This very small format (103 x 70 mm) 15th century Hebrew Book of Psalms from Ashkenaz, is representative of private use hand copies, which are more seldom preserved in separate textual units, rather than incorporated in the Hagiographs section of Hebrew bibles or in liturgical manuscripts. Nonetheless, this genre of biblical literature is already attested in the Dead Sea Scrolls, circa 1st-2nd century C.E. (W. Yarchin -JBL- 2015, see also examples from the Cairo Genizah in M. Dukan, 2004) and can therefore affirm its precedency over the Christian Psalter, whose oldest Coptic complete witnesses date back to the 5th century. Small format medieval Hebrew Books of Psalms were also produced in other geo-cultural regions, such as in Spain (see Bibliothèque de Genève, Ms heb. 6, a 14th century Sephardic pocket size rectangular shaped measuring 90 x 110 mm, containing 150 Psalms, see J. Isserles, 2016) and in Italy, where of all medieval Hebrew manuscript Psalters, one of the earliest complete and most important examples to survive is the masterpiece Bibliotheca Palatina, Ms. Parm. 1870 (Cod. De Rossi 510), a profusely illuminated book of 150 Psalms (135 x 100 mm) written and decorated circa 1280 in Northern Italy (see the catalogue description and link to view the digitized manuscript at http://aleph.nli.org.il, [viewed 25.02.2019]). It is also noteworthy to add that Ms Or. 159 consists of 149 Psalms, rather than the canonical 150, which is only one among many configurations found in early and late medieval Hebrew manuscripts, enclosing between 143 and 151 Psalms (W. Yarchin, 2015, p. 360).‎
Tehilim or Psalms (from the Hebrew ‎תהילה‎ (tehilah) meaning ‘praise’) are included in almost every ceremony and prayer of the Jewish liturgical year and it has been customary for centuries to recite the Book of Psalms cyclically each week. In addition to this devotional practice, which is still viewed today in the Jewish Tradition as a vehicle for gaining God's favor, Psalms also conceal a theurgic use, where formulas containing a choice of verses, can be recited in times of trouble, such as poverty, disease or physical danger. One such work containing these verses is the Geonic period Shimmush ha-Tehilim (B. Rebiger, 2010 and G. Bohak, 2015).

• ff. 1r/v : Flyleaf I (beginning of volume): Megillah fragment
• ff. 2r/v Folio 2r: hardly legible writing and two words in Hebrew: ‎אש‎ in red ink and ‎אב‎ in brown ink.
  Folio 2v: Psalterium written in brown ink.
• ff. 3r-160v Book of Psalms Ps. 1 to 149. Each Psalm has been numbered in the lateral margins from ‎א‎ to ‎קמט‎.
  A colophon is found at the end of the manuscript on folio 160v, with the date of 10th Shevat (5)193‎ (10th January 1433 C.E.) and giving the name of the scribe Levi son of Meir ha-Cohen.‎ Transcription:‎ Lines 1 to 3 are in a square script:‎
  זה התהילים נכתב ונסתיים י בשבט
  בשנת קצג' לפרט באלף השישי חזק ונתחזק
  הסופר לוי בר מאיר הכהן ז'צ'ל' לא יזוק
  
  Lines 4-5 have been added later in another bookhand script:‎
  לא היום ולא לעולם עד שיעלה חמור בסולם
  '' '' '' '' '' אשר יעקוב אבינו חלם
  
  Translation:‎
  This Book of Psalms has been written and finished on the 10th of Shevat‎
  In the year 193 according to the small count (of) the 6th millennium, Strength and we shall be strengthened, this scribe Levi bar Meir ha-Cohen may his holy memory be blessed, will not be subjected to any damage
  Not today nor forever until a donkey climbs on a ladder
  Of which Jacob our Father has dreamt.
  
  ‎
• f. 161r/v : Blank Page
• f. 162r/v : Flyleaf I (back of volume)‎
  • Flyleaf Iv: illegible Hebrew cursive script in brown ink.
• f. 163r/v : Flyleaf II (back of volume)
  • Flyleaf IIr: C. 64.210 in red ink and app 64 in brown ink. (number 64 barred out).
  • Flyleaf IIv: illegible Latin script in brown ink.
• f. 164r/v : Flyleaf III (back of volume)
  • Flyleaf IIIr: Partial undecipherable Latin note.
  • Flyleaf IIIv: Latin note on paper stuck to the manuscript in with a brief description of the content of the manuscript, name of scribe and date in brown ink and old shelfmarks:C. 64.210 in red ink and app 64 in brown ink. Both have been barred out and the shelfmark Or. 159, written in grey pencil below.