Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Displaying 1 - 12 of 16
![Esther scroll. [Italy], 1768.
Ink on parchment. Italian Stam (Vellish) script. Written on eight parchment membranes sewn](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/4_1.jpg "Parchment Esther Scroll – Italy, 1768 – Illustrated Family Coat of Arm")
![Esther scroll. [Italy], 1768.
Ink on parchment. Italian Stam (Vellish) script. Written on eight parchment membranes sewn](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/4_2.jpg "Parchment Esther Scroll – Italy, 1768 – Illustrated Family Coat of Arm")
![Esther scroll. [Italy], 1768.
Ink on parchment. Italian Stam (Vellish) script. Written on eight parchment membranes sewn](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/4_3.jpg "Parchment Esther Scroll – Italy, 1768 – Illustrated Family Coat of Arm")
![Esther scroll. [Italy], 1768.
Ink on parchment. Italian Stam (Vellish) script. Written on eight parchment membranes sewn](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/4_4.jpg "Parchment Esther Scroll – Italy, 1768 – Illustrated Family Coat of Arm")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $800
Sold for: $4,250
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Italy], 1768.
Ink on parchment. Italian Stam (Vellish) script. Written on eight parchment membranes sewn together, 17 lines per column. Rolled on wooden handle.
Edges of first membrane artistically cut. At top of membrane, illustrated cartouche enclosing a family coat of arms: a hand holding a water bottle and pouring it into a bowl (a Levitical symbol). Inside the cartouche (over the family coat of arms), the scribe signs his name with the date of writing: "Handwritten by me, Yitzchak Levi, 1768".
Enclosed with the scroll is a parchment leaf with the blessings recited before and after the Megillah reading and the piyyut Korei Megillah by R. Avraham ibn Ezra.
Height of parchment: approx. 26 cm. Maximum height with handle: 38 cm. Blessings leaf: approx. 26X36 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains in several places. Faded or deleted words in several places. Corrections in a later hand. Bottom of wooden handle lacking.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Decorated Esther scroll with accompanying sheet of blessings. [Italy], 5540 [1780].
Ink on parchment; turned wood.
Es](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/5_1.jpg "Esther Scroll, Decorated by Hand, along with Matching Sheet of Blessin")
![Decorated Esther scroll with accompanying sheet of blessings. [Italy], 5540 [1780].
Ink on parchment; turned wood.
Es](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/5_2.jpg "Esther Scroll, Decorated by Hand, along with Matching Sheet of Blessin")
![Decorated Esther scroll with accompanying sheet of blessings. [Italy], 5540 [1780].
Ink on parchment; turned wood.
Es](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/5_3.jpg "Esther Scroll, Decorated by Hand, along with Matching Sheet of Blessin")
![Decorated Esther scroll with accompanying sheet of blessings. [Italy], 5540 [1780].
Ink on parchment; turned wood.
Es](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/5_4.jpg "Esther Scroll, Decorated by Hand, along with Matching Sheet of Blessin")
![Decorated Esther scroll with accompanying sheet of blessings. [Italy], 5540 [1780].
Ink on parchment; turned wood.
Es](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/5_5.jpg "Esther Scroll, Decorated by Hand, along with Matching Sheet of Blessin")
![Decorated Esther scroll with accompanying sheet of blessings. [Italy], 5540 [1780].
Ink on parchment; turned wood.
Es](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/5_6.jpg "Esther Scroll, Decorated by Hand, along with Matching Sheet of Blessin")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $700
Sold for: $3,000
Including buyer's premium
Decorated Esther scroll with accompanying sheet of blessings. [Italy], 5540 [1780].
Ink on parchment; turned wood.
Esther scroll in large format, inscribed on 3 sheets of parchment sewn one to the other; text of Book of Esther arranged in 16 columns, with 25 rows per column. "Tagim" (decorative "crownlets") over designated letters.
All columns of text are enclosed within rectangular decorative frames, painted in gold (which appears greenish in faded areas). The leading edge of the scroll has been artfully cut, and a slender parchment pull tab is attached to it. Scroll wound around a tall wooden scroll rod with long handles at either end.
The scroll is accompanied by a sheet of blessings which includes the blessings recited with the reading of the "Megillah, " as well as the "piyyut" (liturgical poem) "Korei Megillah, " composed by the renowned 11-12th-century Torah scholar and biblical commentator Abraham Ibn Ezra; the texts are enclosed within four illuminated frames in the form of arched architectonic gates with pillars, and adorned in vegetal patterns painted purple, yellow, green, and red.
An ownership notation (Hebrew) appears at the base of the central pillar: "Acquired by purchase [i.e., legally owned] by / M. Gershon bar / Shemuel HaKohen, may his Rock and Redeemer protect him / Year 5540 to the Creation [1780]". (Apparently, a different name had originally appeared here.)
Height of parchment sheets: 18 cm. Height of scroll rod (incl. handle): 40.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and tear (mended) to first parchment sheet. Stains and faded paint, occasionally affecting text. Tears to third sheet, some lengthy, professionally mended. Faded paint. Scroll rod and handles more recent. Sheet of blessings: 47.5X17.5 cm. Fair condition. Stains, creases, and wear, with damage to text and illuminations. Several small tears, professionally mended.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Esther scroll. [Italy, ca. 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original). Min](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/6_1.jpg "Miniature Decorated Esther Scroll – Italy, 19th Century")
![Esther scroll. [Italy, ca. 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original). Min](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/6_2.jpg "Miniature Decorated Esther Scroll – Italy, 19th Century")
![Esther scroll. [Italy, ca. 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original). Min](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/6_3.jpg "Miniature Decorated Esther Scroll – Italy, 19th Century")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,125
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Italy, ca. 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original). Miniature format. First sheet cut decoratively at edge, with fabric lace for fastening.
Written in Italian Stam script, with serifs (Tagim) on 8 long and narrow parchment membranes, 61 text columns, 6 lines per column.
Miniature scroll with an unusual layout. Upper edges throughout the scroll are bordered by a wide rectangular strip in a wave pattern, against a purple background. Each column is separated by pink columns standing on wide square bases. The scroll is accompanied by an original parchment leaf with Megillah reading blessings, decorated in like manner, with three pages colored light blue.
Height of parchment: 8.5 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 23 cm. Good condition. Stains, creases and fading of ink.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Esther scroll. [Italy, 19th century or earlier].
Ink and paint on thin parchment; gold color; rolled on carved wooden ha](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/7_1.jpg "Small-Format Decorated Esther Scroll – Italy, 19th Century or Earlier")
![Esther scroll. [Italy, 19th century or earlier].
Ink and paint on thin parchment; gold color; rolled on carved wooden ha](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/7_2.jpg "Small-Format Decorated Esther Scroll – Italy, 19th Century or Earlier")
![Esther scroll. [Italy, 19th century or earlier].
Ink and paint on thin parchment; gold color; rolled on carved wooden ha](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/7_3.jpg "Small-Format Decorated Esther Scroll – Italy, 19th Century or Earlier")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $400
Sold for: $1,500
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Italy, 19th century or earlier].
Ink and paint on thin parchment; gold color; rolled on carved wooden handle. Small format.
Written in Italian Stam script, with serifs (Tagim), on 9 parchment membranes, 51 text columns, 14 lines per column. The first column contains the Megillah reading blessings, and the last column contains Asher Heni, Arur Haman and the piyyut Korei Megillah.
All text columns bordered in gold-colored rectangles (where faded, the gold appears in a greenish or bluish shade). Colorful decorations between columns in two alternating vegetal patterns. Rolled on wooden handle (apparently original) topped with a crown-like decoration.
Height of parchment: 10.5 cm. Maximum height (including parchment): 22 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and fading of ink.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Esther scroll. [Europe?, 19th century or earlier].
Ink on parchment, in small format; rolled on carved wooden handle (no](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/8_1.jpg "Small-Format Esther Scroll – With \"HaMelech\" Decorated and Holy Names")
![Esther scroll. [Europe?, 19th century or earlier].
Ink on parchment, in small format; rolled on carved wooden handle (no](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/8_2.jpg "Small-Format Esther Scroll – With \"HaMelech\" Decorated and Holy Names")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $750
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Europe?, 19th century or earlier].
Ink on parchment, in small format; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original).
Written in fine Stam script (Vellish) with serifs (Tagim), on two parchment membranes, 15 text columns, 23 lines per column. HaMelech scroll (most columns begin with the word HaMelech). Each HaMelech is topped by various decorations – a crown or vegetal patterns.
In several places, Holy Names are emphasized in the scroll (following a common kabbalistic-Chassidic custom to emphasize letters of words whose initials form Holy Names).
Height of parchment: 9.7 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 26 cm. Fair-good condition. Dark stains, wear and creases. Deleted letters and fading of ink.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Esther scroll. [Lithuania or Jerusalem? Ca. 19th century; later decorations].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carv](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/9_1.jpg "Esther Scroll – 19th Century – Late Colorful Decorations")
![Esther scroll. [Lithuania or Jerusalem? Ca. 19th century; later decorations].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carv](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/9_2.jpg "Esther Scroll – 19th Century – Late Colorful Decorations")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $2,000
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Lithuania or Jerusalem? Ca. 19th century; later decorations].
Ink and paint on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle (non-original).
Written in neat Ashkenazic Stam script (Beit Yosef), with serifs (Tagim), on five parchment membranes, 17 text columns, 6 lines per column.
The scroll is hand-decorated throughout with illustrations, including arches and pillars. The bottom margins feature medallions incorporating the twelve zodiacs and illustrations relating to the Purim story (the illustrations appear to have been added in Jerusalem, ca. 1940s-1950s).
Height of parchment: 27.5 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 51 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, wear and creases. Tears, repaired (to verso of parchment). Deleted letters and fading of ink.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Decorated Esther scroll. [Ottoman Empire, 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; fabric sheet; carved and pierced ha](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/10_1.jpg "Decorated Esther Scroll – Ottoman Empire, 19th Century")
![Decorated Esther scroll. [Ottoman Empire, 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; fabric sheet; carved and pierced ha](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/10_2.jpg "Decorated Esther Scroll – Ottoman Empire, 19th Century")
![Decorated Esther scroll. [Ottoman Empire, 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; fabric sheet; carved and pierced ha](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/10_3.jpg "Decorated Esther Scroll – Ottoman Empire, 19th Century")
![Decorated Esther scroll. [Ottoman Empire, 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; fabric sheet; carved and pierced ha](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/10_4.jpg "Decorated Esther Scroll – Ottoman Empire, 19th Century")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $800
Sold for: $5,500
Including buyer's premium
Decorated Esther scroll. [Ottoman Empire, 19th century].
Ink and paint on parchment; fabric sheet; carved and pierced handle.
Esther scroll written on three parchment membranes sewn together, 15 text columns, 20 lines per column. HaMelech scroll (most columns begin with the word HaMelech), written in Sephardic Stam (Vellish) script, without serifs (Tagim).
The scroll is decorated throughout in yellow, green, blue and purple, characteristic of the Ottoman Empire and inspired by Islamic art. The first text column is surrounded by a multifoil arch. The margins of the scroll and other columns are surrounded by rich, colorful frames, decorated with repeating symmetric floral patterns. A fabric sheet with a lace for fastening is sewn into the edge of the first parchment membrane.
The scroll is rolled on an original handle, with the upper part stylized as a two-story tower, topped by a crescent-like decorative element.
Height of parchment: 15 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 33 cm. Fair-good condition. Slight stains and defects. Open tear to outer edge of scroll (repaired with parchment and paint). Margins of last membrane mounted on new paper sewn onto handle. Tears and wear to fabric sheet at edge of scroll.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans], 5642 [1882].
Cast silver; silver, repouss](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/11_1.jpg "Esther Scroll in Silver Case – Ottoman Empire / The Balkans, 1882")
![Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans], 5642 [1882].
Cast silver; silver, repouss](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/11_2.jpg "Esther Scroll in Silver Case – Ottoman Empire / The Balkans, 1882")
![Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans], 5642 [1882].
Cast silver; silver, repouss](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/11_3.jpg "Esther Scroll in Silver Case – Ottoman Empire / The Balkans, 1882")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans], 5642 [1882].
Cast silver; silver, repoussé and engraved (unmarked); ink on parchment.
Esther scroll inscribed on 4 sheets of parchment sewn one to the other; text of Book of Esther arranged in 20 columns (of varying widths), with 17-18 rows per column. "Tagim" (decorative "crownlets") over designated letters in top lines of each column, and in column containing the names of Haman’s ten sons.
Scroll housed in stout cylindrical silver case adorned with a large Star of David and with vegetal patterns. Surmounted with flower-shaped ornament topped with a small bird. The owner’s initials – "JNA" – are engraved onto one end of the pull bar, and the Hebrew year, "5642 = 82" appears at the other end. Long scrolling crank handle.
Height of parchment sheets: 9.5 cm. Height of case (incl. handle): 26 cm. Overall good condition. Joints of case somewhat loose. Small ring attached to bird on top is perhaps indicative of missing ornament. Minor stains and wear to parchment sheets.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans, late 19th century].
Cast silver; silver, r](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/12_1.jpg "Miniature Esther Scroll in Silver Case – Ottoman Empire / The Balkans")
![Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans, late 19th century].
Cast silver; silver, r](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/12_2.jpg "Miniature Esther Scroll in Silver Case – Ottoman Empire / The Balkans")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,750
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Ottoman Empire / The Balkans, late 19th century].
Cast silver; silver, repoussé and engraved (unmarked); ink on parchment.
"HaMelekh" ("The King") Esther scroll (i.e., most columns headed with the word "HaMelekh"), inscribed on 7 sheets of parchment sewn one to the other; text of Book of Esther arranged in 19 columns, with 18-22 rows per column.
Esther scroll housed in small, cylindrical silver case adorned with recurrent patterns of leaves and flowers on diagonal bands. Shallow dome cap surmounted by spherical ornament. Short scrolling crank handle.
Height of parchment sheets: 8 cm. Height of case (incl. handle): 14 cm. Overall good condition. Several tears to parchment, and stains, causing minor damage to text. Pull bar may not be original, or may have been sewn back onto parchment scroll. Thin metal rod inserted to connect handle (original handle may have been exchanged).
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Esther scroll. [Algiers, Algeria, first half of 19th century].
Ink on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle.
Writ](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/13_1.jpg "Decorated Esther Scroll – Algiers, Algeria, 19th Century")
![Esther scroll. [Algiers, Algeria, first half of 19th century].
Ink on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle.
Writ](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/13_2.jpg "Decorated Esther Scroll – Algiers, Algeria, 19th Century")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $500
Sold for: $1,375
Including buyer's premium
Esther scroll. [Algiers, Algeria, first half of 19th century].
Ink on parchment; rolled on carved wooden handle.
Written in Sephardic Stam script, without serifs (Tagim), on 4 parchment membranes, 21 columns (first column blank, with faded ownership inscription in French dated 1753), 19-20 lines per column. All columns' upper edges decorated in frames stylized as arches, with arabesque decorations between them.
Height of parchment: 12.5 cm. Maximum height (including handle): 27 cm. Fair condition. Stains, wear and tears. Fading of ink. First sheet cut decoratively at edge (at edge of sheet, open tears, repaired).
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $1,625
Including buyer's premium
Silver case for Esther scroll (no scroll). Birmingham, England, 1924.
Silver, cast, turned, and engraved (marked with quality marks from Birmingham; year-letter "Z" (probably signifying 1924; and maker’s mark: "J. G LTD" = J. Gloster).
Cylindrical case, with serrated ornamentation encircling cap and base of cylinder; dome-like cap. On front of case, medallion bearing vegetal pattern and with Hebrew words "Megillat Esther" ("Esther Scroll") inscribed at center. Short, polygonal shaft-handle. Rectangular silver pull bar with small silver-thread ring (detached).
Height: 20 cm. Maximal width: 4 cm. Overall good condition. Few stains. Silver pull bar slightly smaller than opening.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value
![Small Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Probably Austria-Hungary, late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/15_1.jpg "Small Esther Scroll in Decorated Silver Case – Probably Austria-Hungar")
![Small Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Probably Austria-Hungary, late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/15_2.jpg "Small Esther Scroll in Decorated Silver Case – Probably Austria-Hungar")
![Small Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Probably Austria-Hungary, late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/15_3.jpg "Small Esther Scroll in Decorated Silver Case – Probably Austria-Hungar")
![Small Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Probably Austria-Hungary, late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver](https://files.kedem-auctions.com/files/Sale105/15_4.jpg "Small Esther Scroll in Decorated Silver Case – Probably Austria-Hungar")
Auction 105 Books | Letters and Manuscripts | Esther Scrolls and Jewish Ceremonial Art
Jan 27, 2026
Opening: $300
Sold for: $2,250
Including buyer's premium
Small Esther scroll housed in decorated silver case. [Probably Austria-Hungary, late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver, pierced and stamped (marked with maker’s mark: "JW"); ink on parchment.
"HaMelekh" ("The King") Esther scroll (i.e., most columns headed with the word "HaMelekh"), inscribed on 2 sheets of parchment sewn one to the other; text of Book of Esther arranged in 17 columns, mostly with 18-19 rows per column. "Tagim" (decorative "crownlets") over designated letters, and over the Hebrew letter "heh" of the word "HaMelekh" at the tops of the columns.
Esther scroll housed in cylindrical silver case adorned with delicate vegetal patterns in a style frequently appearing in Austria-Hungary in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Case surmounted with large, crown-like ornament. Blank shield-like ornament soldered onto front of case. Short scrolling crank handle.
Height of parchment sheets: 6 cm. Height of case (incl. handle): 13.5 cm. Overall good condition. Minor blemishes to some parts of parchment sheets.
Category
Esther Scrolls
Catalogue Value