Geniza Lab

Letter from Musa b. Yiṣḥaq b. Hisdai, Mahdiyya, to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal, Fustat. The writer describes his difficulties with shipping flax. He is also worried because another person spoke with Ibn Awkal against the writer. Also mentions debts, donations, payments and other matters. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #192) VMR

Letter to Ibn Awkal mentioning a female slave (telling the addressee to send her without delay?); someone named Ḥayyān; the price of wax/candles; Yaʿqūb al-[...]; two qārūrahs, one containing nawāfij (?) and one containing musk.

Report about selling merchandise in Qayrawan, from the beginning of the 11th century; probably for Ya’aqov b. Yosef b. Awkal. Mentions several different products, including indigo, food, wax, and pearls. It is not clear who are the owners, but mentions the names of Abu al-Bishr and Salah. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #114) VMR

Letter from Efrayim b. 'Isma'il al-Jawhari to Yosef b. 'Awkal.

An account for Yosef b. 'Awkal followed by a short letter, probably to Ibn 'Awkal.

Letter from Yosef b. Ya’aqov al-Itrabulusi from Gabes (Ifrīqiya) to Yosef b. Ya’akob b. Awkal, Fustat. The writer traveled to Qabes after visiting Barka, Tripoli (Libya), and Qayrawan (Ifrīqiya). Describes his difficulties managing Ibn Awkal’s merchandise. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #172) VMR

Court record about a debt. April 12, 1076. A person from the Ibn Awkal, declares that he owes 14 dinars to Yefet ha-Kohen b. Yeshua b. Kasasa, and commit to pay his debt one dinar a month. It seems like he commits not to use a different deed that was approved in a Muslim court. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #844) VMR

Letter from Simḥūn b. Dāwūd ibn al-Siqillī (Qayrawān) to Yosef b. Yaʿaqov b. ʿAwkal (Fustat). The letter deals with a conflict between the sender and the recipient over a consignment of brazilwood, which Simḥūn b. Daʿūd sent to Spain against the instructions of Yosef b. ʿAwkal. This caused a delay in payments and a break of contact between the two. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 644.)

Fragment of an opening to a letter to Yusuf b. Ya’aqub b. Awkal. The letter was written in Jerusalem. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #197) VMR

Draft of a letter from Qayrawān to Yosef b. Yaʿaqov b. ʿAwkal (Fustat), ca. 1010. Mentions consignments of laque and possibly other goods as well (the letter is damaged). Describes a campaign in Qayrawān to raise funds for the Babylonian Academies and the negotiations linked to this campaign. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 581.)

Business letter addressed to Abū l-Faraj (Yūsuf b. Yaʿqūb?) Ibn ʿAwkal. In Judaeo-Arabic. This document appears to have been overlooked by past Ibn ʿAwkal scholars. One curious element: the letter mentions al-Jazā'ir four lines from the bottom (and al-Andalus three lines from the bottom). See Goitein's note on T-S J1.29, a dowry list from 1140 CE: "Al-Jazā'ir became the name of the town of Algiers, called so after the islets near its coast. But I have little doubt that in the Geniza the word designates the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea. Cf. EI2, s.v. "Djazā'ir-i Bahr-i-Safīd." Med Soc IV, 455.

Letter from an unidentified person connected to Ibn ʿAwkal, ca. 1030. The letter is illegible in many places. Discusses the will of one of the partners. The people involved may have been from Syracuse. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 601.)

Letter fragment from Salāma b. Yūsuf al-Gazal, in al-Mahdiyya or Qayrawan, to Yosef b. Yaʿaqov Ibn ʿAwkal. Dating: shortly before 18 October 1030 CE (there is a note in Arabic script stating that the letter was received on that date). Give sinformation about shipments of merchandise to the Maghreb during the summer. It seems that Ibn ʿAwkal complained to the writer, and the latter answers his complaints. (Information from Gil.) VMR.

Letter from Efrayim b. Ismail al-Jawhari, probably from Alexandria, to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal, Fustat. Summer 1030. The writer arranges shipments from and to Alexandria, especially deals with loading the ships. He informs that he receives a letter from the Maghreb that contains details about the merchandise’ prices in the Maghreb. Also mentions that the situation in Qayrawan is better and safer. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #183) VMR

Letter from Yosef b. Yeshua from Alexandria, to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal, Fustat. The writer describes the situation in Alexandria before the shipping season starts. Writes that there is a large amount of merchants and of merchandise that are about to be shipped. Also mentions the prices in Alexandria. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #187) VMR. CUDL description: Business letter from Joseph b. Yeshuʿa (ישועא) al-Aṭrābulsī in Alexandria to Abū l-Faraj Joseph b. ʿAwkal. (Information from CUDL)

Letter and bills from Sicily, probably to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal, Fustat. Some of the bills are directed to b. Awkal for washing fabrics, and it seems like the other bills and the letter are addressed to him as well. Mentions selling linen and indigo in Palermo. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #201) VMR

Letter from Farah b. Avraham, probably from Qayrawan, to Yosef b. Ya’aqov b. Awkal. Regarding b. Awkal’s merchandise that arrived in Qayrawan and the writer's dealings with selling them and sending their payment to Fustat. Also lists the prices. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, #222) VMR

Verso: draft of a register of shipments of goods by Barhun b. Musa al-Tahirti. Around 1050. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 3, #353) VMR

Business letter from Musa b. Ishaq b. Hisda to Yosef b. Yaʿaqov ibn Awkal. This letter is a response to a letter sent by the addressee. The sender blames a third party, Yosef al-Sabuni, for slandering him. He also sends an account and complains that he does not have enough money for processing (beating flax) and packaging his goods. (Information from Gil)