[Selections from the Bible]

(RUSSIA)

for the Holy Synod

St. Petersburg

1816

Title and preface in Russian. Text in Hebrew, with Nikud

Unknown to Vinograd

The First Hebrew Book Printed in St. Petersburg, and precedes Vinograd’s earliest St. Petersburg’s imprint by nearly twenty years. See also Rosenfeld, Gazetteer, no.290 (not located). Selections from the Old Testament for the use of students of Hebrew in the St. Petersburg Seminary of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Russian preface notes that shortage of time prevented the printing of the entire Bible, hence the present selection of excerpts. It is probable that the Church was reluctant to utilize Hebrew Bibles printed by Jews, which were presumably readily available