Manuscript, Tiklal Siddur – Yemen, 1652

Manuscript, Tiklal Siddur – Yemen, 1652
Manuscript, Tiklal siddur. Prayers and piyyutim for the year-round and festivals. Migdala Chekel (Yemen), 13th Adar [1652].
Large format volume. Vowelized Yemenite script (supralinear vocalization, and in several passages, sublinear). A colophon at the end of the siddur marks the completion of the manuscript on Thursday, 13th Adar [1652], in Migdala Chekel [a settlement in the center of Yemen, southwest of Sana'a]. Commentaries and additions appear in the margins in the scribe's handwriting.
The manuscript contains prayers for weekdays (missing the beginning) and Shabbat - including Pirkei Avot (a note appears in the margin of the introduction to Masechet Avot: "We have proofread it against the book Millei D'Avot by R. Yosef Chayun, therefore you will find some variations in comparison to the Yemenite rite"); prayers for Rosh Chodesh and Festivals: Pesach - including the Pesach Haggadah ("Seder HaAsiya B'Leilei Pesach"); Shavuot - including the "Azharot" piyyutim by R. Shlomo ibn Gabirol [not generally found in Yemenite siddurim of the 17th century, see M. Gavra's article in "Mechkarim B'Siddurei Teiman", pp. 295-296]; prayers and lamentations for Tisha B'Av; Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - including "Keter Malchut" by R. Shlomo ibn Gabirol; Sukkot - including Hoshaanot; Chanukah – including "Megilat Beit Chashmonai"; Purim; service for funerals; "Seder Selichot L'Leilei Ashmurot" - including "El Melech" piyyutim and Piyyutei Maranot [piyyutim beginning in the word "Maran"]; "Seder Avodah"; the texts of Brachot - including Birkat HaMazon; the texts of marriage and other contracts; calendar of tekufot and moladot for the years 1651-1693; "Tochachot UBakashot" - various piyyutim, including piyyutim for the groom.
Bound at the end of the manuscript is another manuscript, the Book of Iyov (ending in the middle of Chapter 19 and lacking the rest. Apparently written separately, in Yemenite script with sublinear vocalization).
[85] leaves. 29.5 cm. Fair condition, wear and stains. The beginning of the manuscript is missing, as well as half its first page. New cloth binding.
A famous scribe, R. Chaim ben Shalom al-Hajaji, operated at the time of the writing in the "Migdala Chekel" village mentioned in the colophon. More than a dozen of his manuscripts, written between the years 1644-1656, are scattered in libraries throughout the world (JTS, New York City Library, London, Bar-Ilan, Schocken, Benayahu Collection). See Encyclopedia LeChachmei Teiman, vol. 1, pp. 136-137; Encyclopedia of Yemenite Communities, p. 291. By comparison to copies of some of the manuscripts of the above libraries (see enclosed copies), it appears that this manuscript was also written by the scribe R. Chaim ben Shalom al-Hajaji.