Manuscript – Sefer Pizmonim – Livorno, 1766 – Illustrated Title Page

Manuscript, "Sefer Pizmonim (songbook), to sing with a pleasant voice…". Livorno, [1766].
Illustrated title within architectural border. Italian square script, in brown ink. The manuscript contains 105 piyyutim and songs in Hebrew, for Shabbat and other occasions, to be sung out loud as the title page states. Italian titles with the musical terms: Recitativo and Aria, were added to leaves 12-13.
Some of the piyyutim are not recorded in Davidson's Thesaurus of Mediaeval Hebrew Poetry.
Many leaves in this volume are empty. Some of these leaves contain additions in a later handwriting. The empty leaves preceding the title page contain: an inscription in Italian, mentioning the year 1835 (in Hebrew); poems by the Radak, and other passages. Leaves [20]-[26], [28]-[29] contain various lists, copyings of poems, and more. Leaves [26]-[27] contain Italian inscriptions dated 1839, some signed by S. de Paz.
The leaves at the end of the volume contain an index of the piyyutim, by the first writer.
The signature "Sh.Z.Ch.H" (the researcher and collector Shlomo Zalman Chaim Halberstam) appears on the first leaf. Stamps of the Montefiore collection appear in several places.
[1], [78] leaves. Leaves [30]-[75] are empty. Altogether 33 written leaves. 15 cm. Good condition. Stains. Light wear. The first leaf partially detached. Original leather binding, slightly damaged.
Provenance: Collection of Shlomo Zalman Chaim Halberstam, no. 395; London – Montefiore, no. 239.