Arbaah VeEsrim – Bible, with commentary in Italian, three parts – Neviim Rishonim, Neviim Acharonim and Ketuvim. Venice: Bragadin, [1739-1741]. Three parts in three volumes (does not include Torah part).

Elegant Bible edition, with a brief Italian commentary, prepared for press and published by Yitzchak Foa (a printer in Bragadin's press). The present set contains three out of the four parts. Each part opens with an engraved frontispiece depicting figures from the Bible, produced by Francesco Griselini, designer of an illustrated Book of Esther which was published several years later in Venice. Each frontispiece consists of an elaborate engraving within a decorative engraved border (printed in two stages – first the borders and then the engravings in center). The central engravings depict the figures of Joshua, Samuel and David (Neviim Rishonim); Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Neviim Acharonim); and King David with his lyre reciting Psalms (Ketuvim). In some copies, the central engravings were printed in sepia; in the present copy they were printed in black; another copy of the engraving was printed in the Neviim Acharonim part in sepia (detached, like the engraving in the Neviim Rishonim part).

Divisional title pages for all three parts. Frontispieces with engravings facing title page in all three parts.

Three volumes. Neviim Rishonim: [2], 2-108 lea
ves. Neviim Acharonim: [3], 130-228, 209-223 leaves. Ketuvim: [2], [225]-347 leaves. Lacking last leaf. 26 cm. Varying condition of volumes; first and third volume in overall fair condition, second volume in good-fair condition. Stains, including dark dampstains (many dampstains to last leaves of third volume). Tears and open tears in several places, affecting text. Worming (mainly to first volume), affecting text. Early leather bindings, with gilt decorations and original color endpaper. Wear, worming and damage to bindings.