Sewall, Stephen | Inscribed by Stephen Sewall

Sewall, Stephen

An Hebrew Grammar, collected chiefly from those of Israel Lyons and Rev. Richard Grey … to which is subjoined a praxis, taken from the sacred classics and containing a specimen of the whole Hebrew language with a sketch of the Hebrew poetry as retrieved by Bishop Hare. Boston: Printed by R. and S. Draper for the Honorable and Reverend the President and Fellows of Harvard College, 1763

8vo (180 x 130 mm). Half-title, tables; ownership inscription dated 1779 in upper right corners of half-title and title-page clipped, some text browning. Contemporary quarter sheep over marbled boards; boards and spine much rubbed and faded, endpapers browned.

Second Hebrew grammar produced in America, preceded only by Monis’s Hebrew Grammar published in 1735 (see lot 338). Presentation copy, inscribed by the author: "For Mr. John Lovell from his most Hble. Servt. S.S." Stephen Sewall (1734–1804) was professor of Hebrew at Harvard and one of the leading Eastern scholars of his day. He succeeded Judah Monis as instructor in Hebrew at Harvard in 1761, a position Sewall held for more than twenty years.

PROVENANCE

John Lovell (presentation inscription "For Mr. John Lovell from his most Hble. Servt. S.S.") — J. Parker — Mr. Biglow (inscription, "Mr. Biglow from his Friend J. Parker")

REFERENCE

ESTC W20434; Evans 9514; Rosenbach, American Jewish Bibliography 43