(BIBLE, Hebrew). Torah Nevi’im u-Kethuvim / Biblia Hebraica…Editio Prima Americana.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

Thomas Dobson

Philadelphia

1814

Complete in two volumes. Hebrew without Nikud (vowel points). Latin explanatory notes by Van der Hooght. Despite some even foxing, an attractive copy of a most important work.

Vinograd, Philadelphia 6; Singerman 236; Rosenbach 171; Darlow & Moule 5168a.

THE FIRST HEBREW BIBLE PRINTED IN AMERICA. “In the year 1812, Mr. Horwitz had proposed the publication of an edition of the Hebrew Bible, being the first proposal of the kind ever offered in the United States.” The present copy contains the rare notice transferring J. Horowitz’s copyright and list of subscribers to Thomas Dobson (see end Volume Two). According to Vaxer, this first American Hebrew Bible represents a reproduction of the first edition of the Van de Hooght Bible issued in Amsterdam in 1705. In the Amsterdam edition, the borders of the title pages were decorated with fanciful adornments. Dobson, the American publisher was at a loss to find a suitable engraver and had to make do without the ornaments. Additionaly, due to the war with the British (i. e. the War of 1812, which was not concluded until 1815), the quality of paper obtainable was not deemed suitable for reproduction of plates. See M. Vaxer, The First Hebrew Bible Printed in America, in: Journal of Jewish Bibliography, Vol. II (1940) pp. 20-26. AN IMPORTANT “FIRST” OF AMERICANA.