Machzor, Aram Tzova - Venice, 1527 - Part 2 - Partial Copy - Rare

Machzor, Aram Tzova (Aleppo) rite. Part 2. Venice, [1527]. Printed by Daniel Bomberg. Only edition. Rare edition printed in Venice for the Aleppo (Halab) Syrian Jewish community. This machzor preserves a very early version of the text which has been forgotten with time and has been exchanged for the version used by the Sephardim (following the Spanish expulsion, at the time Jews settled in the East). This version preserves ancient Eretz Yisraeli rites and contains many unique customs and piyyutim, including customs unknown from any other source. Incomplete copy containing 351 of 391 leaves (and a number of leaves enclosed – additional copies of leaves bound in the machzor). These leaves contain Hasha'anot for Succot and for Hoshanah Rabba, prayers for Shemini Atzeret and for Simchat Torah, Tikun Chanuka, declaration of fast-days, Shacharit, Selichot for the Asara B'Tevet, Tikun Purim, Tzom (Ta'anit) Esther, Purim, Tikun Pesach, Lel Pesach, Shacharit for Pesach, Pesach songs, Tractate Avot, the Festival of Shavu'ot, Azharot of R. Shlomo Ibn Gvirol for the Festival of Shavu'ot, Tikun Shiva Asar B'Tamuz, Tikun Shabbatot, for Shabbat Eichah, Erev Tisha B'Av, Tisha B'Av, Seder Me'ah Berachot. On leaf 378 is a text for declaring the Tisha B'Av fast on the Shabbat preceding the fast-day, with a decorative frame. On the verso is a notice by the printers that they decided to add the weekday prayers to Part 2 as well to make it easier for those who buy the machzor. On leaf 539 is a woodcut-framed title page for the Azharot. 261-263, 265-304, 306-311, 313-320, 322-324, 326-327, 329-344, 346-351, 353-388, 390-394, 399-454, 457-472, 474-479, 481-528, 530-535, 538-543, 545-551, 554-559, 561-578, 583, 586-590, 593-600, 602-640, 642-645 leaves. Total of 352 leaves. [5] replaced leaves (in Yemenite script). 16 cm. Fair condition. Stains and dampstains. Wear and tears to margins. Detached quires and leaves. Enclosed leaves: 281, 417-422, 424-432, 458-461, 463. Total of 20 leaves. Fair-poor condition (removed from the "Binding Geniza" with various damages to text). Very rare. Only few copies of this machzor are known - all are incomplete. Provenance: Sassoon family collection.