Manuscript, Perush HaMishnayot L'HaRambam, Seder Moed – Yemen, 1900.
The original work as written by the Rambam in Arabic (Judeo-Arabic). Handsome scribal writing with colophon on the last page, signed by the scribe "Chaim ben Sali al-Kasar" from 1900. Marginalia also by al-Kasar, who was a Torah scholar and scribe.
Inscription that same page and another inscription on the flyleaf from 1904 regarding the sale of "This honorable object the commentary of our Master the Rambam" sold to the scribe's relatives, "Two affluent men, Chaim and Yichye, heirs of the wealthy Salam ben Salim al-Kasar, by the son-in-law of their mother's brother Chaim ben Salim al-Kasar, an acquisition given with love and goodwill, who loves them like a relative and they are part of one family…All the Torah blessings shall rest upon them and they shall succeed and earn, they and their offspring until the end of all generations, Amen".
The scribe is the Torah scholar Mari Chaim ben Saliman (Shlomo) al Kasar (1859-1912), a Sana scholar and disciple of Rabbi Chaim Korach. He was orphaned from his father at a young age and his sister's husband, the affluent Shalom ben Shlomo (Salam ben Saliman al-Kasar), supported him financially and even gave his daughter to him in marriage. Rabbi Chaim ben Saliman earned his livelihood as a jeweler and book copier. He was very active in attaining exact versions for the Tafsir of Rav Se'adia Gaon and of the Perush HaMishanayot L'HaRambam. He wrote glosses for halachic and homiletic books, commentaries on the Torah, commentaries and old versions of Targum Unkelos (sections of these compositions were printed in various places). He also wrote several poems and piyutim, some of which were printed in various diwan poetry books. (See the Hebrew Encyclopedia Le'Chachmei Teman, Vol. 1, p. 277). This book was sold to his cousin, the wealthy Salam al-Kasar, who was also his brother-in-law, his wife's brother.
110 leaves, 34 cm. Thick high-quality paper [locally
produced], good-fair condition, many worm damages. Unbound.