In producing this facsimile edition of a rare Megillat Esther (The Story of Esther) this publisher has created a replica of extraordinary accuracy. This illustrated manuscript is an exquisite replica of an eighteenth-century manuscript scroll from the Gross Family Collection (located in Israel). Bill Gross started his formidable collection at the age of six encompassing every aspect of Judaica from postage stamps to rare manuscripts.
About the Scroll
Illustrated Esther scrolls are rare. This Megillat Esther is exceptional because every aspect of the story is reflected by the drawings that surround the text. Heroes and villains record the triumph of good over evil and Haman’s sons hang from the gallows surrounded by baroque buildings.
The scroll consists of eighteen text panels and every panel is different. Eighteen is a significant number because every word in the Hebrew language has a numeric value. Eighteen is the numeric value of the Hebrew word Chai. It means life. When drawn from its silver case the scroll measures some 66” (168cm).
The Facsimile Project
The project has been an international collaboration with English, Israeli and Italian craftsmen working together to combine the latest digital technologies with the age-old processes of parchment-making and lost-wax casting.
The Importance of Good Photography
The key to accurate reproduction is good photography. The manuscript was meticulously photographed to capture every minute detail and ensure accurate reproduction of its delicate colours.
Preparing the Parchment
The parchment for this project is hand-made in England by William Cowley, one of the world’s most experienced traditional parchment makers. It takes approximately eight weeks to prepare each skin. The hair is removed from the sheepskin and the skin is scraped before washing and softening in lime vats. The clean skins are fixed to frames and repeatedly wetted, scraped and stretched until a smooth, even finish is achieved. The skins are left to dry before being cut into sheets and sanded. After grading the publishers personally select only the very best.
The printed sheets are glued together making one long parchment to be fixed to the central winding spindle and wound back into the silver case.
The Scroll case
The Megillah’s case is a hand-made sterling silver replica of a case created by silversmith Lorenz Pfalzer in Vienna, Austria in 1824. Every case has been individually cast, finished and polished by hand. The lost-wax process was used to create the replicas.
Lost-Wax Casting
In this process a rubber mould is made of the item to be copied. Molten wax is poured into the mould to cover the surfaces. The resulting wax replica is surrounded by plaster of Paris. When the plaster has set it is baked in a furnace. The wax melts and drains away – hence the name “lost-wax”. The cast is then filled with molten silver which creates a perfect copy of the original. According to Bill Gross, owner of the original manuscript, the replica is so like the original that it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the two.
Quality Control
The silver cases were tested and hallmarked in Israel. The cases are individually numbered, and accompanied by a signed and numbered certificate. After completion of the entire project the printing plates and moulds were destroyed in accordance with Jewish law. This also ensures the investment value of each copy. The scroll is presented in a high quality acrylic display case.
Commentary Volume
The scroll comes with a Commentary Volume written by Emile Schrijver and Falk Wiesemann. Emile Schrijver is an expert in eighteenth-century Hebrew printed books and manuscripts and is curator of the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana (Amsterdam). Falk Wiesemann is Professor of Modern History at Heinrich Heine University (Germany), and a specialist in German Jewish history and folk art.
They discuss the origins and dating of the scroll, the Hebrew script used and whether the text or images came first. They also discuss the materials and processes used in the production of the scroll and its silver case. The commentary volume provides an understanding and appreciation of the artistic quality and cultural background of the megillah.
Thanks to Linda and Michael at Facsimile Editions, London, for their help and advice in writing this article.
"Megillat Esther" (The Story of Esther) ISBN 0 948223 251 Facsimile Editions Ltd. (London 2007)
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