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By Jerusalem of gold auctions
Aug 28, 2017
Jerusalem, Israel
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LOT 23:

Manuscript - Collection of Compositions about Ibur and Kiddush Ha'Chodesh, Astronomy, Plates and Charts - Segulot ...

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Start price:
$ 4,250
Estimated price :
$6000-8000
Buyer's Premium: 20%
VAT: 17% On commission only
Auction took place on Aug 28, 2017 at Jerusalem of gold auctions
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Manuscript - Collection of Compositions about Ibur and Kiddush Ha'Chodesh, Astronomy, Plates and Charts - Segulot and Goralot - North Africa 1840 - Some Compositions have never been Printed! Extremely Rare!
Manuscript with a collection of ancient compositions about Kidush Ha'Chodesh and astronomy, with dozens of charts. South Africa 1840. Nice orderly script, most likely the handwriting of Rabbi "Yosef Ha'Levi Ibn Yuli". In addition, several leaves handwritten in a later period by Rabbi "Yosef Ha'levi" who lived in the late 19th century.
The compositions are the following:
A. Sefer She'erit Ya'akov, determining Rosh Chodesh and holidays, rules for arranging calendars and determining the new moon. The signs for Parshiyot Mechubarot Ve'Nifradot and the signs of Parshiyot Ha'Torah by Rabbi Yosef Ben Shem Tov Ben Yeshu'ah. [6] leaves.
B. "Ptichat Ha'Chet She'arim Le'Rabbi Daniel Ha'Cohen" copied from the book She'erit Yosef. Including: charts for determining the new moon, chart of the degrees of the sun and location of the moon, the measures of the days and nights and the months of Yishma'el and Edom. The source of the charts is a composition by Rabbi Avrahamo Zacuto and the commentary on it by Rabbi Daniel Ben Perachya Ha'Cohen.
The plates appear with the commentary around them. Each passage begins with the words "Said the young Daniel Ha'Cohen".
[20] leaves.
The book She'erit Yosef was printed for the first time in Salonika 1521 and for the second time in Salonika 1568.
• After the eight chapters, a leaf written on both its sides with "Segulah for those sick with Varicella …" with a plate of an amulet to help the sick. On the reverse side of the leaf, an additional Segulah.
C. Tisha Prakim Be'Chochmant Ha'Tchunah. Among the chapters, several illustrations of the sun and the moon.
[5] leaves.
• A leaf with various calculations for the month of Shevat 5629 (1869). The leaf is written in later, different script, in the handwriting of Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi. Hand-signed in several places.
D. "Sefer Ha'Poel" with the Rash commentary by Rabbi Ya'akov Ben Rabbi Yom Tov Po'el Bonnit. Dozens of astronomical plates. [20] leaves of the Rash commentary and then [23] leaves of 46 different plates. Our research has found that this book has never been printed. Early manuscripts of it appear in the National Library and other libraries around the world.
• Among the leaves of Sefer Ha'Poel, two pages were found with various calculation and "Molad Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5622 (1862)" handwritten by the above Rabbi Yosef Ha'levi.
E. "Sefer Ohel David" with commentary by Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi Ibn Yuli. The book Ohel David, by Rabbi David ben Yechezkel Rachavi was printed in Amsterdam 1791. It contained information about heavenly bodies and their orbits. At its end, a folded leaf "to determine Moladot and Tkufot … and solar and lunar eclipses for the year 5650 (1790) of the Creation". The commentary by Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi Ibn Yuli is accompanied by many handwritten plates explaining the Ohel David.
At the end of the preface, the commentator's signature: "Yosfe Ha'Levi Ibn Yuli". (He is not Rabbi Yosef Ibn Yuli of Fes, Morocco who lived in the late 19th century).
A chart arranged according to the countries with a list 0f 75 countries. "I have seen fit to copy here a chart made by Rabbi Avraham Zacuto …" [10] leaves.
The commentary on Ohel David has also never been printed.
F. 13 plates for the days of the week, with comments in Moroccan Arabic. Then a chart "to know the length of countries and the cities that are from east to west etc." The list includes 70 different countries.
• A page written by Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi with calculations and explanations regarding the location of the sun "Molad Rosh Chodesh Elul 5628 (1868)".
G. An additional booklet about the Molad and calculations of Tkufot, with a preface by the copyist. [9] leaves.
At the end of the booklet, a later inscription by Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi. On the reverse side of the leaf, various calculations.
H. Then there are four tables with eight plates of determining the days and nights with comments on the lower part of the page. A gloss handwritten by the above Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi referring to one of these comments, signed by Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi (in initials).
After these plates, three leaves handwritten by Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi with astronomical calculations and his signature.
I. 12 leaves about the orbits of the sun, with many charts and an illustration of the sun.
J. 16 plates with comments for understanding the plate, some of them signed with Hebrew initials. One of the comments refers to Rabbi Ya'akov Yonah and his book Kohelet Ya'akov (A manuscript of the book Kohelet Ya'akov about the Hebrew calendar by Rabbi Ya'akov Ben Yonah Mozrachi can be found in the National Library. Has never been printed).
K. A booklet with "Be'ur 28 Machanot Ha'Levanah", "Mishpatei Ha'Lakuyot", "Le'Ot U'Le'Mofet", "Potchin Ba'Nolad". Information about the stars Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus and the moon, signs of thunder.
At the end, a leaf handwritten on both its sides.
L. [15] leaves. Kuntras Goralot with Kabbalistic prayers and Goralot.

About the manuscript and its first and last writers
The manuscript was actually written by Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi Ibn Yuli. Its absolute majority is in his handwriting. This Rabbi Yosef was most knowledgeable in astronomy and he compiled several ancient compositions on the subject, some of which have never been printed. To these he added his comments and commentary as well as plates made by him. 95% of what is written in the manuscript is in similar script from the early 19th century.
Later, the manuscript reached Rabbi "Yosef Ha"levi" who most likely was the Rabbi Yosef Ha'Levi who lived in Safed during the years 1740-1840 and had signed documents together with Rabbi Raphael Mimran and Rabbi Yehuda Shabtai Antebi. His signature on those documents is similar to his signature that appears on the manuscript before us. He was also knowledgeable in astronomy. He uses the original manuscript and adds comments and inscriptions of his own. The differences between the two writers is obvious.
At the beginning of the manuscript there are several ownership inscriptions on the three Forsazt leaves:
An inscription of 6 lines in Moroccan Arabic handwritten and signed by Rabbi Chaviv Toledano (1800-1842), one of the rabbis of Meknes, from 1855. The inscription also refers to Rabbi Chaim Toledano.
An additional handwritten ownership inscription signed by "Ya'akov Ben Harush" and "Shlomo Ha'Levi … Yosef Ha'Levi"
[185] leaves. 20 cm.
Condition: Good-Fair. Detached binding and leaves. Moth holes. Stains. Bright, high-quality paper.

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