Hebrew Bible, in Three Volumes with the Commentary of Rabbi David Kimhi on the Minor Prophets, Robert Estienne, Paris:1539-43

Complete in three volumes, various pagination as follows: vol. I: [i], 579; vol. II: 501 [i], 180, 71; vol. III: 59, 151, 53 [i], 79, 124, 163, 139, 47, 66 [i], 20, 44, 8, 14 [i], 32, 15, 19, 16, 12, 59, 17. Printer's insignia on the title-page of each part of this work; brief colophons set in Hebrew semi-cursive type; Hebrew incipits within cartouche headpieces. Modern pencil notations. Occasional marginal notes in Latin and Hebrew. Some light staining and soiling in Pentateuch; a very few leaves laid to size or with minor tears repaired, otherwise a crisp copy. Contemporary polished russet calf, covers paneled with two French fillets, tooled cornerpieces and central arabesque; very skillfully rebacked to style with some minor restoration to corners and elsewhere.

Premonstratensian Abbey of Joyenval (Gaudii vallis), 1659- inscription on title page, vol. II; Rabbi Judah ben Abraham of Herlsheim-inscription f. 1v of vol I

Elizabeth Armstrong,  Robert Estienne - Royal Printer - An Historical Study of the Elder Stephanus, Cambridge: 1954; Moreau/Renouard 1158. Steinschneider 99a II. Zedner 97. Darlow & Moule 5089. Adams B1221. Vinograd, Paris 16.

Contents: Vol. 1: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy;  Vol. 2: Joshua, Judges, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah.; Vol. 3: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Minor Prophets

This deluxe complete edition of the Hebrew Bible was printed by Robert Estienne ( also called Stephanus), of the famous family of French printers. It was issued in 13 parts, each available separately, over a period of four years between 1539-1544. One of two separate editions of the Hebrew Bible printed by Stephanus, this wide-margined quarto, is printed with several different Hebrew fonts, and clearly demonstrates the commitment of Robert Estienne to the production of beautiful Hebrew books. After finding the existing Hebrew type available to him in Paris unacceptable, Estienne had new typefaces cut for the quarto Bible by Jean Arnould, considered one of  the most skilled typecutters of the age. One of the first sections published in 1539 (Twelve Minor Prophets) includes the comprehensive commentary of Rabbi David Kimhi.