Mareh Kohen – illustrated and colorful manuscript on parchment, arranged for a kohen in unique pocket format. Colorful title page, illustrated with flowers and handprints – portrayed in the position the kohanim hold them as they bless the Jewish people. Bound in the original leather binding, with the title in gilt lettering, and a gold border. Gilt page edges. The book’s title page bears the inscription “SeferMareh Cohen, written in honor of the officer Rabbi Chaim son of Rabbi Moshe Cohen Schuster of Frankfurt am Main by the youth Yaakov Shmuel son of Rabbi Azriel Cohen, scribe of the Amsterdam community …” [Concludes with a chronogram which works out to תקע”ב 1812] This is a unique pocket format written for a kohen, so that he won’t have to carry a larger prayer book during parts of the prayer service when doing so is less convenient. The book includes the Priestly Blessing (in which the kohen stands and blesses the congregation), Hallel and Hoshanot according to the Western Ashkenaz custom (so that he may easily hold both the book and the four species), parts of the Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services in which the kohen must stand before and after the blessing, and Birkat HaLevanah (to avoid carrying a larger prayer book). Part of the prayers are preceded by instructions, some of them in Ivri-Teitch. There is an ex-libris at the front of the book. The beginning and end of the book bear owner’s inscriptions in a foreign language. [1], 24, [5] pages. 13 cm. Vowelized scribal script. With artistic serifs. Very fine condition, minimal aging stains.