Rare 15th-Century Jewish Prayer Book Expected to Fetch Millions at Auction
A significant 15th-century illuminated Jewish prayer book, created in Italy around 1475 and attributed to the renowned scribe and illuminator Yoel Ben Simeon, is set to be auctioned in New York on December 17th. Sotheby's estimates the manuscript could sell for between $3 million and $5 million. The price reflects its value as a rare, original, and illustrated artifact from over five centuries ago, rather than its religious content.
Ben Simeon, who worked in Germany and Italy, blended Jewish European traditions with Italian styles in his work. This particular prayer book features hundreds of illustrations, including depictions of a shofar blower, Moses with the Tablets of the Law, animals, and mythical creatures. Notably, it contains an early visual representation of a Hanukkah menorah. Sotheby's highlights that only four of Ben Simeon's manuscripts are currently in private hands, making any available item highly sought after.
The prayer book leads Sotheby's "Judaica Magnificent" sale, which includes seven items collectively estimated between $8.9 million and $16.4 million before commissions. Other notable items include two other prayer books, one from Rome (circa 1500) estimated at $2-4 million, and a German Pentateuch (circa 1300) also valued at $2-4 million. A silver ewer from Frankfurt (1776), linked to the Rothschild family, is estimated at $300,000-500,000, and a miniature Torah scroll from Galicia is expected to sell for $450,000-650,000.
Potential buyers should note that the final cost will exceed the hammer price due to buyer's premiums, which can add millions to the total. For a $5 million sale, the premium alone could be over $1.2 million. While this prayer book is not the most expensive Jewish manuscript ever sold, previous sales of items like the Rothschild Mahzor ($6.4 million) and the Codex Sassoon ($38.1 million) demonstrate a strong market for rare Jewish texts.
Some of the items from the auction will be exhibited at the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem in November, followed by showings in London and New York before the December 17th auction. The final sale will determine whether this historical artifact remains in a private collection or becomes accessible to the public.
