2 handsome facsimile works, “Keter Damesek”, 1978-1982.

2 handsome facsimile works, “Keter Damesek”, 1978-1982.

The Damascus Pentateuch, manuscript from around the 13th century, written in Castille, containing almost the whole Pentateuch, preserved at the Jewish National and University Library, Jerusalem, Heb. Quart. 5702 / edited by D. S. Loewinger.‎. printed by Johns Hopkins University Press, 1978-1982, Baltimore, USA. 41x50cm. Overall good condition.

Introduction in English. Soft, light-blue binding. Volume 1: Genesis-Leviticus. Volume 2: Numbers-Deuteronomy.

Background: According to his colophon, the Keter Damesek was written in 1260 by Menachem son of Rabbi Avraham V. Malek, in the city of Burgos in Castile (modern-day Spain). The book was transferred to the Khush al-Basha al-Anabi Synagogue in Damascus, Syria, hence the name of the work today. In 1940 the Keter Damesek was stolen from the synagogue, and was discovered again in 1962 when it was purchased for the National Library. One of the sections containing an illustration was sold at auction in June 1987, and purchased by the Jewish Museum in Toledo, Spain.

Description of the work: includes all books of the Tanach, with niqqud and ta’amim and notes from mesorah gedola and mesorah ketana. The mesorah gedola on each page has micrograph decorations. Between the sections of the Tanach is a leaf with a colorful illustration. There are symbols of the seder and parshiyot decorated with gold and other colors.