É. Apor (ed.): David Kaufmann Memorial Volume: Papers Presented at the David Kaufmann Memorial Conference, November 29, 1999, Budapest.
ORMOS, István: David Kaufmann and his Collection
DAVID KAUFMANN AND HIS COLLECTION the best readings, even though it does not seem as faithful as the Cambridge codex in preserving the Palestinian recension. Hence the Kaufmann codex must now be regarded as the basic text of all scientific editions. 7 2 Kaufmann acquired the manuscript in 1896 after all sorts of difficulties, and he gave expression to his great joy in his own "Psalm of David" which he wrote in his well-known violet ink on the flyleaf in the front part of the manuscript. (David is of course an allusion to himself here.) 7 3 A special group is formed by some illuminated Hebrew manuscripts - these come mainly from the collection of the Trieste brothers in Padova - which are universally reckoned among the most important works of their kind in existence anywhere. Originally they did not belong to Kaufmann's collection but were owned by his mother-in-law, Mrs. Róza Gomperz. This may have been due to financial reasons: perhaps they had to be acquired at such a high price that the old lady gave her consent on this condition only. In the donation deed Mrs. Gomperz made special mention of these items, which she herself donated to the Academy: To this foundation I am attaching on my part 25 richly illuminated Hebrew parchment manuscripts of eminent value in the opinion of specialists on account of the Italian miniatures and colour illustrations included in them. 7 4 First of all one could mention here the in-folio manuscript of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah in four volumes (shelf-mark MS Kaufmann A 77), which is considered as one of the absolute masterpieces of mediaeval Hebrew art on account of its decorations and splendid illustrations. 7 5 The fact that a manuscript containing a work on religious law was produced with so much attention, care and considerable financial sacrifice, 7 2 KRUPP 1987. 253. Cf. also KRAUSS 1907. 54-66, 142-163, 323-333, 445-461. 7 3 It is quoted in Wr-asz 1906. 14. - It may be noted that while KAUFMANN'S handwriting in Roman script cannot be regarded as aesthetic in any way and creates the impression of an unbalanced mind, his handwriling becomes simply beautiful and a reflection of harmony itself when he is using square Hebrew script. There is a striking contrast between the two, which would surely make a most interesting subject for study by a graphologist. 7 4 Original in Hungarian. Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Collection of Manuscripts and Old Books, RAL No. 533. 1905. Cf. p. 139 above. 7 5 Gabrielle SFD-RAJNA, The Illuminated Pages of the Kaufmann Mishneh Torah. In: Codex Maimuni. Moses Maimonides' Code of Law. The Illuminated Pages of the Kaufmann Mishneh Torah. [Ed. by Alexander Scheiber]. Budapest - Frankfurt 1984. 37. See also Bezalel NARKISS - Gabrielle SFD-RAJNA, Index of Jewish Art. Iconographical Index of Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts. Volume IV. Illuminated Manuscripts of the Kaufmann Collection. BudapestJerusalem Paris 1988. First Kaufmann Mishneh Torah. Card Nos. 1-45. 143
