207 - Judaica

Judaica (The Book of Esther, Megillah) Codex Kaufmann A14. Featuring 8 large-format allegorical figures, 16 vignettes, and numerous decorative floral and architectural motifs. Full facsimile with a Hungarian commentary volume by Irish Fishof. Budapest, Helikon, 1989. Total dimensions: 393.5 x 39 cm, plus a separate prayer sheet measuring 53 x 39 cm. Wooden rod in a cardboard box with gold embossing. (Box has minor scuffing and damage at one corner.) An exceptionally decorative and culturally and historically fascinating facsimile of an 18th-century Italian Esther scroll—a significant work of Jewish book art, Hebrew calligraphy, and Purim liturgy. The Megillat Esther (“Scroll of Esther”) is one of the five Megillot of the Tanakh and is the central biblical text of the Jewish festival of Purim. Its public reading, the Kriat ha-Megillah, is one of the essential Purim commandments (mitzvot) and traditionally takes place on Purim evening and the following day in the synagogue. The Hebrew biblical text tells the dramatic story of the Jewish Queen Esther and her relative Mordecai at the Persian court of King Ahasuerus: Thanks to Esther’s courage, Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews is thwarted. The narrative of threat, rescue, and the preservation of the Jewish community forms the religious memory of Purim and continues to give the Megillah a central place in Jewish festive customs, synagogue culture, and religious folk art to this day. The facsimile reproduces the original in its rich decorative style, which is particularly characteristic of Italian Judaica. Eight large-scale allegorical figures, 16 narrative vignettes, and a diverse array of decorative elements—including floral tendrils, architectural frames, and ornamental motifs—accompany the columns of text. The sequence of images combines biblical narrative, Jewish symbolism, and Baroque representational art into a festive total work of art. As an illuminated testament to Hebrew book and scroll art, the Megillah stands in the tradition of representative Jewish manuscripts, synagogue art, and Italian-Jewish cultural history. The designation “Codex Kaufmann” refers to the Austro-Hungarian Jewish scholar, rabbi, and prominent collector of Hebraica, David Kaufmann (1852–1899). Kaufmann was a professor of Jewish history, philosophy of religion, and homiletics at the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary and amassed an outstanding library of manuscripts and early Hebrew prints. After the death of his widow, his collection—comprising 594 manuscripts and 1,092 printed works—was transferred to the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1905. This Esther Scroll thus belongs to one of the most significant European collections of Jewish book culture and intellectual heritage. Particularly collectible as a large-format Judaica item at the intersection of Hebraica, Judaica, Purim, Megillat Esther, Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, illuminated manuscripts, Jewish book art, Italian Judaica, facsimile art, and liturgical scroll art. A striking object for collectors of Jewish art and culture, as well as for collections focusing on Jewish festivals, the history of synagogues and rituals, biblical illustration, Hebrew calligraphy, and the book culture of the Diaspora. The combination of magnificent illustrations, ritual significance, a generous format, and a fully included commentary volume makes this edition an exceptionally attractive collector’s item among modern facsimile editions. (The Esther Scroll, The Books of Esther). Featuring 8 large allegorical figures, 16 vignettes, and numerous decorative floral and architectural motifs. Includes a wooden rod and handle, and a blue publisher’s case. (Case shows slight rubbing and bumps.) - An exceptionally decorative and culturally significant facsimile of an eighteenth-century Italian Esther scroll—an important work of Jewish book art, Hebrew calligraphy, and Purim liturgy. The *Megillat Esther* (“Scroll of Esther”) is one of the Five Megillot of the Tanakh and the central biblical text of the Jewish festival of Purim. Its public recitation, the *Kriat ha-Megillah*, is among the principal Purim commandments (*mitzvot*) and is traditionally performed in the synagogue on Purim eve and again on the following day. The Hebrew biblical text recounts the dramatic story of the Jewish queen Esther and her relative Mordechai at the Persian court of King Ahasuerus. Thanks to Esther’s courage, Haman’s planned annihilation of the Jews is averted. This narrative of threat, deliverance, and the preservation of the Jewish community forms the religious memory of Purim and has given the Megillah a central place, to this day, in Jewish festival observance, synagogue culture, and religious folk art. The facsimile faithfully reproduces the original’s rich design, which is particularly characteristic of Italian Judaica. Eight large-scale allegorical figures, sixteen narrative vignettes, a