Manuscript, Diwan, songs and piyyutim for various festivals and occasions. [Yemen, ca. 18th and 19th centuries].
Volume combining gatherings apparently originating from two diwans, from different periods. The second part (beginning on leaf [106]) is vocalized, with headers decorated in red ink. Leaves are lacking in several places, and other leaves are integrated into it, by various writers from earlier times, supplemented at later dates (the original foliation is not continuous, due to the combination of several early diwans into a single volume).
At the end of Part I of the volume (p. [104]a), an index to the songs is added in a later hand. In the middle of the same index (p. [104]b), earlier ownership inscription of "Shlomo son of Yichya". On p. [105]b, signed ownership inscription from an earlier period, by R. Oded son of Shlomo Mantzur: "This is my portion from all my labor. I verbally thank G-d, Who granted me the merit to purchase this Sefer Yedidut, called Diwan in Arabic, from my wealth and my labor, I Awad son of Sulei[man] Mantzur… of the month of Menachem [Av]… 224[1?] Seleucid era [1931?]…" (with calligraphic signature).
Like other diwans, many piyyutim are by the great Yemenite poets R. Shalom Shabazi "Abu Yehudah Shabazi" and R. Yichya al-Dahiri. On leaf 88 (p. [76a]), title: "Nashwad – and these are the nashwad of the diwan of R. Salim al-Shabazi, who is truly peerless in his songs and praises" (see a similar text from another diwan manuscript documented by Y. Ratzabi, "R. Shalom Shabazi and His Poetry", Sefunot IX, 1965, p. 164, and note 274).
Narrow, long format (somewhat smaller than ordinary). Neat writing, with decorated headers and decorative illustrations (decorations in red ink to second part of volume).
[142] leaves. Approx. 7-7.5X22 cm. Varying condition. Stains and wear. Open tears affecting text, including leaves lacking large portions of text. All leaves repaired with paper. New leather binding.
