Manuscript, anthology of practical kabbalah, selections from the teachings of the pre-Expulsion kabbalistic circles of Spain. [Spain or North Africa, ca. 1490].

Sephardic semi-cursive and cursive scripts, by several writers.

Hashbaot and kabbalistic prayers, permutations of Holy Names and names of angels, dream questions, amulets and segulot for various matters, with diagrams and angelic script. The present anthology contains selections from the pre-Expulsion kabbalistic circles of Spain, such as the circle of Sefer HaMeshiv, the permutations circle and others.

The first part of the manuscript (leaves 1-24) is written by a single scribe in Sephardic semi-cursive script, and the second part (leaves 25-41) is written in several different hands and scripts.

The first part includes: Prayers according to various Names and permutations; lists of names of angels of different types; Holy Names and hashbaot for various matters, including for quick travel (Kefitzat HaDerech), "opening of the heart", annulling evil decrees, for various sicknesses and aches, for protection, for a barren woman, protection from wild animals, protection from "fire, a bad person and torrents of water", "for all kinds of victory", for unlocking without a key, for blinding someone, for summoning demons, and more. On leaf 14, passages from Otzar HaChaim – the mystical diary of kabbalist R. Yitzchak of Acre. On p. 10a: "This tradition was said by R. Yaakov the physician son of R. Moshe…"; on p. 15a: hashbaah for riding a horse; on leaf 23: "Prayer of Rav Hamnuna… which he received from… the angel of wisdom…".

The second part comprises passages from various scribes, including various selections. On leaves 25-26: "Kabbalistic secrets…"; "From Sitrei HaTorah…", "More selections from commentary on the secrets of the Guide for the Perplexed…". On leaves 27-28: Hashbaah of demons for seeing the future. On leaves 29-30: Prayers and names of angels "for opening of the heart", "for public speaking", "for granting of knowledge", for speedy travel, and more. On p. 31a: "This is what I, Shlomo son of… R. Yitzchak Alnaqua received from my father, who received it from the Ashkenazi in Germany…". On leaves 31-32, additional selections from the diary of R. Yitzchak of Acre. The next leaves contain various selections on permutations and secrets of Holy Names, segulot for various matters, and more. On p. 30a is a later addition: "…This is tried and tested by R. Yaakov Dardiman".

On p. 17a appears a marginal gloss on placing Holy Names in the mouth of a dog or corpse "and they will answer whatever you ask…": "And this is forbidden by Torah law. From me, David son of R. Shmuel HaLevi". Another gloss by the same writer appears on p. 20a, signed "the statement of David" (this may be the kabbalist R. David son of R. Shmuel HaLevi of Seville, known as the Mul Draa, expelled from Spain and one of the first kabbalists of the Draa Valley in Morocco).

On p. 25b, marginal gloss, signed with initials.

Throughout the manuscript, the paper bears watermarks matching Briquet nos. 11159 and 11162 (there dated to 1483 and 1487 respectively). Watermarks of this type appear in the first edition of Kol Bo, printed in Naples and dated (based on the watermark and other factors) to 1490, see: A.K. Offenberg, A Choice of Corals: Facets of Fifteenth-Century Hebrew Printing, Nieuwkoop 1992, Chapter 3.

[41] leaves. 20 cm. Fair-good condition (condition of leaves varies). Stains (many stains and dark stains to some leaves). Many open tears, affecting text on some leaves, repaired with paper filling. New binding.