Beschreibung:

HEBREW MANUSCRIPT. Esther Scrolls. Megillat Esther with highly unusual colophon, Morocco (possibly Sefrou), 19th century. Brown ink on vellum, 4 membranes, 220 mm. high, with 13 columns (175 x 100 mm.) of 26 lines. Mounted on wooden roller encircled by decorative metal rings. This megillah was made for Shemaya Abitbol, a member of the distinguished Moroccan family of rabbis, dayyanim , talmudists and jurists who led the community of Sefrou in the 18th and 19th century. A highly unusual colophon at the scroll's end identifies its owner and issues a warning (in rhyme) to anyone who pilfers his megillah: "This is the megillah of the exalted and the distinguished...the pursuer of righteousness and grace, the Rabbi Signor Shemaya Abitbol, May the Lord sustain and protect him. May the one who reads it be joyous, may the one who steals it be abolished, by the merit of Abraham son of Terach. Amen, May it be His will." -- Three Middle Eastern Megillot Esther, the first probably of 19th-century Iraqi origin, written in black ink on leather, 6 membranes, 203 mm. high, in 20 columns (155 x 160 mm.) of 18 lines. Ha-Melekh scroll with rounded opening and long leather binding strap. Mounted on wooded roller. The second, 19th century, in black ink on vellum. 4 membranes, 130 mm. high, with 17 columns (118 x 140 mm.) of 21 lines. Mounted on wooden roller. The third, 20th century, inscribed in black ink and hand-painted on vellum, 8 membranes, 245 mm. high, in 23 columns (175 x 150 mm.) of 19 lines. Mounted on wooden roller. Decoration imitates that of earlier Italian megillot: opening panel displays an elaborate cartouche containing a heraldic device, foliate borders inhabited by birds and other animals. (4)