Manuscript on parchment – Pittum HaKetoret. [Ca. 19th century].
Square script, vowelized. Pocket format.

On the last leaf is Psalm 67 in the shape of a Menorah. On verso is a Shiviti page (written in large letters and decorated with a frame and color).

[7] leaves. Approx. 10 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and wear. New binding.

Provenance: Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, EI.012.003.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Two illuminated and decorated Parchment sheets which had served as title pages of Portuguese-Jewish record books. Amsterdam, 18th century.

1. Title page of a record book which had contained listings of donations from Amsterdam’s Portuguese-Jewish “Talmud Torah” congregation. The record book was managed by the gabbai Avraham Franco Mendes. Amsterdam, 1744.
Illuminated with an architectonic motif: A pair of massive columns adorned with leaves and flowers and surmounted by crown-shaped capitals, supporting a broad, decorated arch, in turn surmounted by a pair of trumpet-blowing angels on either side. Under the arch, inscribed in Hebrew, is the biblical verse “When you make a vow to the Lord, your God, you shall not delay in paying it…” (Deuteronomy 23:22). The congregation’s name – “Talmud Torah” – appears underneath this. The title of the book is in Portuguese: “Libro onde se notaõ as Ofertas Feitas No Santo K. K. de Amsterdam, Sendo Gabayos Abraham Fco. Mendes de Ishac, Anno 5504” (“The book wherein are listed the donations rendered in the Holy Congregation of Amsterdam, administered by the gabbai Avraham Franco de Mendes, son of Isaac, Year 1744”). Toward the bottom of the page, between the columns, is a rectangular illustration depicting the Binding of Isaac.
[1] leaf, 35.5X25 cm. Stains and tears to margins. Traces of adhesives on back.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, HO.012.003.

2. Title page of a record book which had contained listings of donations from Amsterdam’s Portuguese-Jewish community. The record book was managed by Ioseph (ben Shlomo) De Meza. Amsterdam, 1756.
Illuminated with an architectonic motif: A pair of massive columns, adorned with leaves and flowers, supports a broad, decorated arch. Inscribed in Hebrew underneath the arch is the biblical verse “When you make a vow to the Lord, your God, you shall not delay in paying it …” (Deuteronomy 23:22). The title of the book is in Portuguese: “Libro Onde se Notaõ As Ofertas Feitas no Santo KK. de Amsterdam da Misva de Es Haim: Sendo Thezoureiro o Sr. Ioseph de Selo. [Selomoh] De Meza” (“The book wherein are listed the donations rendered in the Holy Congregation of Amsterdam for [fulfillment of] the mitzvah of Etz Hayyim, while the [presiding] secretary was Mr. Ioseph de Selo. [Selomoh] De Meza”). In the bottom center, between the bases of the two columns, is an illustration of a fruit tree, and above this tree, the biblical passage “It is a tree of life for those who grasp it, and those who draw near it are fortunate.” (Proverbs 3:18) is inscribed in Hebrew. The name “David Lopes Silva” is inscribed on the arch in Latin letters; presumably, this is the name of the artist who created the title page.
[1] leaf, 29.5X19.5 cm. Few stains and creases. Traces of adhesives on back.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, HO.012.002.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.

Orden de las oraciones cotidianas: por estilo seguido con Hanucà, Purim, Ayuno del solo, y las tres Pascuas [Siddur for year-round and holiday prayer], followed by a calendar of Rosh Chodesh and holidays for the years 1717-1733 (with a divisional title page). Amsterdam: Shlomo Proops, 1717. Bound with: Los cinco libros de la ley divina [Chumash with Haftarot for the entire year], with a divisional title page for the Haftarot. Amsterdam: Shlomo Proops, 1718.

Siddur and Chumash with decorated title pages, both printed only in Spanish and meant for Marranos and members of the Spanish and Portuguese communities in Amsterdam.
Both works are elaborately bound, with four silver corner decorations and a pair of silver clasps. Additional silver decorations serve to connect the front and back bindings to the book's spine. All the decorations and clasps are gilt. Gilt edges, with floral and bird decorations on the edges of the leaves.

This binding is characteristic of the binding tradition existing in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, used particularly in the Netherlands, in binding Bibles and prayer books. This kind of binding is not particularly common in Jewish religious books, and we find instances of it particularly among the Spanish and Portuguese communities of Amsterdam.

Siddur: [16], 535, [13] pages. Chumash: 301, 304-412, 411-528 pages. 15.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Small open tear to one of the leaves, slightly affecting text. Minor damage to binding, fracture to spine. Placed in a fabric-covered case.

Provenance: Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, NHB.117; NHB.116; NHB.225.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.