Otzar Leshon ha-Kodesh ha-Katzar, [Italy, 17th century]

This is a grammatical work in five parts (shearim), based on the works of David Kimhi and David ibn Yahya. The author writes in the introduction that he does not reveal his own name because he does not add to or change the work of his predecessors. He also states that he is composing a more detailed work because many grammatical works are too brief. On fol. 62v he further explains that he prefers to remain anonymous so that people do not make fun of him.

Sotheby’s is grateful to Menahem Schmelzer z”l and Benjamin Richler for cataloguing this manuscript.

Provenance

Solomon Halberstam (shelf no. 460)

Physical Description

62 leaves on paper, 5 ¼ x 4 inches; 134 x 102 mm, written in a seventeenth–century, Italian cursive script in brown ink, marginal notes, modern foliation in pencil; some dampstaining, soiled, library stamp on first and last leaves. Vellum; stained.

Literature

Hirschfeld (ms. no. 411)