Two handwritten documents from members of the Sforno family. Bologna (Italy).

1. Manuscript, appeal to the authorities of Bologna by Avraham Sforno. February 14, 1477. Italian.

An appeal calling for the involvement of the mayor and the court of Bologna in an episode of violence.

The appellant, Avraham son of Reuven son of Shmuel Sforno (uncle of the biblical commentator Rabbi Ovadia Sforno), a resident of Santo Stefano, Bologna, claims that a man named David Musetti, a Jew of Modena living in Bologna, was one of the two armed men who attacked him one night outside of his home, beating him and severely injuring him and his servant. Despite the fact that the attackers wore masks, one of Sforno's servants identified Musetti, and this document shows that the victim attempted to bring the attacker to justice.

The episode occurred in October 1476, next to Sforno's home in Guardia di Bologna, located on a hill in a forest outside of the city (today in the suburb San Ruffillo), where he and his family had fled from a plague that had broken out in the city.

As mentioned, Avraham Sforno mentioned here is the uncle (paternal brother) of Rabbi Ovadia Sforno, the biblical commentator.

See: R. Rinaldi, un inventario dei beni dell'anno 1503: Abramo Sforno e la sua attività di prestatore, Il Carrobbio IX, 1983.

The watermark matches paper manufactured in 14th-century Italy.

[1] leaf. Approx. 21X30.5 cm. Good condition. Light stains. Folding marks. Puncture to center of leaf, slightly affecting text. Minute marginal tears.

2. Manuscript, legal ruling regarding Avraham Sforno of Bologna. December 22, 1479. Latin.

Confirmation of a legal ruling handed out by the court of Bologna, sentencing citizen Matteo Salaroli to death for robbing the bank of Avraham Sforno (Abramo figlio di Rubino) of Santo Stefano Square, Bologna. In addition, Salaroli is ordered to repay the sum he robbed in full. The document notes that the defendant had robbed the same bank several times, that the sentence is final and that its execution was approved by the mayor.

See: M. G. Muzzarelli, Gli Sforno di Bologna, Zakhor 3, 1999.

[1] leaf (written on both sides). 31.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Puncture to bottom of leaf, not affecting text. Minute marginal tears.

The Sforno family, a family of bankers from Spain, one of the most prominent Jewish families in Italy, whose members included, most famously, the Biblical commentator R. Ovadiah Sforno (1468/1473-1549). After a long period of wandering throughout Italy, he settled in Bologna along with his brother Chananel, where he served as a posek and physician and was moreover a partner in establishing a Hebrew printing press (the first Hebrew book to be printed there was his philosophical book Or Amim, in 1537).