The Codex Sassoon is an ancient tome containing almost the entirety of the Hebrew Bible and is set to go on sale at Sotheby's in May. First created by Masoretes in the 10th or 11th century, the Biblical manuscript displays an interesting journey through thousands of years of history and the variant cultures of world religions.
The Writing Style of the Codex Sassoon and the Masoretes
According to the story by AP News, it is the oldest surviving Bible manuscript, with only a few fragments of manuscripts being older or equally as old. Radiocarbon testing has estimated that the Codex Sassoon was made sometime between 880 to 960, and its writing style suggests a scribe in Egypt or the Levant.
It is written as part of the Masoretes, Jewish scholars in the early centuries who codified oral traditions and proper pronunciation when reading the holy words. These manuscripts differed from Torah scrolls in that this tome contains the letters with vowels, punctuation, and chant directions.
The Long and Intriguing Journey of the Codex Sassoon
Along with a fascinating history that speaks to the still strong interest in relics from centuries ago, the Codex Sassoon also has an intricate journey that spanned half a millennium. It is said to have been gifted from Khalaf ben Abraham to Isaac ben Ezekiel al-Attar, then given to his sons Ezekiel and Maimon.
It made its way to a Syrian synagogue in Makisin until it was destroyed. As the synagogue was never rebuilt, the Codex Sassoon was entrusted to Salama ibn Abi al-Fakhr until it reappeared in Frankfurt in 1929, where David Solomon Sassoon won.
The Aleppo Codex vs. the Codex Sassoon: Accuracy and Completeness
Years later, it was sold by Sotheby's in 1978 and again by Jacqui Safra in 1989, who is now auctioning it, as also detailed in an article by The New York Post. Contrasting the Codex Sassoon to the Aleppo Codex, which is equally old and considered the gold standard of Masoretic Bibles, the Sassoon book is not as precise in quality and accuracy.
In the margins, a later scriber notes that the Codex Sassoon had been compared with the Aleppo. Yet the Sassoon manuscript is much more complete, containing 92% of the Hebrew Bible. Sotheby's has put costs between $30 million and $50 million, a price tag few institutions and collectors can afford, per BBC.
Reuniting the Codex Sassoon with its Home: A Historic Opportunity
Yet there is hope that the historic tome can finally be returned to its proper home in Israel via an agreement by museums and/or philanthropists willing to donate their purchases to libraries.
Suppose the Codex Sassoon reaches the maximum asking price. In that case, it could break the record for the most expensive Jewish document ever sold and set the bar for the highest historical document sold at public auction.
No matter the outcome, it is a reminder of the importance of relics and artifacts to humanity. The Codex Sassoon has found its way through lands, languages, and generations, preserving wisdom, knowledge, and truth.
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