Auction 4 Important Hebrew Books
By Royal Auction House
Jul 4, 2022
1555 Route 37, Toms River, NJ 08755, United States
The auction has ended

LOT 11:

Rare: A Large Rashi Manuscript Handwritten on Parchment. Probably France, Circa 13th Century.

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Sold for: $5,500
Start price:
$ 5,000
Estimated price :
$7,000 - $10,000
Buyer's Premium: 25%

Rare: A Large Rashi Manuscript Handwritten on Parchment. Probably France, Circa 13th Century.

Presented here is an exceptionally rare and beautiful manuscript, containing a portion of Rashi’s commentary on the Torah (Bereishit, Parshat Mikeitz 42:3-44:16), handwritten on parchment. The style of the 3-column layout, as well as the writing style of the scribe, identifies with various other manuscripts written in 13th century France. For a Rashi manuscript on the Torah written in identical form, see, for example: Wien NB 22 - Cod. hebr. 220 held at the National Library of Vienna, which is believed to have been written in the 13th or 14th century according to experts.

A manuscript of such nature is highly scarce and important, considering Rashi is without doubt the most fundamental commentary on the Bible. Moreover, Rashi’s work was not printed until about 1475 in Reggio. As such, a manuscript which possibly predates the printed version by over 100 years, makes an absolute treasure. 

The manuscript begins with Parshas Mikeitz (Chapter 42, Verse 3), and ends in Chapter 44:16. 

Most intriguing are the various textual differences between the printed text and this manuscript. Perhaps the most remarkable textual difference is found in 43:11, where Jacob tells the brothers to take some of the choicest products down to Egypt, including בטנים, on which Rashi comments: “I do not know what they are, however in the commentary of Aleph Beit to R. Machir, I saw that [they are] pistachios”. In the present manuscript however, additional text appears: “In the Aleph Beit commentary of R. Machir I saw that they are called pistachios. [In fact], a Greek Jew told me that it is a type of fruit which is similar to Armonim (chestnuts)”. 

It would seem from this additional passage that while Rashi saw this definition by R. Machir, he was still unsure what pistachios were. He therefore conducted additional research until it was confirmed by a Jew from Greece (Greece is known for its pistachios, and they are of the highest quality) that pistachios are a type of fruit (i.e. grow on a tree), which is similar to a chestnut (i.e., although they grow on trees, it is a nut and not an actual fruit). This additional passage can also be found in Cod. Hebr. 220 currently held at the National Library of Vienna, and was for some reason omitted from the standard text. This new version not only gives us a remarkable insight into Rashi’s commentary, but also sheds new light on what was previously difficult to understand. The reason being, since Rashi starts by explaining “I don’t know what they are”, however he concludes by saying “and I believe they are Afarskim”, which is seemingly contradictory to his opening statement. According to this new version however, it would seem clear that when writing “and I believe they are Afarskim”, Rashi did not intend to argue with R. Machir, but rather add, that he believes R. Machir’s pistachios are like Afarskim, since he was unsure exactly what they were. 

Ink on Parchment, In overall very good condition; some light abrasions and fold marks, sometimes causing loss to several letters of text, stains. 

[1] Handwritten leaf, 2 sides. 

Parchment size: 42x28.5cm
Writing Area: 30.5x20cm



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