Geniza Lab

Colophon in a commentary to the book of Isaiah, mentioning that the book had formerly belonged to Yaʿaqov he-haver b. Ayyub and was purchased from him by Josiah he-haver b. Aharon ha-me'ulle b. Josiah, av of the court in Acre in the year 4791/1031. Later, presumably during the First Crusade, the book fell into Crusader hands and someone, holding the book upside down as if it was a Western book, wrote a short note in Latin identifying its contents: ‘[interpre]tacio esaya prophete’. During their conquest of the Holy Land, the Crusaders took not only prisoners for ransom but also Jewish books and scrolls. This leaf is presumably from one of the books that passed through Crusader hands but was eventually sold back to the Jewish community. (Information from CUDL)

Colophon to R. Saadya Gaon's commentary to one of the prayers (תפילת שמונה עשרה), written in Ashkelon in 1061. Verso: the beginning of R. Saadya Gaon's Arabic commentary to the same prayer. (Gil, Palestine, vol. 3, 327, Doc. #528). VMR

Autograph texts by Joseph Rosh ha-Seder b. Jacob. Recto: a draft relating to the copying of the Mishna and the Gemara. On the bottom of the page and written upside down in relation to the other text there is a, presumably draft, colophon stating that Joseph Rosh ha-Seder copied a Siddur of Saʿadya Gaʾon in 1201. Verso: opening lines of the Epistle of Rav Sherira Gaʾon with minor variations in wording. The text is entitled ‘Collected Benedictions of Rabbenu Sherira of blessed memory’ and begins with one line of verse, vocalised and decorated. (Information from CUDL)

Siddur, on verso a colophon with the names Bu al-Faraj b. Ibrahim, in two different hands, and some pen trials. AA

Colophon of a booklet (קוטראסה/קונטרס). Location: Alexandria. Dated: Elul 4959 AM, which is 1199 CE. (Information from Goitein’s index card)

Colophon to the first Parashah in Leviticus for the name Halfon b. Yeshu'a b. Halfon.

Colophon in the handwriting of Evyatar Ha-Kohen b. Eliyyahu Gaon.

Liturgical text. A decorated colophon 'This is what was made to Farah the good and pleasant son of our greatness our minister ....' AA

Recto: Calligraphic copy of Joshua with annotations. Verso: A fragment of a colophon or note, repeated twice, "This is the book, the four first books, what our teacher and rabbi and good elder Yosef b. Shelomo dedicated in the great synagogue in the city of [...]."

Talmudic text with a colophon and a later note. The colophon indicates that the copy was completed in Jerusalem in 4832 AM, which is 1071/72 CE. The note says, "I redeemed it from the plunder in the island of Rhodes, I, Eliyyahu."

Colophon in the handwriting of Evyatar b. Eliyyahu Gaon b. Shelomo Gaon b. Yosef ha-Kohen Av Bet Din. Evyatar was titled "the fourth" (ha-reviʿi) at the time he wrote this. Location: Fustat. Dated: 1 Av 4827 AM, which is 1067 CE. The book contains the commentary on Ḥagiga by Hayya b. Sherira Gaon, as well as Sefer ha-Dinin of the late Rabbenu Ḥananel (who was still alive in 1053 CE, fourteen years before this colophon was written) and kinnushim(?) and legal queries. There is an elaborate blessing for anyone who returns the book and a curse for anyone who does not. (Information from Gil.)

Literary work in Judaeo-Arabic and Hebrew. Contains a colophon: "This 'scroll' was written in Elul 5013 (=1253 CE). . . by me, R. Yosef ha-Bavli."

Azharot for Shavuʿot by Shelomo Ibn Gabirol. There is a marginal note (p.18) giving a date for this copy: 1484 Seleucid, which is 1172/73 CE.

Colophon of a Bible donated by a Karaite woman in the name of her dead son.

Colophon a Bible by a Karaite

Karaite colophon dedicated to the Karaite Nasi Yehezqiyahu b. Shlomo

Colophon of a Karaite Bible from Jerusalem

Colophon of a Bible

Colophon of a Bible

A colophon on a Bible. Was first acquired by 'Azaryahu Hakohen. It was later sold to Abu al-Faraj Hibat Allah Nethanel b. Halfon, and later on passed to Abu al-Faraj Nissim b. Mevurakh. AA