Part of a letter, c. mid-16th century, from Abraham Sagis, in Jerusalem, to Joseph Qorqos, who is normally resident in Jerusalem but is currently visiting Egypt, regarding the distribution of funds sent to Jerusalem by various Egyptian donors, including the dignitary Solomon Alašqar, from which support was also given to the Ashkenazi yešiva and the recipient’s own yešiva, both in Jerusalem. Mentions David Zulati, Jacob Galican, Jacob Hami, Judah, Abraham, and Mordechai.Condition: torn, holesLayout: 41 lines (recto); 7 lines (verso)
Recto: letter from Abraham Sagis (סאגיש) in Safed to an individual in Egypt who had previously studied with the sage Moses di Trani in Safed. Abraham complains about an outstanding debt owed by the recipient, and the recipient’s stinginess toward the descendants of his former teacher. Signed Abraham Sagis. Verso: part of an address. C. late 16th century.Condition: tornLayout: 35 lines + marginalia (recto); 1 line (verso)
Letter to Joseph Ardia (ארדיעה) from Abraham Vilon (וילון) (probably 16th century), mentioning Francisco Grisolin (פרנסיסקו גריסולין) and dealing with large sums in florins. Address on verso.Condition: torn, holesLayout: 24 lines + marginalia (recto); 1 line (verso)
Commentary on the 1501 Astronomical Tables by Abraham Zacut (Zacuto b. Salamanca; 1452) written by Abraham Gascon (16th century) and adapted to the geographical position of Cairo.Condition: tornLayout: 20-23 lines
Fragment of a 16th-century letter from David Badūssī in Būlāq, who was a teacher in Jerusalem, to Abraham סורג, philanthropist in Egypt, seeking financial assistance.Condition: torn, rubbedLayout: 23 lines (recto); 40 lines (verso)
Two late letters (ca. 16th century). Recto: letter from a woman in Egypt (Esther) to her in-laws in Safed. Verso: letter signed by Šalom Šammaš.Condition: TornLayout: 37 lines + marginalia (recto); 14 + marginalia (verso)
Autograph letter by Isaac Luria, sent either from Egypt or Safed (probably the latter), concerning various matters, but principally the payment of monies. Dated only according to the day of the week, Tuesday (יום ג׳), and the paraša (Genesis 35:11)Condition: torn, holes, stainedLayout: 12 lines + marginalia (recto); 1 line (verso)
Isaac b. Solomon ibn al-Aḥdab b. Ṣaddiq Sefardi's The Epistle of the Number was composed at the end of the 14th century after Isaac settled in Syracuse, Sicily, and this is the only known copy of the work. The Epistle is a translation and enlargement of the famous Talḵīṣ ʿAmal al-Ḥisāb ('A summary of the operations of calculation', 13th century) by the Moroccan Muslim mathematician Ibn al-Bannā ابن البنّاء and it is especially notable in being the first known treatise in Hebrew to include extensive algebraic theories and operations. The Epistle attests novel mathematical vocabulary and enhances our linguistic understanding of the mechanisms that helped create the scientific vocabulary of Medieval Hebrew. The work proper begins on f.1v, with an explanation of how Isaac came to compose the Epistle. Book 1, arithmetical operations on integers, fractions and roots is on ff.1v–25r, and consists of three parts: part 1, arithmetical operations on integers; part 2, arithmetical operations on fractions; and part 3, arithmetical operations on the roots of expressible (rational) and inexpressible (irrational) quantities. Book 2, the rules which enable us to obtain the unknown from the given known, is on ff.27r–38v, and also consists of three parts: part 1, proportions and scales; part 2, the algebraic operations of restoration and operation; part 3, solution of problems of a practical nature by methods of algebra. The last words in part 3, on folio 38v, are 'another example', thus the manuscript is truncated. First words and headings are written in larger, bolder script; some words and the numerals in calculations are rubricated. There are tables with both Hebrew and Arabic numerals, as well as diagrams. There are occasional marginal calculations in a different hand, e.g., f.6r, as well as manicules, e.g., f.7v. Diagrams include the place-value numerical system with zero and Hindu-Arabic numerals, f.2r; various scales, ff.25v–26v; and multiplication tables of algebraic expressions, f.34v. Unrelated to the Epistle, f. 1r describes a mathematical problem, with a diagram of two birds sitting on two towers of unequal height, and referring to Elijah Mizraḥi אליה המזרחי in the last line. Various elaborate signatures and owners' marks follow in the lower half of the leaf, including the name Judah Eli יאודה עלי.Condition: Slightly affected by damp, a few pages show evidence of ink corrosion.Layout: Written in one column with 37-38 lines per page.
Late letter from Jacob Bagilyer to his brother Aaron. Dealing with financial matters (amounts in florins).Condition: HolesLayout: 37 lines + marginalia (recto); 1 line (verso)
Letter, c. 16th century, written on behalf of and signed by Joseph Karo, in the land of Israel, to Jacob Villarreal, in Egypt. Joseph requests repayment of a loan, and that payment should be made through Solomon Sirilio and Isaac Alašqar.Condition: holesLayout: 16 lines (recto); 1 line (verso)
Recto: letter from 8 paupers (Joseph Malili, David Maymun, Ṣemaḥ הבהב, ʿEzer פוליתנו, Jacob רובס, Samuel פוחימה, Jacob the blind, and Mordechai ʿAmram ברגות) who are in jail, to Samuel Ibn Sid (סיד), requesting assistance. Mentions R. Joseph Saḡīs (סאגיס), who brings food to the jail. They were jailed for debts to gentiles (c. 16th century). In the top margin on verso is a possible Rabbinic commentary that continues on recto.Condition: stainedLayout: 33 lines(recto); 28 lines (verso)