Pop-up engraving (diorama) depicting the inauguration of the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam. [Martin Engelbrecht, Augsburg, ca. 1730]. Detached Engravings – One Engraving Lacking.

Engraving; watercolor; cardboard.

Unique hand-colored pop-up engraving, depicting the inauguration of the Sephardic-Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam (1675). The engraving was probably made by I. Wachsmuht.

Originally comprised of five layers; the first layer, with the front of the synagogue, is lacking in the present copy.

Each layer is comprised of an engraving (likely printed specifically for this diorama) mounted on cardboard (cardboards not connected in present copy).

20.5X17 cm (folded). Good-fair condition. Stains. Remains of paper repairs to verso of boards. Several small cardboard pieces lacking.

Exhibition: Sanctuary & Synagogue, The Experience of the Portuguese and Ashkenazic Jews in Amsterdam, JTS Library, New York, October 1998 to January 1999.

Four parchment amulets. [Europe, ca. 18th/19th centuries].

• Parchment leaf written on both sides in square and semi-cursive script. On front, verses from Veahavta and Vehayah Im Shamoa, with interlinear inscriptions of verses of Ana Bechoach and Holy Names; on verso, Kavanot of the 72-letter name.

• Parchment leaf, Shemirah amulet for protection from the evil eye, designed as a three-branched menorah with Holy Names and verses.

• Small square parchment leaf, in calligraphy (designed as a Star of David surrounded by circles), amulet for protection of a child from the evil eye, with Holy Names, verses of Birkat Kohanim and other inscriptions. Writing faded, with letters partially deleted.

• Small rectangular piece of parchment, with vocalized verse and the name of a woman from Wilmersdorf.

4 parchment inscriptions. Varying size, approx. 4-16 cm. Good to good-fair condition. Stains and wear. Fading of ink.

Assorted collection of printed leaves, including prayers, shemirah leaves, parts of printed books, and more, from various locations and times.

See Hebrew description for a partial list of contents.

7 items. Varying size and condition.

Ketubah for the wedding of David son of Avraham HaKohen Solal and Aricha daughter of Moshe HaKohen Solal. Algiers, 5602 [1842].

Colorful decorated frame, with floral and geometric patterns. Sephardic semi-cursive script. At beginning of ketubah, verses of blessing in large letters.

28 cm. Fair condition. Stains. Folding marks. Tears to folds and other places, affecting text. Minute holes in upper margin from a lost decoration formerly woven in (like other contemporary Algerian ketubot, where the upper decoration was woven in a dome-like shape). Inscriptions and stamp.

Manuscript, rhymed commentary, in Judeo-Persian, on the work of the poet and Sufi mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi, by Ibrahim Dadeh son of Saleh, known as Shahed-e Mowlavi (d. 1550). [Persia], 1827.

Persian Hebrew script, on light blue paper, in alternating black and red ink. The work begins and ends with color decorations and floral and geometrical patterns.

At beginning of manuscript, introduction by "Reuven son of R. Siman Tov Melamed", in Hebrew and Judeo-Persian.

Colophon at end of work (p. 100b) in Judeo-Persian and Hebrew, designated for R. Adoniyah son of R. Amram, dated Tuesday, 15th Tamuz 1827, signed "Avraham son of Gershon…".

After the work, on leaves 101-114, are copied literary passages in Judeo-Persian, including a poem Semoch LeEl Chai authored by Mulla Siman Tov Melamed (also printed in Oneg LaShabbat by R. Matitiah Garji, Jerusalem 1913; Otzar HaShirah VehaPiyyut, III, p. 243, paragraph 163). Mulla Siman Tov (d. 1800) was a rabbi in Mashhad, a poet, translator and author (for more information on him, see: Amnon Netzer, Kitvei HaYad Shel Yehudei Paras BeMachon Ben Tzvi, Jerusalem 1985, p. 38; Reuven Kashani, Shirat HaAzharot LeChag HaShavuot LaRav Siman Tov Melamed, Jerusalem 2014). On Mulla Siman Tov Melamed's Sufistic tendencies, see: Netzer, ibid., p. 24; Kashani, ibid., p. 22). The author of the introduction to the present work is the son of Mulla Siman Tov Melamed.

Various inscriptions (later) in Judeo-Persian, at beginning and end of manuscript.

[115] leaves. 20.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains, dampstains (with some fading of ink). Tears and open tears to several leaves, repaired with paper filling. Original leather binding (in Islamic design, newly bound), with defects.