Sotheby’s announces the auction of the Shem Tov Bible, one of the most significant medieval Hebrew manuscripts ever created. The Shem Tov Bible, written in 1312 in Soria (Castille) by the illustrious scholar Rabbi Shem Tov Ibn Gaon, is a masterpiece of the scribal arts from the Golden Age of Spain. Throughout its numerous decorated folios, the influences of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic artistic traditions are singularly evident. The text of the Shem Tov Bible is also imbued with mystical significance, as Rabbi Shem Tov added a kabbalistic dimension to the Hebrew letters of the Bible.

Originally created as a personal bible for Rabbi Shem Tov, the whereabouts of the manuscript was unknown for several centuries until it was recorded in the 19th century as belonging to the prominent Seror family in Tripoli. David Solomon Sassoon, the world's preeminent collector of Hebrew manuscripts, purchased it from the Seror family in 1909 and considered the Shem Tov Bible one of the most important books in his famed collection. The Shem Tov Bible’s distinguished provenance, the recognized accuracy of its text, and the beauty of its magnificently decorated pages epitomize the highest achievements of Hebrew manuscript tradition.