Posted on 02/17/2023 7:21:27 AM PST by SJackson
A Hebrew Bible more than 1,000 years old and described as "one of the most important and singular texts in human history" will go on show later this month, before going under the hammer.
The Codex Sassoon, dating to the late 9th to early 10th, is believed to be the earliest and most complete Hebrew Bible.
It will be on show at Sotheby's in London from February 22-28, followed by an exhibition tour to Israel and the US. It will go up for auction in New York in May, where it is expected to fetch between $30 million and $50 million.
Sharon Mintz, Sotheby's senior Judaica specialist, books and manuscripts, told CNN Wednesday that "this is the most important document to come to auction ever."
Mintz said this "astonishing record" is likely to generate huge interest from bidders. "This is the most significant document that I have ever had the pleasure of examining, researching [and] holding," she added.
The Hebrew Bible is the foundation of the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Scholars have long been aware of the codex named after renowned Judaica collector David Sassoon (1880-1942), but it has remained largely out of public view, Sotheby's said in a press release Wednesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
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Is Hebrew written 1,000 years ago readable by Jews today?
It is difficult to read written English from 1,000 years ago. I’ve been doing family genealogy and reading old German from 200 years ago is a real challenge.
What a shame this book is not in a museum rather than a private collection.
“What a shame this book is not in a museum rather than a private collection.”
It will be safe guarded better in a private collection. Museums are too woke and too DEI these days. The private collector who wins this auction can loan it out to a museum(s) for limited time frames. To be exhibited.
It seems like 1000 years is not THAT old for a Hebrew Bible?
“expected to fetch between $30 million and $50 million.”
I would humbly hope and suggest whoever receives that $ tith the customary 10%
Why is she touching the pages of a 1,000 year old book with ungloved hands?
Jewish communities had a practice of formally disposing of religious documents after they became ragged, for fear that copying mistakes would occur. That is in large part why the Dead Sea Scrolls are so important. The oldest portion of the Old Testament today are the silver scrolls from Ketef Hinnom, which contain the “Priestly Prayer” from Numbers 6:24-26. They date from approximately the seventh century B.C., approximately 400 years earlier than the earliest Dead Sea Scrolls.
The Septuagint is much older and therefore more credible as to which books should be in the Bible (“Appochrapha” should be included), and also that the Messiah would be born of a virgin rather than a young woman.
Did Moses sign it?
There are some differences in how some letters are formed, but it is quite readable for those familiar with modern Five Books of Moses in the original Hebrew, and is even easier for those capable of reading actual Torah scrolls found in every synagogue.
There are also notes in the book manuscript Codex Sassoon.
I hope they’re at least powdered.
Good point, even in a staged photo.
A scientist in Israel has developed a technique to raise proteins left by those handling old documents. The proteins then analyzed to determine the health of the author.
Prior to the printing press, animal skin scrolls or bound animal skin pages were relatively rare and used regularly for synagogue readings and public and private study. They wore out.
I was wondering the same thing! Ungloved hands!
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