Judaica Librarianship Volume 18 130-153 6-13-2014 Unicums, Fragments, and Other Hebrew Book Rarities Marvin J. Heller independent,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://ajlpublishing.org/jl Part of the Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture Commons, Book and Paper Commons, Illustration Commons, Information Literacy Commons, Jewish Studies Commons, and the Reading and Language Commons Recommended Citation Heller, Marvin J.. 2014. "Unicums, Fragments, and Other Hebrew Book Rarities." Judaica Librarianship 18: 130-153. doi:10.14263/ 2330-2976.1036. Unicums, Fragments, and Other Hebrew Book Rarities Unicum (yū.nikŏm). Pl. unica (yū.nikȃ). 1885. (L., neut. sinǵ of unicus UNIQUE a.] A unique specimen.1 It is thus conceivable that the Spanish [Hebrew book] productivity before the expulsion of 1492, which wrought such havoc and destroyed so much, may have equaled the Italian. The reader must be reminded that the new evidence that has accumulated (as indeed some of the old) is based to a considerable degree on single copies or fragments—or single leaves. A trivial accident would have destroyed many of these as well, so that the argument from silence is in this case by no means final. Cecil Roth, The Jews in the Renaissance2 INTRODUCTION Cecil Roth’s observation as to “the argument from silence” is insightful, particularly as pertain- ing to Hebrew books. Books of many cultures and civilizations disappear for several reasons— usage and, perhaps, disinterest leading to disposal being among the most important. This article describes a small number of varied examples of rare Hebrew books, several extant as unicums, single extant copies, some as fragments only, and others in limited numbers.