Manuscript names: Sassoon 282 is Valmadonna No. 1

UPDATE

In preparation for my book I transcribed Beattie’s list of MSS with adjustments to take into account the new name of the oldest manuscript, Valmadonna 1. See the bottom of this entry for the list. It also appears that V has now been sold by Sotheby’s on behalf of the Trust Library. While it is not named specifically it appears to be the 1189 CE manuscript referenced in this article.


Last week Derek Beattie was helping me track down the oldest MS containing Targum Ruth. For those who have looked the my page on TgRuth you will have seen a note saying that my translation is based upon Beattie’s critical edition, which in turn is based upon the MS Sassoon 282, the oldest extant MS containing TgRuth. I have been hoping to be able to gain permission to publish a facsimile of the MS with my book and was trying to track down the private owners. The MS is in the Valmadonna Trust Library in London; this transfer occurred in 1978. Be sure to check the links in the Wiki article referencing the attempts to sell the collection over the last few years.

I am very grateful for the Trust who responded to my queries and told me two important bits of information. The first is that the MS is available  The Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts at the Hebrew University Library.  The second is that the name of the MS is now “Valmadonna Number 1.” All publications I have found still refer to it as Sassoon 282, so I thought I should share this information here in hopes that others may pass it along.

Sigla (all dates CE)

Be Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Or. Quart. 1 14th–15th c.

Br [Breslau] Wroclaw University, M1106 1238

Bu Budapest, Orszagos Szechenyi Konyvtar, Quart. Hebr. 2 14th c.

Ca Cambridge, University Library Add. 436 15th–16th c.

Co Copenhagen, Kongelige Bibliotek, Cod. Heb. 11 1290

F Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Plut. III 1/1 14th–15th c.

G Genoa, Biblioteca Civica Berio 14th–15th c.

H1 Hamburg, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek, Cod. Heb. 4 12th–14th c.

H2 Hamburg, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek, Levi 19 1310

H3 Hamburg, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek, Levi 5 14th c.

L1 London, British Library, Or. 1302 14th–15th c.

L2 London, British Library, Or. 2375 15th c.

L3 London, British Library, Or. i1476 15th–16th c.

Ma Madrid, National Library, 7542 1533

Mi Milan, Ambrosiana, B35 INF 15th c.

N Nuremberg, Stadtbibliothek, Solger Ms. 6.2º 1291

NY1 New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of American, L125 14th c.

NY2 New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of American, L610 15th c.

NY3 New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of American, L431 16th c.

O1 Oxford, Bodleian, Laud 154 1327

O2 Oxford, Bodleian, Hunt. 399 14th–15th c.

P1 Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Hébr. 17/1 14th–15th c.

P2 Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Hébr. 110 1455

Pm1 Parma, Biblioteca Palatina, ms. 3077 (de Rossi 9) 13th c.

Pm2 Parma, Biblioteca Palatina, ms. 3189 (de Rossi 737) 13th–14th c.

Pm3 Parma, Biblioteca Palatina, ms. 3231 (de Rossi 31) 14th c.

Pm4 Parma, Biblioteca Palatina, ms. 3235 (de Rossi 42/1) 14th–15th c.

Pm 5 Parma, Biblioteca Palatina, ms. 3214 (de Rossi 7.1) 1476

R Roma, Angeliza Or. 72 1326

Sy Sydney University, Nicholson 33 14th–15th c.

Urb.1 Vatican, Uribinates Ebr. 1 1294

V Valmadonna 1 (formerly Sassoon 282) 1189

A small portion of TgRuth 1:1 from Valmadonna 1.