another important example from the same group. Steinschneider knew of the existence of only one other copy. Warn. 14 is a very old manuscript written on thick, primitively- made paper. These Leiden manuscripts remain indispensable for the study of the later phase of Karaism and many are as yet unpublished. Warner’s collection has one more feature in common with that of Scaliger namely, the numerous Hebrew translations of Arabic philosophical, physical and medical treatises. Steinschneider paid particular attention to these, not only because he was aware of Leiden’s special interest in Arabic but also because he was personally interested in the subject. Warner’s collection also contains several commentaries by Jewish writers on these treatises and these are in some cases rare, or even unique. The Arabic text of Maimonides’ “Guide of the Perplexed”, written in Hebrew script, deserves special mention. It is described by Steinschneider on pages 380-381 of his Catalogue, along with another copy from the Scaliger Bequest. This text dates from 1271 (or earlier) and is thus one of the earliest known. Countless other subjects are covered by Warner’s manuscripts. In the words of Steinschneider : “Praterea nulla fere disciplina est, qua in aliquo hie obvio Codice non tractatur, ne dicam vix ullam esse, in quam ex hujus Bibliotheca subsidiis nihil boni redundet” 35 . Warner obviously paid scant attention to the outward appearance of the manuscripts he collected. His acquisition was clearly for scholarly purposes. This is, incidentally, also true of Scaliger’s collection of Hebrew manuscripts. Some of the manuscripts are, indeed, very carelessly written, the majority are neat but few can be called fine (although Warn. 71, a handsome little Bible, Seal. 6, a Hebrew “Guide of the Perplexed”, and Seal. 8 and 20 (Psalms and Leviticus) are obvious exceptions). What sort of background does this collection have? Warner’s Hebrew manuscripts bear traces of numerous former owners but these are more difficult to follow than those found in Scaliger’s. One reason is obvious. The history of Scaliger’s manuscripts lies in Western Europe, an area comparatively well documented. Warner, however, collected his manuscripts in the Orient in a cultural climate we cannot so easily reconstruct 38 . It is particularly difficult in the case of Jewish communities in Istanbul in the 16th and 17th centuries, although Danon’s documentation on the Karaites in Turkey 87 does contain many names which are also to be found in Steinschneider’s

35. Prttf., p. XV. This refers to the whole collection. See pp. XV-XVII for an almost complete enumeration. Warn. 28 must again be added to the list, because it contains Shem Tov ben Shaprut’s Hebrew translation of the Gospel of St. Matthew and his hassagot. 36. Warner must, however, already have bought MSS before he left the Netherlands, e.g. from the estate of Gerbrand Ansloo. On the subject of previous owners in general see Levinus Warner and his legacy, pp. 17-18, 50-52. Frederik Warner’s comment in Warn. 8 : “DU ist boeck dat onder mortegaaij in bewaringe wass" probably refers to an episode in the “repatriation” of the MSS. 37. A. Danon, “The Karaites in European Turkey”, J.Q.R. N.S. 15 (1924-25) 258-360; N.S. 17 (1926- 27) 163-198, 239-322 (Documents).