Three early fragments from Hebrew manuscripts, including a liturgical poem by Judah Halevi, on vellum and paper [thirteenth or fourteenth century]

4 leaves (including a bifolium): (a) bifolium from an Azharot (a liturgical poem recited on the holiday of Shavuot in which the 613 Commandments are enumerated), on vellum, each leaf approximately 135mm. by 95mm., with single column, 9 lines in black ink (in places eating through the vellum to make small holes), with collection label "28", some stains and slight rodent damage at edges, Byzantium, thirteenth or fourteenth century; (b) Adonai Negdekha kol Ta'avati, 200mm. by 90mm., a Piyyut (a liturgical poem recited in the Sephardic liturgy on Yom Kippur) by Judah Halevi (c.1075-1141), the great Spanish Jewish poet and one of the most prolific Hebrew poets of the Middle Ages, on Oriental paper, remains of single column, 23 lines in a semi-cursive Oriental script in black ink, a further 5 lines on reverse, with collection label "26", torn and frayed at outermost and lowest edges, but legible and presentable, Near East, thirteenth century; (c) leaf from a Judeo-Arabic manuscript, 145mm. by 125mm., on paper, remains of single column, 14 lines in brown ink, tears to edges with losses of text from there and centre of leaf, Near East, thirteenth century; all mounted in glass

From the collection of Anton Fackelmann (1916-86), conservator of the Vienna Papyrus Sammlung, and perhaps from the Cairo Genizah, discovered in 1891 during renovations to the Ben Ezra Synagogue of Fustat (Old Cairo). Fragments from this bibliophilic treasure trove were initially sold to tourists and collectors. Among them were the celebrated twins, Biblical scholars and early Bible hunters, Agnes Lewis and Margaret Gibson, who carried a fragment of the otherwise unknown Book of Ben Sira back to Cambridge and thus began the rescue mission to secure the rest of the archive for Cambridge University (see the two manuscripts from their collection, sold in our rooms, 29 June 2009, lots 31-32). These fragments here, like those sold by Quaritch, Bookhands of the Middle Ages, VIII, 2007, nos.28-39, may have left the genizah in the earliest years after its discovery.