Hebrew and Judaica Manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford University

MS. Canonici Or. 40

Oriental Manuscripts Canonici Oriental Collection

Contents

Hebrew Bible: Pentateuch

1. ff. 1r-116v
Latter Prophets כתובים

Second volume of complete Tanakh. Other volumes: Can. Or. 37, MS Can. Or. 38, MS Can. Or. 39

Language(s): Hebrew
2. ff. 114r-116v
Lists of Hafṭarot and Psalms סימני ההפטרות וסימני תהלים

Later, ca. mid-15th century addition.

Language(s): Hebrew

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: ff. 119
Dimensions (leaf): 225 × 163 mm.
Foliation: Foliation in Arabic numerals.

Collation

15 quires: i-xiv 8, xv 8-1 no signatures, no catchwords.

Layout

Main text in two columns surrounded by masorah.

Hand(s)

Sephardi square script.

Decoration

Not decorated.

History

Origin: [Spain]; [14th century]

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchase note on fol. 113r: מודה אני יוסף בכמ"ר מאישטרי בונאפוש הכהן בן ארדוט ז"ל הדר ביפירארא איך היום יום שבעה ועשרים לחדש תמוז שנת חמשת אלפים ומאתים וחמשים ןשמנה מכרתי זה העשרים וארבעה לכמ"ר אליעזר בכמ"ר משה זלה"ה מימודינא וקבלתי שוויה ומחלתי לו דמי אונאה ואפילו שוה אלף זהובים ולמען יהיה בידו וביד באי כחו לעדות לזהות ולראיה הכתבתי שורותים אלו וחתמתי שמי בסופם וחליתי פני העדים יחתמו אחר חתימתי והכל שריר וקים. יוסף הכהן בן ..., אליהו בכמ"ר אברהם ..., יעקב בכמ"ר שמואל ... . Birth note(?) on fol. 117r.

Matteo Luigi Canonici's (1727-1805) collections passed to his brother Giuseppe, and on his death in 1807 to Giovanni Perissinotti and Girolamo Cardina, who divided them. To the former fell the MSS., then about 3550 in number, and, after many attempts to sell them, the Bodleian became the purchaser of the greater part in 1817, for £5444 5s. 1d., or including incidental expenses about £6030, the largest single purchase ever made by the Library. The formal list of volumes handed over was signed on May 18, 1817, and the books probably arrived later that year.

Record Sources

Manuscript description based on Catalogue of the Hebrew Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, vol. I, by Adolf Neubauer, Oxford 1886, No. 6, Catalogue of the Hebrew manuscripts in the Bodleian Library; Supplement of Addenda and Corrigenda to Vol. I, No. 6, and on the data of the Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts, National Library of Israel with additional enhancements by the cataloguer.

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures contact Bodleian Admissions). Contact specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript.

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (full digital facsimile)

Microfilm

MSS R.R. Film No. F 33019

Bibliography

    Neubauer, Adolf, Catalogue of the Hebrew Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library (Oxford, 1886), no. 6.
    Beit-Arié, Malachi and R.A. May (eds), Catalogue of the Hebrew manuscripts in the Bodleian Library; Supplement of Addenda and Corrigenda to Vol. I (A. Neubauer’s Catalogue) (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1994), no. 6.

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