Geniza Lab

Letter (tadhkira, memorandum) on two sheets of paper, written and signed by Menashshe b. David al-Ṣayrafī, probably in Fustat, probably to Nahray b. Nissim, perhaps in Qayrawān. In Judaeo-Arabic. Dating: ca. 1050 CE. Gil deduces that the addressee is Nahray b. Nissim from the fact that the letter mentions that Ukhuwwa (the Muslim ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz) wished to do business with the addressee and with Barhūn b. Mūsā al-Tahirtī, and the latter was Nahray's most established business partner (and his cousin). The letter deals with problems communicating with people in Alexandria by letter, and mentions a consignment of oil. Menashshe opens by asking the addressee to intervene on his behalf with Abū Ibrāhīm Ismāʿīl, who had cut off his correspondence with Menashshe for the last year. "If it is due to something I did or a fault of mine, perhaps it is something I can rectify or apologize for, and if it is the 'neglect due to illness' or the like, I have seen his letters to other people, such as to Maṭar and to you, many of them" (recto of the first sheet, lines 6–11). (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, p. 499. See also Goitein notes linked below.) ASE.

Letter of business in which the writer requests the recipient purchase for him a measure of oil, two ‘futa’ (sari-like cloth), and two dinars of dried fruit (‘zabib’). Abu Imran, Abu al-Rida, and the town of Qus are mentioned, and the writer sends greeting to Abu al-Faraj and Yishaq. EMS (Information from Goitein's index cards)

Letter from Mūsā b. Iṣḥaq b. Nissim al-ʿĀbid (al-Mahdiya) to Avraham b. Daʾūd al-Raḥbī (Fustat), ca. 1030. The writer supplies goods from the Maghreb, including oil olive, fruit jam, spices, etc. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 2, p. 683.) Contains a list of prices of local goods: pepper, laque, spices, sugar, precious stones and pearls. Letter written in the evening after the fast of the day of Atonement. (Informations from Goitein index cards linked below).

Letter from Awad b. Hananel from Alexandria, to Nahray b. Nissim, Fustat, ca. 1060. In the handwriting of Avraham b. Abi al-Hayy and concerning business matters, specifically a shipment of nuts that was send by the writer to Nahray, and a shipment of oil that Nahray sent to the writer. Also mentions several other goods, and an apartment belonging to Nahray in Alexandria, in which the writer lives. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, vol. 3, #567) VMR

Recto: Letter in which the writer discusses a visit to the qadi and business matters; mentions Ibn Abu al-‘Aysh. Verso: Letter discussing business matters concerning perfumes, mentioning cassia, rose, almond, and oil. Ibn Abu al-‘Aysh and Abu al-Dajjaja are also referenced. (Information from Goitein's index cards) EMS

Accounts of a merchant. Mentioning goods such as pepper (filfil), oil (dihn), cumin (kammūn), bitumen (qifār), brazilwood (baqqam), sugar and syrup (sukkar wa-sharāb). Mentioning names such as Abū Naṣr, Abū 'Alī, al-Shaykh al-Itrābulsi, and Abū l-Qāsim. ASE.

Accounts, including commodities (such as oil and meat) and prices, some in dinars. (Information from CUDL)

Mercantile letter in Judaeo-Arabic. The sender and addressee are unknown. Dating: Probably 11th century. Mentions people such as Abū Yaʿaqov the brother of Tamra(?); a poor old man (shaykh suʿlūk); Ibn al-Fakkāh. Mentions goods such as: pepper, cinnamon, brazilwood, wheat, oil, and Kirmānī indigo. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, #835.) VMR

Accounts in Arabic script and Greek/Coptic numerals. Grocery list? It lists a raṭl of sesame oil (sīraj/sayraj), 1/2 raṭl sumac, 1/2 raṭl tahina, a cupful of rice, eggs, a raṭl of linseed oil (zayt ḥār), and several more items. Another entry was added in lighter & thinner characters: 3 ounces of olive oil (zayt ṭayyib)

Accounts, mentioning Shemuʾel ha-Levi b. Menashshe and Ibn Saʿīd al-Dabaḥ. Accounts are in dirhams and fractions of dirhams. Commodities referred to include wood, oil, almonds, and grapes. (Information from CUDL)

Letter from Iṣḥaq b. David b. Sughmār to Barhūn b. Mūsā al-Tāhirtī, mid 11th century. The writer asks Barhūn b. Mūsā al-Tāhirtī to purchase for him urgently a jug or a third of a jug of high quality cooking oil, for which he appears to have found a customer. The price should be a dinar for a jug. (Information from Gil, Kingdom, Vol. 4, p. 6.)