Hebrew and Judaica Manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford University

MS. Canonici Or. 71

Oriental Manuscripts Canonici Oriental Collection

Contents

Moreh Nevukhim with additional texts by Shmuel ibn Tibbon

Physical Description

ff. 338

Binding

Parchment binding.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

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.

MS. Canonici Or. 71/1

Contents

1. ff. 3r-18v
Index to biblical passages
Language(s): Hebrew

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Italian type of parchment and quiring.
Extent: ff. 16 (fols. 3-18)
Dimensions (leaf): 253 × 190 mm.
Foliation: Foliation in Arabic numerals.

Collation

2 quires: i 10, ii 6, no signatures, no catchwords.

Condition

Good condition.

Layout

Index in two columns.

Hand(s)

Italian-Ashkenazi square script.

Decoration

Not decorated.

History

Origin: [Italy]; [ca. 1400]

Provenance and Acquisition

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.

MS. Canonici Or. 71/2

Contents

2. ff. 19r-301v
Maimonides, Moses, 1135-1204משה בן מימון, Guide for the Perplexed (Moreh Nevukhim) מורה נבוכים

fol. 19r is written by an Italian-Ashkenazi hand, the same who wrote the index to the biblical passages (fols. 3r-1

Language(s): Hebrew
3. ff. 303r-335r
Ibn Tibbon, Shmuel, active 12th century-13th centuryאבן תבון, שמואל בן יהודה, 1150-1230, Perush ha-milot ha-zarot sheba-Moreh nevukhim le-Rambam פרוש המלות הזרות שבמורה נבוכים לרמב"ם
4. ff. 335r-337v
Ibn Tibbon, Shmuel, active 12th century-13th centuryאבן תבון, שמואל בן יהודה, 1150-1230, Perush ṭaʿame ha-mitsṿot פרוש טעמי המצוות
Language(s): Hebrew

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Italian type of parchment and quiring.
Extent: ff. 320 (ff.19-338)
Dimensions (leaf): 254 × 190 mm.
Foliation: Foliation in Arabic numerals.

Collation

Quires of mostly 8 and 10 leaves, no signatures, catchwords at the end of some quires.

Condition

Good condition.

Layout

Text in one column.

Hand(s)

Sephardi square script.

Decoration

Not decorated.

History

Origin: [Italy]; [ca. 1400]

Provenance and Acquisition

Purchase note on fol. 337v:

בעת תת קדש ק"ק פדואה לצבא מרמס וכל חילם לבז ולמשיסה ואני שמואל יצ"ו בכמ"ר משה דליאוצו ז"ל בתוך הגולה וארא בשביה ביד נכרי זה הספר מורה הנבוכים ואחמוד אותו ואקחהו ממנו בכסף מקנתו למען הציל אותו מיד זר להשיבו אל משכן י קדשו אל הכנסת הגדולה מהלועזים יצ"ו מפדוא אשר היה שם אהלו בתחלה כי ממנו לוקח ואראה והנה אין כנסת גדולה ללועזים שם על כן הביאותיו פה אל הכנסת הגדולה מהלועזים מק"ק מנטובה והיה שם לפקודן עד שוב כנסת גדולה ללועזים [י"ץ] בפדואה ואז יהיה כח ורשות לי ולכל יוצאי חלצי להחזירו למקומו ועטרה ליושנה והיה עמכם וקרא בו בבית הכנסת מק"ק מנטובה כל מבקש ה' גם ברכות יעטה מורה

ואני הצעיר יהוסף יצ"ו בכמ"ר יצחק זרקא זלה"ה החוקק חקקי אמת כמצווה ועושה מאת [...] שמואל הנזכ' כתבתי וחתמתי ח' פ רצ"ד לפ"ק לי"א לק"י

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.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Manuscript description based on Catalogue of the Hebrew Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, vol. I, by Adolf Neubauer, Oxford 1886, No. 1252, Catalogue of the Hebrew manuscripts in the Bodleian Library; Supplement of Addenda and Corrigenda to Vol. I, No. 1252, 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 22066

Bibliography

    Neubauer, Adolf, Catalogue of the Hebrew Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library (Oxford, 1886), no. 1252.
    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. 1252.

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