Esther Scroll – Italy, First Half of 17th Century – Including the Blessings for the Reading of the Scroll and a ...

Esther Scroll – Italy, First Half of 17th Century – Including the Blessings for the Reading of the Scroll and a Piyyut, with Scribe's Colophon
Esther scroll. [Italy, ca. first half of 17th century].
Sephardic script, typical of Italy (see paleographic analysis in the enclosed expert's report). 22 lines per column. Italian spelling tradition. Membranes sewn as customary in 17th century Italy. In six places, enlarged letters spell out the four-lettered Names of G-d. Wooden roller.
Separate parchment benediction leaf, written in the same hand, with the blessings recited when reading the Esther scroll and with the liturgical poem "Kor'ei Megillah". The text follows the Italian rite, and includes the closing line of prayer that G-d will take revenge on contemporary persecutors of the Jewish people just as He did in earlier times, frequently censored in prayer books. Signed: "So says the writer… residing in a foreign land, Mordechai son of Shemariah… scribe from Metz, France… residing in Fossano, Piedmont".
Scroll height: 33.5 cm. Roller height: 45 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Tears and damage. Fading and damage to some words.
Leaf height: 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and wear. Several holes. Open tear to upper margin, not affecting text.
Expert's report enclosed.