(BIBLE

AUCTION 44 | Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 59

(BIBLE

Polyglot. PSALMS) Psalterium, Hebreum, Grecum, Arabicum & Chaldeum, cum tribus latinis interpretationibus & glossis. Edited and with Latin commentary by Agostino Giustiniani. Text printed in eight columns across double-page: Hebrew, literal Latin translation from the Hebrew, Latin Vulgate, Greek Septuagint, Arabic, Chaldee or Aramaic Targum, literal Latin translation from the Chaldee ff. 200. Complete, although mispaginated. Touch stained. Later speckled claf, spine in compartements, gilt, few neat repairs to extremities. Sm. folio Vinograd, Genoa 1; Adams B-1370; Darlow & Moule 1411

Genoa: Petrus Paulus Porrus for Nicolo Giustiniani Paulo 1516

Est: $10,000 - $15,000

PRICE REALIZED $15,000

First Polyglot Bible Edition. The Second Book Printed in Arabic. The Only Book Printed at Genoa in the First Quater of the Sixteenth Century. With An Early Reference to Christopher Columbus’ Discovery of America. The learned Dominican Agostino Giustiniani, Bishop of Nebbio in Corsica, and later Professor of Hebrew at the College de France spared no expense in the preparation of this first polyglot edition of the Book of Psalms. His “Scholia” commentary reveals considerable scholarship. Of particular interest are his comments to Psalm 19, verse 4; “Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.” On this verse the bishop says; “In our own times, by his wonderful daring, Christopher Columbus, the Genoese, has discovered almost another world...as Columbus has maintained that God chose him as the instrument for the fulfillment of the prophecy [of this verse], I deem it proper here to refer to his life...” The lengthly note contains previously unpublished information on Columbus’ life and second voyage