Astounding Discovery.
Unknown Seder Berachos (Order of Blessings) Printed Entirely on Parchment. Bologna, 1537
Seder Brachos – Order of Blessings for the whole year, with illumination and instructions. Printed by members of the Guild of Silk-Weavers. Bologna, Italy 1537.
This book contains blessings for the whole year, for use on weekdays and the Festivals. The liturgical text was printed in Hebrew block letters, with rules, instructions, explanations, and Jewish laws appear in Rashi font.
First Edition of Seder Brachos (Order of Blessings)
Until the discovery of the present edition, the first recorded editions of the Order of Blessings were the Daniel Bomberg edition of Meah Berachos, printed in Venice 1548 (Sephardic Rite), the Mantua 1563 edition (Ashkenaz Rite) and the Venice 1578 edition (Roman Rite) were regarded as the premier editions of the Order of Blessings. With the discovery of this present copy, it is clear that the Bologna 1537 Order of Blessings, is in fact the first print ever of the Order of Blessings (Seder Berachos).
Printed entirely on parchment
Parchment was highly challenging as a printing medium, and the parchment itself was exorbitantly priced. Usually, parchment books were prepared for wealthy patrons or as presentations. The present book,
printed entirely on parchment, is the only copy that survived this edition; not a single other copy is known to exist, paper or parchment.
Background:
In 1537 Bologna, Italy, the Jewish members of the Guild of Silk-Weavers commenced printing a siddur for the entire year contains all prayers recited in the synagogue, such as daily prayers, prayers for Shabbos and holidays, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. According to the colophon, the printing was complete and finalized on the 5th of the month of Sivan (05/24/1537). This siddur is known and can be found in public and private libraries and has several parchment copies. Nevertheless, the present Order of Blessings was printed in the same miniature size and font as the aforementioned siddur. Surprisingly, the Order of Blessings – as stated in the colophon – was completed on the 27th of Sivan (06/15 /1537), which is only 22 days between these 2 prints.
Pagination and condition:
13 paginated 8 signatures of 8 leaves each; Total of [97] unpaginated leaves printed on parchment (originally 104 leaves; missing title page (or perhaps first blank) + 6 middle leaves of the 9th signature. Page size: 13 cm. Fair-good condition: heavily used, staining and some dark leaves. Wine stains on Passover passages. First and last leaves in poor condition, with dark staining, creases, and some open tears affecting text.
Provenance:
Simon son of Abraham Lewis, London (19th / early 20th century inscription on back cover and twice inside the book).
Bibliography: On the papal briefs see Shlomo Simonsohn, The Apostolic See and the Jews. History (Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1991), 338–339.
Genazym thanks Professor Benjamin Richler would like for his assistance in preparing this report.
This extremely scarce book is bibliographically unknown. It was never catalogued
or documented
by any bibliographer or researcher, and
not a single copy is known to exist in any library across the world!
Unrecorded Early Passover Haggadah, Bologna 1537
The present Order of Blessings contains a complete Passover Haggadah (leaves [38-65]), including three woodcuts illustrating a pointing hand; (flower shaped) matzah and marror (bitter herb); and songs for Passover. The Haggadah print was executed on parchment with delightful letters and text display. This Passover Haggadah is not mentioned in Otzar HaHaggadot or in any other bibliographical list.
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