PREFACE

The present volume is in three parts, each with its own purpose and limitations. They are an Introduction, a Supplement to M. Steinschneider’s Catalogus Codicum Hebraeorum Bibliothecae Lugduno-Batavae and a Description of the remaining MSS. The introduction gives the history of the collection of Hebrew MSS at Leiden as a whole and also presents much information about the provenance and background of individual MSS or groups of MSS. An essay of this scope was thought necessary, not only because no complete survey of the Hebrew collection exists but also because it was felt that the detailed and scattered information which has been assembled during the methodical perusal of all the MSS, should not be lost but find its place in an organised whole. The second part is a Supplement to Steinschneider’s catalogue of 1858 and attempts to supply information which, though probably irrelevant in his day, is indispensable to modem research. During our work on the MSS a host of details was noted, which might be of considerable relevance for the users both of the catalogue and of the MSS themselves, but the work had to be confined to the following data : Additions to Steinschneider’s foliations are given when his statements proved incor rect and in cases where there were leaves preceding or following the text which were not counted but do actually belong to the original MSS. Fly-leaves of this kind are indicated in the following manner in a MS of, for example 372 numbered leaves : 3 + 372 + 2 fols. Fly-leaves contemporary with the present bindings were not taken into account. In case of doubt or when these leaves belong neither to the binding nor to the original MS, figures are given between brackets (e.g. (3) + 372 + (2) fols.). In the MSS these blanks and fly-leaves are mostly foliated with Roman numerals. A formula such as 3 + (300 + 72) + 2 fols. indicates an obvious subdivision of the foliated leaves into 300 and 72 fols., as is the case, for instance, with composite MSS or added parts of MSS. Sizes of the pages and of the written space are given in millimetres, vertical followed by horizontal, and are taken from one of the first representative recto leaves; sizes of written space are given in brackets. Here also the average number of lines is given together with incidental ruling. Doubtful or hardly visible drypoint ruling, which seems to occur in the majority of the paper MSS and in some of the vellum MSS, has been disregarded, only clearly visible ruling being recorded. The majority of the MSS are bound in a standard Library binding (calf on millboard, in two varieties), which probably dates from the time of the acquisition of the Warner MSS (about 1670). Deviations from this rule are stated. For the sake of brevity the term cardboard