Hebrew Bible in 4 volumes, Geneva, 1617-1618

Complete [18 in 4] volumes, 531+523+469+503 leaves (4 1/4 x 2 7/8 in.; 108 x 73 mm). Including numerous printers' blanks. Owners' notes on fly leaf of vol.I and on several title pages; book titles added in latin; edges tinted. Contemporary vellum on board; gilt stamped heraldic arms top and bottom; spines with manuscript titles; the set housed in 2 modern slipcases of marbled paper over cloth.  A very fine set.

Priory of Grandmont of Rouen (before1787- inscription, title page, vol.1.: Brother Joseph Jayar-inscription, title page, vol.1 and elsewhere).

Steinschneider 420.

An extremely rare complete set of de la Rouvière's miniature edition of the Hebrew Bible

Each of the four volumes in this set is composed of several discrete printing units (see contents list). Based on the quire signatures, page counts and printer's blanks, we can determine that the original intention of the printer was to have the option of issuing these 18 books individually as well as in a set. Each title page gives the date as [5]377 (1617) but a printer's colophon at the end of the last unit (Chronicles) indicates that the work was completed on the 13th of Av, [5]318 (July 28, 1618) by the "German Johann Caspar from Oeder." His name also appears at the end of the Book of Esther in vol. 2.

Typographically, Petrus de la Rouvière's editions of the Hebrew Bible are closely related to the Venetian editions of Giustiniani published in the middle of the 16th century. Because of the similarity between the Hebrew orthography of the city names, Genoa and Geneva, this edition has sometimes been mistakenly identified as a Genoese imprint.  The title pages are entirely in Hebrew, giving the printer's name as  "Kapa [or Kafa] Ilon."  Moritz Steinschneider deciphered the cryptic name and translated it as: "Biblia Eliana, i.e., Petra quercetan, vulgo [Pierre] de la Rouvierre."  Most bibliographers have romanized the Hebrew to "Cephas Elon."  

Contents:

vol. 1: Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy (5 units)

vol. 2: Five Scrolls; Joshua, Judges; Samuel I, II; Kings I, II (4units)

vol. 3: isaiah; Jeremiah; Ezekiel; Minor Prophets (4 units)

vol. 4: Psalms; Proverbs; Job; Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah; Chronicles (5 units)