Geniza Lab

Recto: A brief note in Arabic addressed to David ben Naʿim and signed by [...] ʿUmar [...] Nāẓir al-Amwāl. There are also accounts/sums at the top of the page, naming Ḥasan al-Rashīdī as the party in some transaction, perhaps a rent (ujra) payment. The note is dated 7 April 1821 (4 Rajab 1236). The format is the same as AIU XII.106, from 6 months later, and involving different people. Verso: In Hebrew letters, presumably in the hand of David ben Naʿim or an assistant: "Ḥasan al-Rashidi" and "Rajab."

Arabic poetry.

Arabic accounts.

Letter in Arabic script. Dating: Likely 11th or 12th century. Fragment (upper right piece of recto). Most of what is preserved on recto consists of formulaic blessings. The bottom 4 lines and the upper margin may contain some of the substance but are difficult to read. On verso, the damaged address and many jottings of Greek/Coptic numerals.

A leaf completely filled with mostly unconnected Arabic letters. It does appear to say things once the letters are connected, but it would take a lot of effort to read it. Perhaps magical?

State document, unknown date. Fragment of an Arabic petition (to ". . . al-ʿālī al-mawlawī al-sulṭānī. . ."). The titles suggest a date in the late Fatimid, Ayyubid or Mamluk periods. There is a tiny piece of a printed Pentateuch either peeking through or affixed to the paper, suggesting a date of 15th century or later. But it also possible that the printed paper is completely unrelated.

Recto: Accounts in Arabic, mentioning Abū l-Futūh and a certain Yaʿqūb and almonds. Verso: A note in Arabic saying, "I have sent you some almonds."

Recto: Letter in Arabic to Hayyim al-Ṣarrāf (moneychanger/banker) in the High Diwan. The writer's name is difficult to read, as is the date, which may be 28 Shawwal 1076 = May 1666 CE. This receives some corroboration from the fact that the seal on verso bears the date 1073.

Large fragment of a legal document in Arabic script. Difficult hand. There is a section in the middle with the formula "wa-lā X wa-lā Y wa-lā Z," etc. Needs examination.

Account in Arabic script, unclear if private or fiscal. Recto includes the phrase 'in the name of ʿUmar b. [...]' and mentions the number 400 (part of a year?). Needs further examination.

Fiscal account, probably. Likely concerning grain (mentions the prices of arādibb). Needs examination.

Small fragment containing portions of three lines in Arabic, appears literary.

4 pages from an Arabic literary treatise with huge margins and headers in red ink. These pages include proverbs/sayings, arranged alphabetically. At least one of them (for ra) appears in the encyclopedia of al-Ibshīhī, which likewise contains a section on proverbs arranged alphabetically.

Small fragment of an Arabic document. Might be a fiscal account. Mentions the numbers 300 and 400.

4 pages from an Arabic medical treatise in an interesting script, almost Kufic.

Late accounts in Arabic.

Badly damaged late letter in Arabic.

List or table in Arabic script, probably a private account. Needs further examination.

A curious text, mostly in Arabic, squeezed onto a torn scrap of paper, perhaps a prayer or a magical spell (or a vow?) regarding success in the coming year. Needs further examination, but legible parts of recto include: [...] ʿalā nafsī [...] annī lā [...] al-maḥḍar wa-l-tawqīʿ fī hādhī l-sana wa-{u}shhid ʿalā rūḥī khāliq al-samā wa-l-arḍ [...] wa-bihi astaʿīn. On verso, first in Arabic and then transcribed almost exactly into Judaeo-Arabic: "wa-yā sulaymān (?) [...] ʿalā mā taẓammanathu (=taḍammanathu) bāṭin hādhihi l-waraqa." Then, in Judaeo-Arabic only: "And I am Abū l-Ṭāhir."

Badly damaged late document in Arabic script, probably Arabic language, probably a letter. Needs further examination.