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an old scroll with a picture of a man and a woman on it
Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

207 - Judaica (The Book of Esther, Megillah) Codex Kaufmann A14.
See original version (German)

Estimate €240 - €360
Sale commission
Description
Judaica (The Book of Esther, Megillah) Codex Kaufmann A14. Featuring 8 large-scale allegorical figures, 16 vignettes and numerous decorative floral and architectural motifs. Full facsimile with a Hungarian commentary volume by Irish Fishof. Budapest, Helikon, 1989. Total dimensions 393.5 x 39 cm, plus a separate prayer sheet measuring 53 x 39 cm. Wooden rod in a cardboard box with gold embossing. (Box has minor scuffing and damage to one corner). An exceptionally decorative and culturally and historically fascinating facsimile of an 18th-century Italian Esther scroll – a significant example of Jewish book art, Hebrew calligraphy and Purim liturgy. The Megillat Esther (‘Scroll of Esther’) is one of the five Megillot of the Tanakh and is the central biblical text of the Jewish festival of Purim. Its public reading, the Kriat ha-Megillah, is one of the essential Purim commandments (mitzvot) and traditionally takes place on the evening of Purim and the following day in the synagogue. The Hebrew biblical text recounts the dramatic story of the Jewish Queen Esther and her relative Mordechai at the Persian court of King Ahasuerus: thanks to Esther’s courage, the annihilation of the Jews planned by Haman is averted. The narrative of threat, rescue and the preservation of the Jewish community forms the religious memory of Purim and continues to give the Megillah a central place in Jewish festive customs, synagogue culture and religious folk art to this day. This facsimile reproduces the original in all its rich detail, a style particularly characteristic of Italian Judaica. Eight large-scale allegorical figures, 16 narrative vignettes and a varied array of decorative elements comprising floral tendrils, architectural frames and ornamental motifs accompany the columns of text. The sequence of images combines biblical narrative, Jewish symbolism and Baroque representational art to form a festive Gesamtkunstwerk. As an illuminated testament to Hebrew book and scroll art, the Megillah stands in the tradition of representative Jewish manuscripts, synagogue art and Italian-Jewish cultural history. The designation ‘Codex Kaufmann’ refers to the Austro-Hungarian Jewish scholar, rabbi and prominent collector of Hebraica, David Kaufmann (1852–1899). Kaufmann was a professor of Jewish history, philosophy of religion and homiletics at the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary and amassed an outstanding library of manuscripts and early Hebrew prints. Following the death of his widow, his collection—comprising 594 manuscripts and 1,092 printed works—was transferred to the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1905. This Esther Scroll thus forms part of one of the most significant European collections of Jewish book culture and intellectual heritage. Particularly collectable as a large-format Judaica item at the intersection of Hebraica, Judaica, Purim, Megillat Esther, the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, illuminated manuscripts, Jewish book art, Italian Judaica, facsimile art and liturgical scroll art. A striking object for collectors of Jewish art and culture, and for collections focusing on Jewish festivals, the history of synagogues and rituals, biblical illustration, Hebrew calligraphy and book culture in the Diaspora. The combination of magnificent illustrations, ritual significance, a generous format and a comprehensive accompanying commentary volume makes this edition an exceptionally attractive collector’s item amongst modern facsimile editions. (The Esther Scroll, The Books of Esther). Featuring 8 large allegorical figures, 16 vignettes and numerous decorative floral and architectural motifs. Wooden rod and handle, and a blue publisher’s case. (Case slightly rubbed and bumped). - An exceptionally decorative and culturally significant facsimile of an eighteenth-century Italian Esther scroll—an important work of Jewish book art, Hebrew calligraphy and Purim liturgy. The *Megillat Esther* (‘Scroll of Esther’) is one of the Five Megillot of the Tanakh and the central biblical text of the Jewish festival of Purim. Its public recitation, the *Kriat ha-Megillah*, is one of the principal Purim commandments (*mitzvot*) and is traditionally performed in the synagogue on the eve of Purim and again the following day. The Hebrew biblical text recounts the dramatic story of the Jewish queen Esther and her relative Mordechai at the Persian court of King Ahasuerus. Through Esther’s courage, Haman’s planned annihilation of the Jews is averted. This narrative of threat, deliverance and the preservation of the Jewish community forms the religious memory of Purim and has ensured that the Megillah retains a central place, to this day, in Jewish festival observance, synagogue culture and religious folk art. The facsimile faithfully reproduces the original in its rich design, which is particularly characteristic of Italian Judaica. Eight large-scale allegorical figures, sixteen narrative vignettes and an elaborate decorative scheme of floral scrollwork, architectural frameworks and ornamental motifs accompany the columns of text. The pictorial programme unites biblical narrative, Jewish symbolism and Baroque representational art in a festive Gesamtkunstwerk. As an illuminated example of Hebrew manuscript and scroll art, the Megillah also forms part of the tradition of prestigious Jewish manuscripts, synagogue art and Italian-Jewish cultural history. The designation *Codex Kaufmann* refers to the Austro-Hungarian Jewish scholar, rabbi and eminent collector of Hebraica, David Kaufmann (1852–1899). Kaufmann was Professor of Jewish History, Religious Philosophy and Homiletics at the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary, where he assembled an outstanding library of manuscripts and early Hebrew printed books. Following the death of his widow, his collection—comprising 594 manuscripts and 1,092 printed works—was acquired by the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1905. The present Esther scroll thus forms part of one of Europe’s most important collections of Jewish book culture and intellectual heritage. Particularly sought-after as a large-format Judaicum at the intersection of Hebraica, Judaica, Purim, *Megillat Esther*, the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, illuminated manuscripts, Jewish book art, Italian Judaica, facsimile publishing and liturgical scroll art. A visually compelling object for collectors of Jewish art and culture, as well as for collections devoted to Jewish festivals, the history of synagogues and rituals, biblical illustration, Hebrew calligraphy, and the book culture of the Jewish diaspora. The combination of sumptuous pictorial decoration, ritual significance, impressive format, and the accompanying scholarly commentary volume makes this edition an exceptionally attractive collector’s item amongst modern facsimile publications.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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