Manuscript, siddur for Minchah and Maariv prayers, and prayers for various occasions, with halachot, customs and kavanot. Baghdad, [1859].

Miniature format. Neat Oriental semi-cursive script (characteristic of Baghdad; square script in several places), written alternately in black ink and red ink. Decorated title page at beginning of siddur. Another decorated title page for "Petichat Eliyahu". Decorated Shiviti leaf, with two menorahs. Other text menorahs on pp. 57, 64. All pages framed in red ink, with other decorations.

The title page at the beginning of the siddur states the location of writing, chronogram and name of scribe: "Minchah and Maariv, year-round, for each Rosh Chodesh and Shabbat, Chanukah, Purim, the three festivals, with full Hallel for the night of Pesach… Petichat Eliyahu… and the bedtime reading of Shema, Tikun Chatzot and Shir HaShirim, and some halachot… here in Baghdad… in the year [1859], Ezra Nisim R. Mordechai Chazan".

The siddur comprises: Petichat Eliyahu; an introduction; order of prayer by R. Meir for Minchah of Shabbat when taking out the Torah scroll; Minchah; Maariv for Rosh Chodesh; laws of Chanukah; Tikun Chanukah; Maariv; bedtime reading of Shema; Tikun Chatzot; Kabbalat Shabbat, with Shir HaShirim; Maariv for Shabbat; Minchah for Shabbat; Maariv for Purim; blessing over trees; Maariv for Pesach, with Amidah for the three festivals, and Hallel; and psalms for Shavuot, Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret.

The prayer text incorporates halachot and practices, including some based on kabbalah, and kabbalistic Kavanot.

On p. 4 (in blank leaves between title page and beginning of siddur), dedication of writer to philanthropist Albert (Abdullah) David Sassoon: "A gift sent from me to the wealthy… R. Abdullah Meir son of… the wealthy R. David Sassoon Saleh David Yaakov, today, Friday, 28th Cheshvan 1859. Ezra Nisim R. Mordechai Chazan".

The siddur later came into the possession of the famous philanthropist and collector David Solomon Sassoon, and is recorded in Ohel David (Descriptive Catalogue of the Hebrew and Samaritan Manuscripts in the Sassoon Library), p. 227, item no. 60. Two other manuscripts written by Ezra son of Nissim son of Mordechai Chazan are recorded in the Sassoon collection: Sharh Eichah, written in 1838 (Ohel David, p. 37, no. 241), and Shir HaShirim with Targum and Sharh, written in Bombay, 1840, and presented to the philanthropist David Chai son of R. Yechezkel Avraham Matzliach (Ohel David, p. 31, no. 550).

Another known manuscript written by the same scribe is an anthology of poems written in Bombay, 1844 – Benayahu Ms. B 10.

On verso of title page, official stamp (in English) of David Solomon Sassoon, with the family coat of arms in its center; on last page, personal stamp of David Solomon Sassoon, inscribed in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

158 pages (late pencil pagination; a few pages blank). 9.5 cm. Good condition. A few stains. Fabric bookmark, torn. Original leather binding (in a case).

Formerly Sassoon Ms. 60 (Ohel David – Descriptive Catalogue of the Hebrew and Samaritan Manuscripts in the Sassoon Library, p. 227).