Metropolitan Museum of Art of NY & Israel Museum jointly buy Hebrew manuscript

15th-century handwritten copy of Mishneh Torah to be shared by the Israel Museum & the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a rotating basis.

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan and The Israel Museum have jointly purchased a 15th century illuminated Hebrew manuscript.

This undated photo provided by Sotheby’s in New York shows a page from the Mishneh Torah. April 29, 2013 - Photo  AP

This undated photo provided by Sotheby’s in New York shows a page from the Mishneh Torah. April 29, 2013 – Photo: AP

Sotheby’s announced Monday that the two institutions have acquired The Mishneh Torah from the Michael and Judy Steinhardt Judaica Collection. It was about to be put up for auction in New York City.

It’s the second of a two-volume manuscript. The first is housed in the Vatican Library.

The Mishneh Torah had a pre-auction estimate of $4.5 million to $6 million.

Sotheby’s declined to say how much the two museums paid. But it was more than the $2.9 million paid for a Hebrew Bible in 1989 at Sotheby’s, which set an auction record for Judaica.

The remainder of the Steinhardt collection is being auctioned as scheduled Monday.

 

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