Manuscript. An excerpt from the work of the French Tosafists on tractate Shavuot, from the 14th-15th century.
Specifications: [1] leaf. Parchment. 14×18 cm. Small Ashkenazi handwriting in black ink on both sides of the parchment. A few deletions by the transcriber. The writing is clear and legible. The excerpt before us was copied from the Tosafot on tractate Shavuot, from page 17a, starting word “Oh ein tzorech” until page 18a starting word “D’i silka da’atech chayav”.
Unique Features: An extremely early transcription of one of the Tosafists’ works is before us. There may be differences in wording from the wording printed on the Babylonian Talmud.
Background: The Tosafists were sages from the period of the ‘first scholars’ [Rishonim], Torah scholars who wrote commentaries, known as Tosefot [lit. additions] on the tractates of the Babylonian Talmud, and on Rashi’s commentary on the Talmud. Their activities spanned some two hundred years, over the 12th and 13th centuries. Most of them were from the ranks of Rashi’s students in Germany and France with a few from England and Italy. The first Tosafists were Rashi’s students, who wrote comments and novellae on his commentary. Over time, these additions increased until they became Tosefot on the Talmud.
Condition: Very fine. Very few aging stains.