Hebrew)

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 60

(BIBLE

Hebrew)

Edited by Jacob ben Chaim ibn Adonijah of Tunis. With Targum Onkeles and commentary by Rashi, ibn Ezra, Kimchi, Targum, etc. Four volumes, each with title within architectural arch, initial letters within elaborate woodcut border. On final page of Vol. II, censors' inscriptions Vol. I (Pentateuch): ff. (1), 234. * Vol. II (Nevi'im Rishonim): ff. 206 (of 208). * Vol. III (Nevi'im Acharonim): ff. (1), 211. * Vol. IV (Kethuvim): ff. 249 (of 297) (wanting single leaf of Job and entire section of the Five Scrolls). Vol. I and II titles remargined. Waterstained and wormed. Some crude repairs (including titles). Modern blind-tooled calf. Folio Vinograd, Venice 99; Habermann, Bomberg 93; Darlow & Moule 5085; not in Adams

Venice: Daniel Bomberg 1524-5

Est: $10,000 - $15,000

PRICE REALIZED $19,000

The Second Biblia Rabbinica, the first to present the Masorah. The text of this edition became the standard Masoretic text for all subsequent editions. See D.S. Berkowitz, In Remembrance of Creation (1968), no. 166. The first Biblia Rabbinica, printed by Bomberg in 1516-7 (see lot 62) was edited by the apostate Jew Felix Pratensis and contained the Imprimatur of the Pope. Bomberg realized that these two facts marginalized the Great Bible from the Jewish market. Bomberg therefore employed the Jew, Jacob b. Chaim ibn Adonijah, as editor of the Second Biblia Rabbinica. A meticulous, and most knowledgeable editor, Joseph b. Chaim went to great pains to secure as many Massoretic codices as possible. For the first time, there was issued a printed Hebrew Bible with a marginal masorah, which, as intended by Bomberg, was received with broad acclaim by the Jewish market. THUS, THIS 1524 EDITION BIBLE MAY BE SAID TO BE THE FIRST “JEWISH” RABBINIC BIBLE