General

Title

Cincinnati (USA), Hebrew Union College, Klau Library: Scrolls 65.1

Manuscript name

Magnificient Parchment

Summary

Cincinnati, HUC, Klau Library, Scrolls 65.1 appears to be the earliest witness of a family of large manuscript rotuli ("ilanot") to which we have given the name "The Magnificent Parchment." Only one witness (London, BL, Ms. Or. 6465) carries a colophon, dating it to 1556. The original Magnificent Parchment was likely crafted ca. 1500 in northern Italy. This family of manuscripts is distinguished by its grand scale, its graphical richness, and its 33,000-word anthological text. Klau Library Scrolls 65.1 is a luxury manuscript, meaning that it was likely produced on commission for a wealthy patron. It is among the most richly decorated to have reached us, with illuminations and diagrams in green, red, and brown. Unfortunately, much of this coloring is faded and worn; text written on colored backgrounds are now largely illegible. The outer ring of the zodiac has degree markings, a feature found on no other witness. Overall, especially from a decorative standpoint, this witness seems to have the greatest affinity to Uppsala University Library MS O Hebr. 33:3, though the latter appends two additional ilanot beneath the zodiac.

Support material

parchment

Identifier

Scrolls 65.1

Repository

Hebrew Union College

Country

USA

Settlement

Cincinnati

Research literature

J. H. Chajes, The Kabbalistic Tree (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2022), 69–70.

Creation time

Date

ca. 1500