Manuscript, notebook of calligraphy samples including samples of micrography and various texts, produced by school students. [Germany? 1830s]. German in Hebrew characters.
The notebook was handwritten by students of four classes in a modern Jewish school, presumably in Germany. The title on the front board (gilt lettering on a red leather label) reads: "Hebraïsche Probeschriften, I, II, III, IV Klasse" (German). The notebook opens with five meticulously executed full-page micrographies, depicting neoclassical figures, including a micrography forming the figure of the Angel of Death (in its Greek version – Thanatos, wearing a helmet), surrounded by a Hebrew inscription: "Man is destined to die". The following leaves contain sample texts, in both square and cursive script, with fine headings and calligraphic ornaments. Further in the notebook are simpler samples of penmanship – various texts (including passages of folk songs and German poetry), as well as repeated practice letters and words. Each sample is signed by the student, and from the repeated family names one can see that several families must have sent a number of their children to the school. There is no indication of the place where the school operated, yet one of the students, Joseph Kolsky, signed mentioning his hometown – Szamotuły, a town in Greater Poland Voivodeship (western Poland).
The paper is marked with an English watermark – "J Whatman 1832" (different watermark on the endpapers).

[31] leaves. 42 cm. Good condition. Stains. Several minor marginal tears. Blemishes and stains to binding. Open tears to label on front board.
Reference:

Avrin, Leila, Hebrew Calligraphy Model Books. Letter Arts Review, 1998, Vol. 14, Issue 2, pp. 34-41.
Provenance:
1. Christie's Amsterdam, 21 June 1989, lot 51.
2. The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, GR.011.005.