tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post621458629515223824..comments2024-01-21T02:58:08.208-05:00Comments on On the Main Line: Maimonides's Own True signatureMississippi Fred MacDowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734864605700159687noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-13779098093455604442011-12-25T04:32:41.201-05:002011-12-25T04:32:41.201-05:00I vividly recall visiting the Bodleian in the earl...I vividly recall visiting the Bodleian in the early '90s, &, through a special pre-arrangement, had the librarian of the Oriental Books dept., Dr. Richard Judd, show me the afore-discussed MIshnah Torah codex & the famous signature. To see it up close in its pristine form, laid out under the overhead lamp, the ink aglow, was to be transported back to when the ink was still drying on this elegant tome. <br /><br />A visiting professor of Geonic-Rishonim literature from Israel was at Oxford at the time, & when I mentioned that I just saw the Rambam's chasimah, he pointed out the fact that there are those of the the view that even the signature & opening lines are in the hands of a copyist, the main argument being that the signatures is too perfect... <br /><br />Still, I think it is a weak argument, since the importance of this particular ms. volume, especially serving as a "master copy" for others to edit their own versions from of his magnum opus (with his own approval), would certainly impel the Rambam to scribe his John Hancock in the clearest manner possible.<br /><br />OTOH, other Rambam signatures, especially in is correspondences (e.g. the responsa letter displayed at the British Museum), since they are of a less formal nature & not literary works per se, they come across as more scribbled. <br /><br />- ZIYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12600498.post-81198649252212293582011-11-26T23:04:00.933-05:002011-11-26T23:04:00.933-05:00Retired delta blues singer? Intressante.Retired delta blues singer? Intressante.DFhttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.com