Torah Scroll written in Spain before the expulsion of the country's Jews in 1400-1500.
There are only a few Torah Scrolls known today that were written in Spain during this era.
One of the scrolls is that of "Rabbeinu Nissim" which was written in 1336. This Torah Scroll was identified by the Manuscript Department of the National Library and University in Jerusalem by expert Shlomo Zucker. It was featured in the "Sefarim MiSefarad" exhibition catalogue published by the Beit HaSefarim HaLeumi of the University in Jerusalem 1992. Number 4, page 24, and its picture is featured on the front cover. It also featured in the National Library's catalogue, "Treasures Revealed: From the Collections of the Jewish National and University Library in Honor of the 75th Anniversary of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem". Jerusalem, 2000, item 1 p. 12.
Another Torah Scroll was sold by Christie's in New York in 1999. The fate of that Scroll is unknown. These scrolls were examined and tested by world-renowned manuscript expert, Mr. Shlomo Zucker.
Mr. Zucker also examined this scroll ten years ago. In his report, he notes that the Torah Scroll was written in Spain during the aforementioned period. Its strips of parchment and letter format match those in the other Torah Scrolls that he identified. During the past decade, another few Torah Scrolls from the era were discovered, including one from Bologna, Italy.
Torah Scroll on brown gevil, according to the font and traditions of Spain. The strips of parchment are 55-58 cm. tall.
The Torah Scroll is comprised of early strips of parchment. Over times, supplementary strips were added to replace worn pieces.
There are two sections with original strips:
1. Exodus 37:26 through Numbers 29:26.
2. Numbers 32:27 through Deuteronomy 27:15.
Clear Spanish script. Early ח with a "choter", not a "choteret"; the פ has a wide base and narrow top, as formed by early Spanish scribes.
The Scroll features a unique aspect not seen in other scrolls.
The backward ×  at the beginning and end of "Vayihi Binsoa Ha'Aron' (Numbers 10;35-36), not only faces from left to write, it also stands on its hand: its wide base is at the top and its head is towards the bottom! Mr. Zucker writes, "I have never seen this format in any other scroll."
See Hebrew catalogue description for additional examples of the unique script in this scroll.
This Torah Scroll is complete, though, due to its old-age, it is no longer usable for Torah readings. A number of strips were blemished and their ink is smeared, apparently by dampness. The text has faded in a number of places or is blurred or erased. The stitches have partially unraveled in a number of places. The Scroll is housed in a new wood case, made just for it.
With the report of Mr. Shlomo Zucker
Manuscript Department
Hebrew University, Jerusalem
(Retired)
Dated the 3rd of Kislev, 16.11.04.