Illustrated Esther Scroll Facsimile from the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam

Printed Esther scroll in the form of an authentic megillah on a wooden stave. Amsterdam. 1963.

In 1963, the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam held an exhibition on the theme of Purim. In honor of the exhibition, the museum printed a copy of a handwritten illustrated megillah from Holland, circa 1700, from the museum’s collection. The copy was designed in the form of a genuine megillah. On the reverse is a detailed list of the one hundred items on display at the exhibition. Alongside the megillah is a list of those exhibiting in the exhibition.

The megillah is attached to a thick wooden rod and tied with a blue lace. It was stored in a cylindrical metal case with a screw-on cover, and sent to the South African National Gallery in Capetown, South Africa. The case still has the original label from the Amsterdam museum, and postage stamps.