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LOT 24:
Miniature Manuscript – Seder Sefirat Ha’Omer, Italy, 1845 – Written by Rosa of Modena A miniature ...
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Miniature Manuscript – Seder Sefirat Ha’Omer, Italy, 1845 – Written by Rosa of Modena
A miniature manuscript of Seder Sefirat Ha’Omer, handwritten by the female scribe Rosa of Modena, Italy, in the year 1845.
The entire manuscript was penned by Rosa of Modena, a rare example of a female scribe in Jewish manuscript tradition. While the phenomenon of scholarly and educated women serving as scribes and copyists is known, it remains uncommon and relatively rare.
The noted scholar and bibliographer A.M. Habermann, who extensively studied this subject, published a well-known article titled Nashim Ma’atikot (“Female Copyists”), in which he listed only twenty-three such women. The article was first published in Kiryat Sefer Vol. 13, and later reprinted in his book Perakim B’Toldot HaMadpisim HaIvri’im (pp. 351–359).
At the beginning of his list, Habermann noted:
“The title ‘soferet’ [female scribe] is virtually absent from our literature, and there is no doubt that only exceptional women engaged in this craft.”
Among the most famous female scribes are Paula, daughter of Rabbi Avraham of Rome - from the family of the Ba’al HaAruch - and Rebbetzin Sarah, daughter of Rabbi David Oppenheim, who wrote a Megillat Esther on parchment. To this distinguished list we may now add Rosa of Modena, the copyist of this manuscript.
The manuscript reveals that Rosa sought to produce aesthetically pleasing calligraphy, employing carefully drawn, slightly ornamented letters.
The text follows the Machzor Roma tradition, in which the word "la’omer" follows the word "hayom" (e.g., "hayom la’omer yom echad"), in line with the readings of Shibolei HaLeket and Tanya Rabbati.
Each day of the Omer has its own dedicated page - 49 pages in total. Written in attractive square script with vocalization (nikkud).
Italy, likely Modena, 1845.
[2], 49 pages. Size: 8.5 cm.
High-quality, thick paper, with ruled lines for writing.
Original fine binding with matching slipcase.
