Manuscript!
Rare Unpublished Manuscript on Astronomy Authored by a Rishon. Baghdad, 1748
Impressive work!
Sefer Hamedidos and explanation of the astrolabe with an essay on the “quadrant” – an astronomic instrument invented by Rabbi Yaakov ben Machir.
This unpublished work was copied on behalf of Chacham Rabbi Suleiman Matuk by the famed scribe Rabbi Yehuda Leib Shapira of Prague.
The manuscript features a magnificent title page with two architectural pillars topped by eagles in flight. The pillars and their bases are adorned with wreaths of flowers and leaves.
The manuscript includes:
1. Explanation of Rova HaDeira (quadrant) by Rabbi Yakov ben Machir in the handwriting of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Shapira.
2. Explanation of the astrolabe by the above.
3. Additional explanation of the astrolabe by Chacham Shlomo Mizrahi, handwritten by Rabbi Suleiman Matuk, with charts to calculate the Jewish calendar. It is written in his own handwriting with glosses in the margins of the above copy. Title page verso features his ornate signature.
Rabbi Yakov ben Machir ibn Tibon of Provance (c.1236-1304), grandson of the famed Rabbi Shmuel ibn Tibon, authored many works on astronomy, his works were translated into Latin and were highly regarded by the greatest of astronomers, Copernicus, and many others.
Rabbi Suleiman ben Rabbi David Matuk of Baghdad was a kabbalist, poet and genius. He was an expert in the wisdom of astronomy, an avid collector of sefarim and owner of a vast Jewish library. His poems and songs were sung by all Jews of Babylonia, and he personally copied many manuscripts for his own use and hired scribes to copy sefarim that had not yet been published.
The scribe Rabbi Yehuda Leib Shapira of Prague, also an expert in astronomy, added his own glosses to the text. The last page of the book boasts the autograph of Rabbi Yechezkel Avraham Matzliach.
72 leaves. Page size: 21×12 cm. Holes. Worn antique leather binding. Inner side of the cover features an impressive ex-librīs of the Library of Rabbi David Suleiman Sassoon.
This manuscript has not yet been published!
Provenance: Sassoon Collection
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An astrolabe is an ancient astronomic handheld tool intended to measure the position of the stars. It is mentioned in the Rashba’s responsum regarding its use on Shabbos and in Shulchan Aruch Hilchos Shabbos Ch. 307.
Rova Hadeira: ‘Rova, ’ which means one quarter, refers to a quarter of the astrolabe device, as the Rova Hadeira was an improved and condensed version of the astrolabe invented by Rabbi Yakov Machir. Known as the quadrant, it was both revolutionary and popularly used among astronomers due to its easy, portable use.
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