(BIBLE, Hebrew).

AUCTION 54 | Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 at 1:00

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

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Lot 71

(BIBLE, Hebrew).

Edited by Jacob b. Chaim of Tunis. With Targum Onkeles and commentary by Rashi, ibn Ezra, Kimchi, Targum, etc. Complete in four volumes. Each with title within architectural arch, initial letters within elaborate woodcut border. Divisional half-titles. Vol. I: ff. 234 (four early leaves misbound, as most copies). * Vol. II: ff. 209. * Vol. III: 211. Includes Italian ownership inscription, Vercelli (Piedmont), 1801. * Vol. IV: 297. A fine complete copy including all blank leaves. Bound in 17th century full vellum. Minimal wear in places, few small marginal worm tracings, title page of Vol. III worn and laid down. Light wear to bindings, othwerwise an excellent set. Folio. Vinograd, Venice 99; Habermann, Bomberg 93; Darlow & Moule 5085.

Venice: Daniel Bomberg 1524-5

Est: $50,000 - $70,000

PRICE REALIZED $45,000

<<The Second Mikra’oth Gedoloth (Biblia Rabbinica) Printed. A FINE, wide margined copy bound in 17th-century full vellum. >>The first Rabbinic Bible to present the Massorah. The text of this edition became the standard Massoretic 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 was edited by the apostate Jew Felix Pratensis and contained the Imprimatur of the Pope. Bomberg quickly realized that these two facts marginalized the Great Bible from the Jewish market. Bomberg therefore employed Jacob b. Chaim ibn Adonijah, newly arrived in Venice (after being driven out of Spain and then Tunis), as editor of the Second Biblia Rabbinica. A meticulous, and most knowledgeable Jewish editor, Joseph b. Chaim went to great pains to secure as many codices with a Massorah as possible. For the first time, there was issued a printed Hebrew Bible with a marginal Massorah, which, as hoped by Bomberg, was received with acclaim by the Jewish market. <<Thus, this bible may be said to be the first jewish rabbinic bible. >>Provenance: The Property of a European gentleman, in whose possession this Bible has been for more than 60 years.