HebrewPal - Hebrew Palaeography Album

Specimens
Graphic Elements
Item Images
Items
Scribes
Diplomatics
{...} API

Collapse

BnF MS. Hébreu 851: 55r

Image
Details
Graphic Elements (16)
Specimens (1)

Image

Item Image

Item

BnF MS. Hébreu 851

Collection

Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Paris, France)

Image Name / Folio Number

55r

Graphic Element

NameDivine Symbol - #49925 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeDivine Symbol Divine Symbols

Tetragrammaton

NameLetter - #49942 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterAleph DuctusTraced with 3 movements General Shape

Square

Components & Features Main oblique stroke

traced with one stroke
reaches the headline
does not reach the baseline
straight

Left-hand downstroke

joins the main oblique stroke
joins the main stroke at the headline
descends from the headline
reaches the baseline
slanted
straight
with tapering at the end
with a foot

Foot on the left-hand downstroke

traced as a separate movement from the left-hand downstroke
ends on the right
turns upwards
parallel to the baseline
with tapering at the end

Right arm

does not join the main oblique stroke
joins the main stroke in the middle
rounded

NameLetter - #49939 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterBeth DuctusTraced with 2 movements General Shape

Square

Components & Features Upper bar

parallel to the headline
parallel to the base
ends level with the base
straight
with a serif

Right-hand downstroke

traced with the same movement as the upper bar
angular juncture with the upper bar
slanted
straight
with thickening at the end

Base

parallel to the baseline
parallel to the upper bar
ends level with the upper bar
angular juncture with the right-hand downstroke
T-shaped juncture with the right-hand downstroke
straight
with tapering at the end

NameLetter - #49938 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterGimel DuctusTraced with 2 movements General Shape

Triangular

Components & Features Downstroke

reaches the baseline
slanted to the left \
straight
with thickening in the middle
with tapering at the end
with a head

Left-hand stroke

joins the downstroke in its lower part
descends below the baseline
slanted
straight
with thickening

Head

traced with the same movement as the downstroke
placed to the left
angular juncture with the downstroke
slanted
longer than the width of the nib
hook-shaped

NameLetter - #49944 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterHe DuctusTraced with 3 movements General Shape

Vertically rectangular

Components & Features Upper bar

parallel to the headline
straight

Right-hand downstroke

traced with the same movement as the upper bar
angular juncture with the upper bar
ends level with the left-hand downstroke
reaches the baseline
rounded
wedge-shaped
with tapering at the end

Left-hand downstroke

traced as a separate movement from the right-hand downstroke
separate from the upper bar
ends level with the right-hand downstroke
reaches the baseline
straight
with tapering at the end

NameLetter - #49935 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterVav DuctusTraced with 1 movements General Shape

Rounded

Components & Features Downstroke

reaches the baseline
rounded
with tapering at the end
with a head

Head

traced with the same movement as the downstroke
placed to the left
angular juncture with the downstroke
parallel to the headline
convex (rounded) ⋂

NameLetter - #49940 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterṬeth DuctusTraced with 2 movements General Shape

Nun + vav
U-shaped

Components & Features Right arm

traced with the same movement as the left arm
forms a base
top is lower than the top of the left arm
rounded
with tapering at the end
no roof

Base

there is a base
rounded juncture with the right arm
juncture with the right arm has a butt
parallel to the baseline
straight

Left arm

traced as a separate movement from the right arm
slanted
top is higher than the top of the right arm
straight
no roof

NameLetter - #49945 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterKaph: final DuctusTraced with 2 movements General Shape

Vertically rectangular

Components & Features Upper bar

parallel to the headline
straight
with tapering at the end
with a serif

Descender

traced with the same movement as the upper bar
cross-shaped juncture with the upper bar
longer than the height of the line of writing
slanted
straight
with tapering at the end
changes direction to the left at the end

NameLetter - #49946 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterLamed DuctusTraced with 3 movements General Shape

Rounded

Components & Features Ascender

slanted to the left \
slanted in the opposite direction to that of the downstroke
shorter than the height of the line of writing
straight
with thickening
with a flag

Flag of the ascender/mast

traced as a separate movement from the ascender/mast
attached to the extremity of the mast
placed to the left
slanted
longer than the width of the nib
straight
hook-shaped

Horizontal bar

traced as a separate movement from the ascender
cross-shaped juncture with the ascender
slanted
placed on the headline
straight

Downstroke

traced with the same movement as the horizontal bar
attached to the horizontal bar
rounded juncture with the horizontal bar
slanted
straight
with thinning

NameLetter - #49936 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterNun DuctusTraced with 3 movements General Shape

Vertically rectangular

Components & Features Downstroke

equal to the height of the line of writing
reaches the baseline
straight
with thickening
with a head

Base

traced with the same movement as the downstroke
longer than the head
angular juncture with the downstroke
juncture with the downstroke has a butt
slanted
straight
turns upwards at the left end

Head

traced with the same movement as the downstroke
placed to the left
angular juncture with the downstroke
parallel to the headline
straight

NameLetter - #49948 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterNun: final DuctusTraced with 2 movements General Shape

Vertically rectangular

Components & Features Descender

longer than the height of the line of writing
slanted to the left \
wavy
changes direction to the right at the end
with tapering at the end
with a head

Head

traced as a separate movement from the descender
placed to the left
cross-shaped juncture with the descender
slanted
straight

NameLetter - #49937 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterSamekh DuctusTraced with 2 movements General Shape

Rounded

Components & Features Upper bar

parallel to the headline
straight

Right-hand downstroke

traced as a separate movement from the upper bar
rounded juncture with the upper bar
slanted
straight
with thinning

Base

there is a base
traced with the same movement as the right-hand downstroke
rounded juncture with the right-hand downstroke
joins the left-hand downstroke
rounded juncture with the left-hand downstroke
concave (rounded) ⋃

Left-hand downstroke

traced with the same movement as the base
does not join the upper bar
angular juncture with the upper bar
slanted
straight
with thinning

NameLetter - #49949 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterQoph DuctusTraced with 2 movements General Shape

Triangular
Triangular hook

Components & Features Upper bar of the lobe

parallel to the headline
straight
with a serif

Lobe

traced with the same movement as the upper bar
longer than a half of the height of the line of writing
lobe on the right of the descender
rounded
with thinning

Descender

traced as a separate movement from the lobe
does not join the upper bar/lobe
slanted to the left \
straight
with thickening at the end

NameLetter - #49947 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterResh DuctusTraced with 1 movements General Shape

Rounded

Components & Features Upper bar

parallel to the headline
straight

Right-hand downstroke

traced with the same movement as the upper bar
rounded juncture with the upper bar
reaches the baseline
slanted
straight
with tapering at the end

NameLetter - #49943 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterShin/Sin DuctusTraced with 3 movements General Shape

Triangular

Components & Features Right arm

traced with the same movement as the left arm
joins the left arm sharply at the baseline
top is lower than the top of the left arm
rounded
with tapering at the end
no roof

Base

no base

Left arm

traced with the same movement as the right arm
joins the right arm/base at the baseline
goes below the juncture with the right arm forming a tail
top is higher than the top of the right arm
rounded
with thickening at the end
no roof

Middle stroke

traced as a separate movement from the left arm
detached from the arms/base
slanted to the right /
wedge-shaped
with a roof

Roof on the middle stroke

traced with the same movement as the middle stroke
placed to the left
angular juncture with the middle stroke
slanted
straight

NameLetter - #49941 HandBnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square TypeLetter LetterTav DuctusTraced with 2 movements General Shape

Vertically rectangular

Components & Features Upper bar

parallel to the headline
straight

Right-hand downstroke

traced with the same movement as the upper bar
rounded juncture with the upper bar
ends higher than the left-hand downstroke
does not reach the baseline
straight
with tapering at the end

Left-hand downstroke

traced with the same movement as the right-hand downstroke
separate from the upper bar
ends lower than the right-hand downstroke
slanted
reaches the baseline
straight
with a foot
no roof

Foot

traced with the same movement as the downstroke
turns to the left
parallel to the baseline
slanted
straight

Annotate

Graphic Element

Specimen

If the Specimen doesn't appear in the above options, please add a new Specimen before continuing

Type

Abbreviation Other Abbreviation Observations

Decorations

(OLD DECORATIONS)

Geometrical micrography

Figurative microcraphy

Carmina figurata layout

Carpet page

Historiated letter

Zoomorphic letter

Anthropomorphic letter

Decorated panel

Decorated initial

Decorated section marker

Penwork decoration

Colour decoration

Letter outline

Acanthus

Heraldry

Ivy

Animals

Dragons

Gymnastic initials

Fantastic beasts

Arabesque

Bas-de-page images

Bar border

Flourish work border

Foliated border

Inhabited border

Guilding

Cadel

Diaper ground

Red and blue diaper

Blank figure on coloured background

Purple diaper

Stain glass diaper

Tendrils diaper

Display script

Grotesque

Fretwork

Drollery

Litterae notabiliores

Litterae florissae

Interlace

Solomon's knot

Pentagramme

Sexagramme

Outline drawing

Multicoloured letter

Alternate coloured letters in a word

Rinceaux

Rosette

Palmette

Tabula ansata

Diagram: halakha

Diagram: kabbala

Diagram: medicine

Diagram: sciences

(Other)

Format and Location

Carpet page

Miniature

Decorated initial word/letter

Marginal image/border decoration

Section markers and other signs

Line fillers

Diagram

Decorated colophon

Masorah magna

Decorated catchword

Other (please specify)

Technique and Medium

Gilding (gold or silver)

Full painting

Light wash

Spare ground painting in ink

Penwork drawing

Carmina figurata

Micrography

Other (please specify)

Colour Palette

Gold

Silver

White

Lilac

Orange

Pink

Green

Yellow

Teal

Blue

Red

Brown

Black

Grey

Other (please specify)

Figural Pictorial Content: Architecture

Doorway

Gable

Crenelation

Tower

Arcade

Window

Pinnacle

Pillar

Caryatid figure

Other (please specify)

Figural Pictorial Content: Interior Scene

Scenes of prayer and worship

Scenes of festive meals

Scenes of betrothal and marriage

Scenes of circumcision

Scenes of study and discussion

Scenes of music-making and dancing

Scenes of work

Scenes of mourning

Other (please specify)

Figural Pictorial Content: Exterior Scene

Scenes of hunting

Scenes of travel

Scenes of jousting and other martial games

Scenes of battle

Scenes of agricultural work

Other (please specify)

Figural Pictorial Content: Zodiac Signs

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Other (please specify)

Figural Pictorial Content: Human Figures

Biblical

Mishnaic/talmudic

Contemporary (medieval)

Body parts only (please specify in observations box)

Unidentified

Figural Pictorial Content: Quadruped Animals

Lion

Dog (talbot)

Dog (greyhound)

Dog (generic)

Rabbit/hare

Stag/hind

Elephant

Horse

Cattle

Sheep

Camel

Donkey

Monkey

Wolf

Leopard

Fox

Boar

Bear

Frog

Squirrel

Other (please specify)

Unidentified

Figural Pictorial Content: Imaginary Creatures

Dragon

Unicorn

Siren

Centaur

Griffin

Wild man

Other hybrids (please specify in observations box)

Other non-hybrids (please specify in observations box)

Unidentified

Figural Pictorial Content: Birds

Eagle

Stork/crane

Falcon/hawk, and other hunting birds

Owl

Chicken

Peacock

Small birds (please specify in observations box)

Other (please specify)

Unidentified

Figural Pictorial Content: Foliage

Trefoils, round or pointed

Acanthus

Palmettes

Oak leaves (with/without acorns)

Heart-shaped leaves

Rosettes

Fleurs-de-lis

Fruits/pine cones

Knobs

Other (please specify)

Figural Pictorial Content: Everyday Objects

Shields and other objects featuring heraldic designs

Keys

Scissors

Articles of clothing, headwear or footwear

Ladders

Musical instruments

Axes, knives, swords, non-heraldic shields and bucklers

Food and drink, and implements for eating and drinking

Other (please specify)

Figural Pictorial Content: Other

Temple implements

Landscape

Angels

Demons

Fish

Insects

Leopard mask

Trees

Non-Figural Pictorial Content: Letter Decoration

Gilt letters

Zoomorphic/Anthropomorphic letters

Filled letters: animal, hybrid or human motifs

Filled letters: vegetal motifs

Filled letters: knotwork and interlace

Inhabited letters

Letters with geometric patterning (including chequered, striped, chevron or other patterns)

Letters with foliate finials

Letters with scalloped outlines

Letters in alternating colours

Other (please specify)

Non-Figural Pictorial Content: Background Decoration (Penwork)

Palmettes

Tendrils

Non-figural swirls/spirals

Hatching/Cross-hatching

Wavy lines

Groups of three dots

Other (please specify)

Non-Figural Pictorial Content: Background Decoration (Coloured)

Chequered background

Lozenged background

Diapered background (with squares)

Diapered background (with circles)

Monochrome background with tendrils

Monochrome background with groups of three dots

Monochrome plain background

Other (please specify)

Non-Figural Pictorial Content: Decorated Border

Acanthus border

Greek key border

Interlace border

Wavy-line-and-dots border

Ribbon border

Striped border

Twisted rope/guilloche border

Zigzag border

Scalloped border

Other (please specify)

Non-Figural Pictorial Content: Other

geometric and abstract shapes

penwork flourish

interlace and knotwork

Other Decorations Observations

Divine Symbols

Tetragrammaton

Two yods

Three yods

Four yods

Yods with symbols/abbreviation signs

Yod-vav-yod

Variant of Elohim

Basmala

Hamdala

(Other)

Addition: inverted Yod

Addition: in the lower part of the line of writing

Addition: at the baseline

Addition: below the baseline

Addition: in the upper part of the line of writing

Addition: at the headline

Addition: above the headline

Addition: goes above the headline

Addition: goes below the baseline

Addition: with a loop

Addition: with a foot

Addition: with a head

Addition: straight

Addition: slanted to the left \

Addition: slanted to the right /

Addition: rounded

Addition: wavy

Addition: with thickening

Addition: with tapering

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: He (without addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: He (with addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: four Yods (without addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: four Yods (with addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: three Yods (without addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: three Yods (with addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: two Yods (without addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: two Yods (with addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: one Yod (without addition)

Substitute for Tetragrammaton: one Yod (with addition)

Other Divine Symbols Observations

Editorial Symbols

Signe de renvoi

circle

circle + line

manicule

other

Collation sign

graphic symbol

textual or abbreviation

other

Text management

Insertion sign

Replacement sign

Correction sign

Other Editorial Symbols Observations

Justifications

Graphic space fillers

Extended letters

Reduced letters

Broken letters

Anticipation

Abbreviation

Change of script register

Writing above the line horizontally

Writing above the line obliquely

Writing below the line

Vertical writing

Change of orientation of letter components

(Other)

Other Justifications Observations

Letter Ductus (Optional) General Shape (Optional)

Components & Features

Ligature name

Cluster of Components and Features

Letters ligatured on the left (initial or medial)

Aleph

Beth

Gimel

Daleth

Vav

Zayin

Ḥeth

Ṭeth

Yod

Kaph

Kaph: final

Lamed

Mem

Mem: final

Nun

Nun: final

Samekh

'Ayin

Pe: final

Ṣade

Ṣade: final

Qoph

Resh

Shin/Sin

Tav

Aleph-lamed nexus

Vowel

Diacritic/abbreviation

Letters ligatured on the right (medial or final)

Aleph

Beth

Gimel

Daleth

Vav

Zayin

Ḥeth

Ṭeth

Yod

Kaph

Kaph: final

Lamed

Mem

Mem: final

Nun

Nun: final

Samekh

'Ayin

Pe: final

Ṣade

Ṣade: final

Qoph

Resh

Shin/Sin

Tav

Aleph-lamed nexus

Vowel

Diacritic/abbreviation

Letters ligatured on both sides (must also be tagged as left and right)

Aleph

Beth

Gimel

Daleth

Vav

Zayin

Ḥeth

Ṭeth

Yod

Kaph

Kaph: final

Lamed

Mem

Mem: final

Nun

Nun: final

Samekh

'Ayin

Pe: final

Ṣade

Ṣade: final

Qoph

Resh

Shin/Sin

Tav

Aleph-lamed nexus

Vowel

Diacritic/abbreviation

Location of juncture

Above the line of writing

Below the line of writing

Within the line of writing

Ligature features

Puzzle imbrication

Invisible lines

Connector

Loop

Split letter

Modification of the letter shape

Modification of the letter size

Modification of the letter position relative to the line

Observations

Magical Character

Meshunnah Character Ductus (Optional) General Shape (Optional)

Components & Features

Nexus Ductus (Optional) General Shape (Optional)

Components & Features

Numeral

Arabic

Coptic

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

Zimām

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

1/2

1/3

1/4

1/5

Mozarabic/Toledan

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

10000

Half

Quarter

Third

Rūmī/Fāsī

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Other Numeral Observations

Name

Punctuation

There is no punctuation

Sof pasuq

Dot

2 dots

3 dots

4 dots

Short stroke

2 short strokes

3 short strokes

Paragraph sign: circle

Paragraph sign: decoration

Paragraph sign: '6-shape'

Parashah sign

Haphtara sign

Chapter symbol

(Other)

Other Punctuation Observations

Ṭe'amim

Sof pasuq

Atnaḥ

Segol/shere

Shalshelet

Zaqef qatan

Zaqef gadol

ṭifḥa/ṭarḥa

revia’

Zarqa

Pashṭa/qadma

Shne pashṭin/tre qadmin

Yetiv

Tevir

Pazer

Qarne farah

Telisha gedolah/talsha/tirṣa

Geresh

Gershayim

Paseq/legarmeh

Merkha/maarikh

Munaḥ/shofar holekh/shofar ‘ilui

Mahpakh/shofar hafukh

Darga

Qadma/azla

Telisha qeṭanah (talsha/tarsa)

Merkha kefulah/tere ta’ame/teren ḥuṭrin

Yeraḥ ben yomo/galgal

Geresh muqdam

Atnaḥ hafukh

‘oleh

‘ilui

Deḥi

Ṣinorit

Other Ṭe'amim Observations

Vowel/Diacritic

Babylonian

Ḥireq

Pataḥ (lines)

Pataḥ (dots)

Qameṣ (lines)

Qameṣ (dots)

Ṣere

Ḥolem

Qibbuṣ (lines)

Qibbuṣ (dots)

Ḥitfa (= shewa)

Miniature shin

Miniature samekh

Miniature he

Miniature gimel

Miniature qof

Mid-dot

Compound ḥireq

Compound pataḥ (lines)

Compound pataḥ (dots)

Compound qameṣ (lines)

Compound qameṣ (dots)

Compound ṣere

Compound ḥolem

Compound qibbuṣ (lines)

Compound qibbuṣ (dots)

Palestinian

Pataḥ

Qameṣ

Seghol

Ṣere

Ḥireq

Ḥolem

Qibbuṣ

Dagesh/mappiq/Shewa (L)

Dagesh/mappiq/Shewa (<)

Dagesh/mappiq/Shewa (C)

Rafe

Miniature shin

Miniature samekh

Shin diacritic

Sin diacritic

Tiberian

Pataḥ

Seghol

Qameṣ

Ṣere

Ḥolem

Ḥireq

Shureq

Qibbuṣ

Shewa

Gaʿya

Rafe

Dagesh/mappiq

Meteg

Ḥaṭef pataḥ

Ḥaṭef seghol

Ḥaṭef qameṣ

Silluq (sof pasuq)

Atnaḥ

Shin dot

Sin dot

Arabic

Fatḥa

Kasra

Ḍamma

Tanwīn

Shadda

Sukūn

Other Vowel/Diacritic Observations

Details

Item

BnF MS. Hébreu 851

Collection

Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Paris, France)

Image Name / Folio Number

55r

Created: 26 May 2026, 5:12 p.m. by Miruna-Ștefana Belea

Entry Authors:

How to cite this page: Miruna-Ștefana Belea, 'BnF MS. Hébreu 851: 55r', in: Hebrew Palaeography Album, General Editors: Judith Olszowy-Schlanger. Consulted online at https://www.hebrewpalaeography.com/data/itemimages/2361/?geId=49939&tab=image on 2026-10-16.

Graphic Elements

Divine Symbol

BnF MS. Hébreu 851: Divine Symbol - #49925

Letter

Specimens

BnF MS. Hébreu 851: Main text scribe; Vocaliser - Square

Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Paris, France)