Decorated manuscript, siddur for Shacharit and Musaf prayers of Shabbat, Shabbat Rosh Chodesh and three festivals. [Baghdad, early 20th century].
Complete manuscript, written and decorated with an artistic hand throughout. Pocket format. Oriental semi-cursive and square scripts. Initial panels illustrated and decorated (enlarged) in various colors. All pages have headers and initial words in decorative frames (enlarged, with paint, floral motifs and more; foliated with Eastern Arabic numerals within upper header). Some initial panels decorated with various illustrations around them, such as leaves, birds, fish, vases and more. Especially large decorations in several places, at times taking up about a third or half of the page.
The title page is designed as a sort of "rug", at the center of which is written (in rhyme and non-standard orthography): "I place my signature on my book in iron pen and perfect letter, lest it be lost and I pay ransom, and this is my name below the signature", followed by the name of the owner or scribe: "Having faith in G-d, Shaul Garji Agajan Avraham Mari Menashe" (see ownership inscription quoted below).
On p. 9a – Initial word (Lefichach) appears within an illustration of a rifle, with a caption in Hebrew (semi-cursive and cursive) and Arabic: "Mauser" (a German weapons manufacturer that lent its name to the rifles they produced). Another illustration of weaponry in the initial panel (Elu) on p. 7b – an illustration of a battle-axe (tabar), captioned in Judeo-Arabic, apparently meaning "tried and true".
All decorations variously colored (apparently colored pencils or pastels). On title page and initial panel on verso, also filled in with gold color.
The handwriting and decorations are characteristic of Baghdad; see for instance: manuscripts from the Gross Family Collection, IQ.011.007, auctioned at Kedem, Auction 92, Part II, Lot 133; and IQ.011.002, auctioned at Kedem, Auction 94, Part I, Lot 25.
The siddur includes: Shacharit, beginning with morning blessings, Korbanot and Ketoret, Pesukei DeZimra, Shema blessings, Shacharit and Musaf for Shabbat, Hallel, Musaf for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, and Shacharit and Musaf for festivals.
At end of manuscript (on blank page after leaf 83), ownership inscription in another hand (cursive Judeo-Arabic): "This copy belongs to Shaul Garji son of Agajan son of Avraham son of Mari son of Menashe son of Mulla David son of Mulla Yosef son of Mulla Pinchas son of Mulla Ghiyas Yazdi".
83 leaves (original foliated in Eastern Arabic numerals). 13.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Marginal tears to several leaves. Several leaves detached. Original leather binding, with metal decorations. Binding loose, with defects to spine.
