Hebrew Bible, Mikra'ot Gedolot (Biblia Rabbinica), Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1524-1525

4 volumes, folio (14 5/8 x 9½ in.; 372 x 242 mm). collation: I: 1^{6, 1-288, 294=234 leaves; II: 30-548, 5510=210 leaves; III: 56-818, 823=212 leaves; IV: 83-1188, 11910=298 leaves, Four titles within woodcut architectural frames, woodcut headpieces; first title spotted and stained, lower margin of second title renewed, marginal spotting and soiling, occasional mended tears in margins, a few leaves lightly browned or mended (e.g. I: 28_{1 and 8), top margin cut close occasionally catching a headline, lower outer corner of last two leaves in vol. 3 mended touching a letter, last two leaves of vol. 4 strengthened on stubs, occasional crossouts and holes due to ink deterioration, quires 80 and 97 misbound, quires 102-103 stained. Censors' inscriptions  (Vittorio Eliano on the final folio of volumes 1, 3, 4; Renato da Modena, 1626 on the final folio of volume 1). Antique calf, gilt-ruled triple-fillet frames with floral stamps at four corners; a few stains and scratches.}}

Rabbi Moses Judah Belgrado (inscriptions of his father's death in 1667 and his wife's death on the final folio of volume 1)

Vinograd, Venice 93; Haberman 89; Steinschneider 5399, 1; Marvin Heller, The Sixteenth-Century Hebrew Book, p. 168-9

4 volumes, folio (14 5/8 x 9 1/2 in.; 372 x 242 mm). collation: I: 16, 1-288, 294=234 leaves; II: 30-548, 5510=210 leaves; III: 56-818, 823=212 leaves; IV: 83-1188, 11910=298 leaves, Four titles within woodcut architectural frames, woodcut headpieces; first title spotted and stained, lower margin of second title renewed, marginal spotting and soiling, occasional mended tears in margins, a few leaves lightly browned or mended (e.g. I: 281 and 8), top margin cut close occasionally catching a headline, lower outer corner of last two leaves in vol. 3 mended touching a letter, last two leaves of vol. 4 strengthened on stubs, occasional crossouts and holes due to ink deterioration, quires 80 and 97 misbound, quires 102-103 stained. Censor's inscription (Vittorio Eliano on the final folios of volumes 1, 3, 4; Renatus a Muntina, 1626 on the final folio of volume 1). Antique calf, gilt-ruled triple-fillet frames with floral stamps at four corners; a few stains and scratches.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A magnificent copy of the second Biblia Rabbinica, the first to include the Masorah

In 1516 Daniel Bomberg, a wealthy Christian, was granted the privilege of publishing Hebrew books in Venice. Among the first works he printed in 1516-17 was the Mikra'ot Gedolot (Rabbinic Bible) a folio edition of the entire Bible with the leading commentaries. Pope Leo X gave his imprimatur for this book and Felix Pratensis, a monk who had been born a Jew, was the editor. Bomberg published the edition because of growing interest in the Hebrew language and the Bible among learned Christians. An adept businessman, Bomberg quickly perceived that there was also a substantial market for Hebrew texts among the Jews of Italy, whose numbers had been increased by an influx of Spanish and Portuguese Jews exiled from the Iberian Peninsula. The commentaries of Rashi, Nahmanides, and Gersonides attracted the Jewish clientele, but the editorship of an apostate and the blessing of the Pope led many Jews to avoid the 1516-17 edition.  Six years later in 1524, Bomberg's second Rabbinic Bible appeared. No effort was spared to produce the finest Bible possible.  It was printed in four volumes each with its own title page. The initial word of each book is set within a large decorative woodcut frame surrounded by a square made up of lines, varying in number, comprising the masoretic rubrics. At the end of each book is the masoretic summary. Each page is arranged in four columns, with the inner columns comprising the biblical text and the Aramaic translation, Targum Onkelos. The outer columns contain the commentaries of Rashi and ibn Ezra. Above and below the inner columns is the Masorah Magna and in the space between these two columns is the Masorah Parva. In the narrow outer column are portions of the Masorah Parva that did not fit between the text and Targum.

This time Bomberg emphasized that his printers were pious Jews, as was his scholarly editor, Jacob ben Haim ibn Adonijah. The second Rabbinic Bible became the determinative biblical text, first for Jews and subsequently for the scholarly world as well. All future editions reflect this outstanding edition.  Bomberg's press was active until 1549 and in all, more than two hundred Hebrew books were produced in his shop.