Formerly owned by Tel Aviv collector William L. Gross (Kedem); former call number The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, OT.011.021.
Sold by Kedem Auctions (Jerusalem), Auction 93 part 1, lot 80 (as part of selections from the Gross Family Collection).
Physical Description:
105 leaves : paper, illustrations ; 170 x 130 mm bound to 180 x 145 mm.
Place of Publication:
[Turkey], [1700-1799].
[טורקיה], [1700-1799].
Language Note:
Hebrew and Aramaic (many amulets and texts of incantations in Aramaic).
Summary:
This is a manuscript of cabalistic remedies and charms, illustrated with goralot tables (a game of lots predicting the future), mystical pseudo-scripts (כתב מלאכים, so-called scripts of the angels) and magical incantation bowls; parts of the manuscript are medical as well. The instructions on creating a magic bowl include the creation of a glass bowl with a handle, with a precise vocalized incantation text to be read through the top circularly (f. 21r); instructions on writing and reading the angelic pseudo-scripts (such as f. 26r-29r, f. 66r), creation of amulets and amuletic texts (f. 29v-30r), cipher as amuletic text (such as f. 47r), and protection amulets (against assassins, f. 11r; against robbers, f. 102r; against migraines, f. 104r-105v).
Notes:
Ms. composite codex.
Title supplied by cataloger.
Layout: Written in single columns, with captions above column; illustrations built-in to text column (such as f. 76r); mantras written in three tapered columns (f. 105v); some catchwords, some blind-ruling.
Script: Written in Turkish cursive and semicursive scripts, in multiple hands; some amuletic and incantations vocalized (such as f. 98v).
Decoration: Magic bowl illustration (f. 21r), illustrations of amulets (such as f. 29v, f. 98v), pseudo-scripts, goralot tables (such as f. 60r, f. 55r), olivewood talismans (f. 29v).
Origin: Written in Turkey during the 18th century (original manuscripts), possibly bound as two composite manuscripts (based on older foliation), circa 1800.
Binding: Bound in a modern red linen binding; spine title "כתב יד סגולות ורפואות".
Foliation: Paper, 105; contemporary foliation in Hebrew characters, קי"ו-קע"ז, [כ"ז]-קי"ג in ink, upper left recto; modern foliation in pencil, 1-105, lower left recto (references in this record to modern foliation only).
Local Notes:
Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Elis & Ruth Douer Endowed Fund.
Related Collections:
Another manuscript of charms and amuletic texts is UPenn CAJS Rar Ms 519; that manuscript dating from the 19th century, originating in Morocco.
Cited as:
Collection of amulets, charms, remedies, and magic bowls (UPenn CAJS Rar Ms 658). Library at the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, University of Pennsylvania.
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