Bilder-Pentateuch von Moses Dal Castellazzo. Venedig 1521. (Picture Pentateuch of Moses Dal Castellazzo. Venice 1521) 2 Vols.
Vienna: Verlag Bernthaler & Windischgraetz, 1986. Facsimile edition. Hardcover. Oblong Octavos. 183pp., 123 leaves. Original tan cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Facsimile in light brown full leather with blind-stamped debossed framing on cover, black lettering on paper label of spine; raised bands. Complete facsimile edition in the original format of the Codex 1164 of the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw.
The Warsaw Codex 1164 of the Jewish Historical Institute is a picture Bible on 123 leaves, illustrating the first five books of Moses(Pentateuch). It is not a continuous illustrated Bible but a collection of pictures with explanation and tiles. The only comparison in Jewish literature is the Sephardic Pessach-Hagadot. The Warsaw Codes is a unique copy of the lost woodcut series of the Pentateuch. The creation of the world is depicted at the beginning, followed by the five books of Moses, and it is closing with the description of Moses' death. Castellazzo's picture Pentateuch combines several traditions of depiction to a unique whole.
The original Codex does not contain any clues of the previous owner's identity.There is also no explanation that the same manuscript carries the inventory number 926 in 1955 and the inventory number 1164 in 1982. The original manuscript created on the leaves of brindled paper showing a lot of foxed markings. On some of the pages a watermark is recognizable, showing an anchor in a circle with a Star of David above. However, because the sheets of paper were cut before they were used, not a single of the watermarks is complete. Today the binding consist of a cardboard plate with a parchment spine. Fine condition. Item #53413
Price: $1,000.00