Tikun Erev Rosh Chodesh bi-Hodsho (Order of Prayers for the Eve of the New Month), Manuscript on Vellum, Written and Illustrated by Nathan ben Samson of Meseritch for Eliezer ben Joseph of Dusseldorf. [Rotterdam?]:1728

18 folios (6 1/4 x 4 in.; 160 x 100 mm). Illuminated manuscript on vellum written in brown and black inks in square Ashkenazi script with nikud; up to sixteen lines to the page. Illustrated architectural title page comprising four panels surrounding title text; top panel contains a baroque shield within which is inscribed the ownership dedication; flanking the title are two marbled panels featuring illustrations of Moses and Aaron; lower panel contains a rococo vignette within which the artist has signed his name and given the date. Initial word panels and incipits decorated in gouache and brown ink filigree designs; some illuminated with shell gold and painted silver; tailpiece, an elegant geometric filigree roundel. Gilded Dutch end-papers; edges gilt. Exquisite contemporary gilt-tooled crimson calf, closed floral corner piece tools with central diamond form foliate arabesque vignette, scattered stellar form gilt-tools, spine gilt, gilt extras, gently rubbed at corners.

Ernest M. Namenyi, "The Illumination of Hebrew Manuscripts after the Invention of Printing" in Jewish Art, C. Roth, ed. (New York, 1971), p.159;  Ursula Schubert, Jüdische Buchkunst (Graz, 1992), vol. 2, pp. 90-91; Edward Van Voolen, "Nathan ben Simson of Meseritz's Prayers for the New Moon" in Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana: Treasures of Jewish Booklore (Amsterdam, 1994), pp. 68-69.

Starting in the latter part of the sixteenth century and influenced by the rapid spread of Lurianic kabbalah, pious Jews began to observe a Yom Kippur Katan (minor day of atonement) on the eve of each Rosh Hodesh (new month). As indicated by its name, it was a day dedicated to fasting and repentance.  The waning of the moon was seen by the kabbalists as symbolic of the exile of the Shekhinah ("Divine Presence") while the waxing moon signified the coming redemption. Accordingly, a specialized liturgy began to coalesce that added new selihot (penitential prayers and supplications), based on themes of exile and redemption, to those customarily recited for a fast day.  With the first printed edition of the Tikun appearing in Prague in 1662, the special liturgy achieved a widespread acceptance making it one of several texts that were selected by wealthy Jews when commissioning luxury manuscripts.

The scribe-artist of the present volume, Nathan ben Samson of Meseritch is one of the most notable figures in the eighteenth-century revival of decorated Hebrew manuscripts. Of Moravian origin, Nathan is known to have produced at least twenty-three illustrated Hebrew books between 1723 and 1739.  While he is best known for his skillfully written and charmingly illustrated Haggadot, of which eleven recorded copies are extant, his oeuvre comprises a wide variety of liturgical texts including Haggadot, Sabbath prayers, Grace after Meals, Books of Psalms, Omer books, and Tikkunei Rosh Hodesh.  The first year in which we have evidence of Nathan's activities is 1723 and his last known work was written in 1739.  Although it is not readily apparent as to where Nathan was practicing his craft, the only four of Nathan's manuscripts which contain an indication of where he was working were written in Rotterdam.