Bible – Five Books of the Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim. Amsterdam: Menasseh Ben Israel, [1638] (title page misdated 1639).

Small-format volume. Early leather binding (new spine).

At end of book, haftarah chart.

One of the only Bible editions at the time printed by Jews.

Two columns per page, like the Bible edition used by R. Aryeh Levin for Goral HaGra, following a special tradition transmitted from the Vilna Gaon.

[1], 2-112; 144, 144-166 leaves; [1] blank leaf, 94, [4] leaves. Misfoliation. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Light wear. Marginal tears to several leaves (on title page, minute open tear affecting secular date). Large open tear to one leaf (Book of Iyov), heavily affecting text, repaired with paper, with handwritten replacement. Close trimming, slightly affecting text of several leaves. Colophon on last leaf trimmed and mounted on paper. Early leather binding, with new spine. Wear and defects to binding.

The Hebrew and secular dates on the title page do not correspond – the Hebrew chronogram indicates 1638, while the secular year stated is 1639. However, the colophon at the end of the book clearly dates the completion of the book in the month of Sivan, Parashat Bamidbar, 1638.

Bookplate of Mozes Heiman Gans.