems for the four special Shabbatot and Purim, with works by Isaac ibn Giat and Zerahia ha-Levi.

Sotheby’s is grateful to Menahem Schmelzer z”l and Benjamin Richler for cataloguing this manuscript.

Provenance

Moshe Zabar (?) (owner’s inscription, fol. 15r) — Abraham Halimi (owner’s inscription in Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew, fol. 32v, mentioning Moshe and Isaac Halimi) — Solomon Halberstam (shelf no. 103 and marginal note identifying poets)

Physical Description

55 leaves on paper (fols. 14, 27 and 44v blank), 7 ¼ x 5 inches; 184 x 127 mm, written in North African (Moroccan) script in brown ink, catchwords; incomplete, begins on folio 1r, with the poem preceding bakkashah no. 21, leaf apparently torn away after fol. 26, fol.1 partially detached, marginal tears on fols. 18-19 slightly affecting 2 or 3 text lines, small loss to upper outer corner of fol. 42 affecting text, outer leaves browned, dampstaining throughout. Half purple cloth over marbled boards; spine faded; boards rubbed.

Literature

Hirschfeld (ms. no. 230) lists poems