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Item:TORAH SCROLL 1780 Lot 142 Sothebys 13 Cent Nov 24 2009
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TORAH SCROLL 1780 Lot 142 Sothebys 13 Cent Nov 24 2009

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Ended:Dec 02, 200911:48:52 PST
Price:US $18,000.00
Shipping:$100.00UPS 3 Day SelectSee more services 

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Other item info
Item number:200401370284
Item location:The Holyland, Israel
Ships to:Worldwide
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History:1 offer
 Listed for charity
Last updated on 01:39:29 AM PST, Nov 29, 2009 View all revisions
10% of the final sale price will support Phoenix Community Kollel
Giving Works Item
About this nonprofit:
To reach out to the Valley Jewish community with authentic Torah scholarship by being the premier center for Jewish learning in the Valley of the Sun.

Item specifics - Antiquarian/Collectible Books
Binding: VellumSpecial Attributes: 1st Edition, Illustrated
Subject: Religion & SpiritualityPrinting Year: 1780
Topic: JudaismOrigin: European

The following link I am refrring you to is a recent auction held at Sotheby's New York on Novmber 24 2009, lot number 142 of an ancient Sefardi Torah Scroll from the 13th Century which sold for $398,500!!! While my Torah Scroll is not as old, the many strange configurations (called tagim) exist in this Torah scroll. Here's the url...be impressed at the bargain you are getting here! (you may have to register for free at Sothebys.com to see a full description of their Tora Scroll. It's well worth it!):

 

http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot/LotDetail.jsp?lot_id=159559952

 

 







UNIQUE ANCIENT TORAH SCROLL 1780 PARCHMENT






This is quite a unique and uncommon Torah scroll that I am offering and I would appreciate if anyone can help me locate an exact reference for the uniqueness of it.
From the writing and parchment, this Torah scroll seems to have been created sometime in the late 1700s up to the mid 1800s.
What is unique about it is evident from the scans you see below. As you see, the top line has bouquets of flowers illustrating all the "SHATNES GETZ" letters on the top line.

 

CONDITION: Most of the writing has oxidized but there are black letters still to be found. The Torah is complete, does not have the wooden holders (available for $100 extra).
MEASUREMENTS: The Torah's height is 25.5 inches = 64cm.

 

 

There are 2, 3 and sometimes even FOUR flowers on one letter! In the rest of the text I should also point out that the 'tagim' (tittle) are also ornately done. There also seems to be different traditions (Mesorah) in terms of the shapes of certain letters. See for example scan number 5 on the letter 'chet' of the word "chaya". This would lead me to surmise that this Torah was indeed written before the textual differences (large and small letters and other such anamolies) were standardized by the Chasam Sofer and the author of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch who lived in the early 1800's.

This is true not just in the scans below but THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TORAH SCROLL!
I have not been able to locate a Rabbinic source of where exactly this Torah scroll was made, but I do know that questions are discusssed in Rabbinic Responsa (such as the Aruch LaNer, Rabbi Yakob Ettlinger of Frankfurt, circa 19th Century) if such decorations inside the Torah scroll render the Torah fit for use or not.
One thing is clear, a Torah scroll such as this does not come to light very often -it at all- and this Torah would make a wonderful addition in any Museum or private collection. I'd appreciate ANY information by anyone on this unique Torah.

I did go to one of the foremost elderly scribes in Jerusalem and he admitted to me the age of the scroll to be from the early 19th century. The various letters, texture of parchment, figuration of the writing of the Torah text and of course the lettering were a wonder to him and seldom seen by anyone today. He HEARD of such scrolls, but did not see anything quite like this one!

PS Please see my new Ebay guide on verifying the age of Torah scrolls. Many "ancient" Torah  scrolls sold on Ebay today are NOT what some people claim they are. Be aware!


Postage anywhere in the world, including the U.S., is $100 via express 3 day delivery.




















On Sep-21-09 at 15:35:13 PDT, seller added the following information:



00149
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Item location: The Holyland, Israel
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UPS 3 Day SelectSM
6-8 business days
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