London Montefiore H486

From The Seven Sages of Rome

Manuscript Identification
Reference Number Heb7
Location London, Montefiore Library
Siglum/Shelfmark Hirschfield catalogue no. 486 (previously Halberstamm-Montefiore 185)
Page/Folio range 38r-57r
Textual Content and Tradition
Standardised title of narrative משלי סנדבר (Mishle Sendebar)
Incipit or textual title
Version (siglum) Mishle Sendebar
Language Group within Version Hebrew Mishle Sendebar
Narrative/Scholarly Group within Version Hebrew Group A
Further scholarly subgroup (1)
Further scholarly subgroup (2) Text H.M.
Translated/adapted from (Version/Text)
Source for information on textual relationship to broader tradition Epstein (1967)
Languages
Language of text Hebrew
Regional or specific Language of text
Source for regional or specific Language of text
Digitisation and Editions
Digitisation https://www.nli.org.il/en/manuscripts/NNL_ALEPH990001870310205171/NLI#$FL29801623
Modern Editions
Note

The Montefiore Endowment is the last recorded holder of this manuscript, and is listed in scholarship as its current location; however, it was sold to a private collection at auction c. 2004.

In his catalogue, Hirschfield mistakenly refers to this text as 'Bidpai's Fables' (p. 150), the title usually given to Kalilah wa Dimna in Hebrew contexts.

Note: Gibbosi is missing in this text, as it is in Group B.

Authorship and Production
Scribe Abraham David ben Samuel Abraham of Ancona
Author
Place of Manuscript Production Ancona, Italy
Date of Manuscript Production 1758
Source of Date of Manuscript Production Epstein (1967)
Physical Description
Material Paper
Total pages/folios in Manuscript
Height 133.5
Width 89
Script style/form
Prose or verse Prose
Illustrations No
Contents and Additional Texts
Other texts in the Manuscript (From Hirschfield)
  • Fol. 1-38: ספר מוחזק כנסת, Abraham Zaccuto, a work of eschatology (printed)
  • Fol. 38-57v: "Bidpai's Fables" (Mischle Sendebar)
  • Fol. 57v: אריסטיס דבר, Aristeas' letter concerning the Greek translation of the Bible
  • Fol. 105: מערב המזרח, תיאור וחשוב המזבח מערב לישראל, Description of Palestine, chiefly with regard to the graves of distinguished Jews
  • Fol. 113: ספר מורה כדרך, Abraham b. Ezra
  • Fol. 140: מעשה גדול נוגאה, Josef בן יהדירה.
  • Fol. 149v: ספר מולות האור ישראל, Biography of Isaac b. Solomon Loria
Catalogues and Research Literature
Catalogue Hirschfield, Descriptive catalogue of the Hebrew MSS. of the Montefiore Library (1904)https://www.nli.org.il/en/manuscripts/NNL_ALEPH990001870310205171/NLI#$FL29801623
Modern Research Literature Epstein (1967)
Pattern of embedded stories in this manuscript