(13 Feb 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Wide exterior of Sotheby's auction house
2. Pan right of books on display
3. Tilt down of Bomberg Talmud, a nearly pristine complete edition of the Babylonian Talmud printed in 1519-1523 by Daniel Bomberg, a Christian printer of Hebrew books
4. Close-up of 11th century pentateuch in glass case
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Redden, Vice Chairman of Sotheby's:
"Hebrew books and manuscripts are really rare. They suffer the most extraordinary vicissitudes over time. They were burned, they were destroyed, so few of them really have survived from the early days and to have this extraordinary library brought together, so many wonderful survivors - survivors from difficult times - is a really important accomplishment."
6. Wide of "Codex Valmadonna 1"
7. Various of "Codex valmadonna 1"
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sharon Mintz, Curator, Jewish Theological Society:
"This rare bible is a pentateuch it is a magnificent example of a monumental bible and what makes it so rare is that it is dated specifically 1189. It is the only known dated work of the jews of England prior to their expulsion in 1290. It is a rare unique surviving item from that time."
9. Tracking-shot of Talmud collection
10. Tilt down Talmud script
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sharon Mintz, Curator, Jewish Theological Society:
"Talmud itself especially printed and manuscript editions were subject to burnings and confiscations and censorship and to have a complete set from the 16th century is a remarkable, remarkable achievement and accomplishment."
12. Tilt down two Hebrew books from Amsterdam
13. Wide pan interior of books on display in Sotheby's, to men in hassidic dress looking at books
STORYLINE
A rare trove of 11-thousand Hebrew books and manuscripts went on display at Sotheby's in New York City this week, as the auction house seeks to find a buyer for what's considered the greatest collection of Judaica in private hands.
The Valmadonna Trust Library includes documents of unparalleled significance including a copy of a 16th century Hebrew Bible once owned by Westminster Abbey.
Some have burn or water marks or other signs of religious persecution.
David Redden, Vice Chairman of Sotheby's, said the collection was very rare as many Hebrew texts were burned or destroyed.
The complete library, valued at more than 40 (m) million dollars, is being shown in its entirety for the first time at Sotheby's Manhattan galleries
until 19 February.
The trust has asked the auction house to facilitate the sale of the complete collection to a public institution or private collector.
It will not break up the collection or sell individuals works.
The Valmadonna Library is the lifelong pursuit of Jack Lunzer, an 88-year-old collector from London who was in New York on Monday for the opening of the exhibition.
Lunzer will not benefit from the proceeds of the sale, which is being handled by the trust, which ultimately also will decide whether to accept an offer from a collector or an institution.
But Lunzer has made his wishes known saying that he would "like our library to be acquired by the Library of Congress," adding "that would be my great joy."
Lunzer's most prized acquisition, one he pursued for more than 25 years, is a nearly pristine complete edition of the Babylonian Talmud printed in 1519-1523 by Daniel Bomberg, a Christian printer of Hebrew books.
The Talmud is a vast record of Jewish laws and traditions and the nine-volume, leather-bound Bomberg copy is recognised as one of the most significant texts in the history of Hebrew printing, on which all other Talmud editions are modelled.
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