Sha'ar Bet HaShem ha-Kadmoni (Third Rabbinic Bible), Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1546–1548

4 volumes (14 ½ x 10 in.; 370 x 255 mm). foliation: Vol.I: [1] [6], 2-219, 222-228; Vol. II: [1], 234-441; Vol. III: [1], 442-685; Vol. IV: 687-817, 819-849 [1]. Text complete, save for two leaves lacking in Vol I (ff.220-21). Four woodcut architectural titles; first and third titles inlaid, a few other leaves inlaid or strengthened; few leaves with marginal tears, mostly repaired. Some staining and soiling; occasional marginalia, owners' stamps and inscriptions; censors' inscriptions on final leaf of Vol. IV. Modern blind-tooled maroon crushed morocco; gilt titles on spine.



*At the beginning of volume one, there are an additional 8 leaves which comprise  the Targum Yerushalmi on the Torah; these supplemental leaves are not part of the Third Rabbinic Bible printed by Bomberg in 1546-48. The leaves were taken from a copy of the Fifth Rabbinic Bible printed by Bragadin, 1617-18, and added by a later owner to enhance the value of this set. The additional 8 leaves are NOT recorded in the above collation for vol. I

The Rabbinic Bible was printed three times in Venice by the end of the first half of the 16th century. These editions are known in Hebrew as "Mikra'ot Gedolot", a partial translation of the Latin name of the edition "Magna Biblica Rabbinica," and are among the most important and influential Hebrew compositions ever printed. The present lot, the third edition of the Rabbinic Bible, was edited by Cornelius Adelkind, Bomberg's longtime associate, in 1546–48. It duplicates the improvements of the second edition and adds the commentaries of Jacob ben Asher on the Pentateuch and of Isaiah di Trani on Judges, omitting Ibn Ezra on Isaiah. The third edition represents the culmination of more than three decades of innovation and artistry in biblical printing from the press of Daniel Bomberg.

LITERATURE:
Vinograd, Venice 328; Habermann, 192