Oldest, Most Complete Copy of OT Bible Sold at Auction

[blueskies]

I thought some here might find this interesting.

From the BBC News:

May 18, 2023

The oldest most complete Hebrew Bible has been bought at Sotheby's New York for $38.1m (£30.6m), becoming the most valuable manuscript sold at auction.

It is the earliest surviving example of a single manuscript containing all 24 books of the Hebrew Bible with punctuation, vowels and accents.

US lawyer and former ambassador Alfred Moses bought it for the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Codex Sassoon, which carbon dating shows was created around 900, is missing only 12 pages, according to Sotheby's.

"It presents to us the first time an almost-complete book of the Hebrew Bible appears with the vowel points, the cantillation and the notes on the bottom telling scribes how the correct text should be written," Sharon Mintz, senior Jewish artifact specialist at the auction house, said in March.

 

[crossnote]

I wonder if it has an imitation leather binding.

 

[LearningToLetGo]

I admit that is cool.

 

[crossnote]

I wonder if those are 'foot'notes at the top of the page, or perhaps the manuscript is upside down?
With my limited Hebrew recognition, I'd say it's upside down.

 

[Origen]

I wonder if those are 'foot'notes at the top of the page, or perhaps the manuscript is upside down?
With my limited Hebrew recognition, I'd say it's upside down.

The text is not upside down. That is the Masorah.

 

[crossnote]

The text is not upside down. That is the Masorah.

Well I said I had limited Hebrew language recognition.
So those are 'topnotes' rather than 'footnotes?

 

[Origen]

Well I said I had limited Hebrew language recognition.
So those are 'topnotes' rather than 'footnotes?

The notes on the side margins or between the columns is called the Masorah Parva. The notes on bottem and top of the page is called the Masorah Magna.

There are some really clear phots here:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/codex-sassoon-the-earliest-most-complete-hebrew-bible/codex-sassoon-circa-900-land-of-israel-or-syria?locale=en

 

[blueskies]

There are some really clear phots here:

These photos are great, thank you!

 

[Baby Finch]

I wonder who bought that?
The Bible is in great shape for being that old.

 

[bobinfaith]

I wonder who bought that?
The Bible is in great shape for being that old.

Hello Baby Finch;

Good question. I was thinking, it sold for over $38 million and wonder if whoever sold this was a business person? Or, if it was a man or woman of God, would they have sold this Codex Sassoon for that much?

God bless you, Baby Finch, and your family.

 

[blueskies]

I wonder who bought that?
The Bible is in great shape for being that old.

Good question. I was thinking, it sold for over $38 million and wonder if whoever sold this was a business person?

Dear bobinfaith and Baby Finch,
Here is a little more information on the sale:

The Bible was produced by a single, unknown scribe in the Levant around 1,100 years ago, it disappeared for 600 years before reemerging in the 20th century as the earliest and most complete Hebrew Bible.

Nearly a century on from being acquired by British bibliophile David Solomon Sassoon for £350 (around $35,000 today), the Bible sold on May 17 at Sotheby’s New York for $33.5 million—rising to $38.1 million with the buyer’s premium. The buyer was ambassador Alfred H. Moses and it is being gifted to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv.

 

[bobinfaith]

Dear bobinfaith and Baby Finch, Here is a little more information on the sale: The Bible was produced by a single, unknown scribe in the Levant around 1,100 years ago, it disappeared for 600 years before reemerging in the 20th century as the earliest and most complete Hebrew Bible. Nearly a century on from being acquired by British bibliophile David Solomon Sassoon for £350 (around $35,000 today), the Bible sold on May 17 at Sotheby’s New York for $33.5 million—rising to $38.1 million with the buyer’s premium. The buyer was ambassador Alfred H. Moses and it is being gifted to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv.

Hello blueskies;

Thank you for sharing the answer to my question. For Alfred Moses to purchase and donate the Codex Sassoon is very impressive!

God bless you, brother.

 

[Baby Finch]

Dear bobinfaith and Baby Finch,
Here is a little more information on the sale:

The Bible was produced by a single, unknown scribe in the Levant around 1,100 years ago, it disappeared for 600 years before reemerging in the 20th century as the earliest and most complete Hebrew Bible.

Nearly a century on from being acquired by British bibliophile David Solomon Sassoon for £350 (around $35,000 today), the Bible sold on May 17 at Sotheby’s New York for $33.5 million—rising to $38.1 million with the buyer’s premium. The buyer was ambassador Alfred H. Moses and it is being gifted to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv.

Thanks for that additional info.

 

[Baby Finch]

Hello Baby Finch;

Good question. I was thinking, it sold for over $38 million and wonder if whoever sold this was a business person? Or, if it was a man or woman of God, would they have sold this Codex Sassoon for that much?

God bless you, Baby Finch, and your family.

(Hugs) Thank you. Same to you and yours.

Personally, I'd just like to have the cash they spent either way.
I think of all the good I could do for my local community. And with that kind of bread I could maybe to visit the place where the Bible was gifted to.