Manuscript, Shir Hashirim with Kurdish Translation – Illustrated Title Page

Manuscript, Shir Hashirim, with Midrashic translation into Jewish-Kurdish (Aramaic). [Kurdistan], 1881.
First page illustrated with a floral frame, surrounded by the verse "His arms are rods of gold set with beryl…" and the year 1881. The verse and its Midrash are brought one after the other.
The Jewish-Kurdish translation is a dialect of the Aramaic language. After the Arab conquest in the 7th century and Islamic conversion throughout the Middle East, the population gradually started to speak Arabic causing the Aramaic language to become almost extinct. Aramaic survived only in small communities, mainly among the Kurdistan Jews.
[20] leaves. Missing leaves. 17.5 cm. Fair condition. Wear, dark moisture stains and ink stains. One leaf has coarse tears with damage to text. New binding.