Hebrew Bible, in Two Volumes with the Commentary of Rabbi David Kimhi on the Minor Prophets, Paris: Robert Estienne, 1539-1543

1334, 1158 pp. (10 x 6 3/4 in.; 254 x 172 mm). An assembled copy complete in two volumes. Woodcut printer's device on 26 titles; brief colophons set in Hebrew semi-cursive type; Hebrew incipits within cartouche headpieces. Occasional marginal notes in Latin and Hebrew, particularly in vol.1. Title-page and pp.7-8 of Psalms in facsimile; a very few leaves laid to size or with minor tears repaired. Some light staining and soiling; lower edges renewed in book of Ezra. Vol1: Nineteenth century panelled tan calf, brass clasps and catches. Vol 2. Contemporary German blind-tooled leather in a panel design with roll-stamped vignettes, with Latin and Hebrew captions, surrounding central portraits, original catches, later clasps. Stained. Worn.

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 thirteen parts, each available separately, over a period of five 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.

 Each of the title-pages contains both Hebrew (square and rabbinic type) and Latin, with Estienne's device, an olive tree with a man standing to the right. Between them is the phrase, Noli altum sapere ("Be not high minded," Romans 11:20). Towards the bottom of the page are the initial letters (in Hebrew) of the verse, My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth(Psalms 121:2). This device is one of several employed by Robert and other members of the Estienne printing dynasty.

Although Estienne began the edition with the Minor Prophets in 1539, he printed the books of the Hebrew Bible out of order. The complete edition took five years to complete and as a result the first books in the traditional order of the text, which make up this volume, were the last part of the edition to come off the press, in 1543 and 1544.

The binding of one of the volumes in the present lot is made even more remarkable by the presence of Hebrew type within the blind tooling utilized by the binder. Hebrew text from Isaiah 7:14 has been used several times as a caption to one of the decorative images on the front and back covers. This is an exceptionally rare example of the use of Hebrew in the bookbinding arts.

LITERATURE:
Elizabeth Armstrong,  Robert Estienne - Royal Printer - An Historical Study of the Elder Stephanus, Cambridge: 1954; Renouard 54, no. 43/ 440; Steinschneider 99; Vinograd, Paris 16.

PROVENANCE:
Moses Gaster--his signature on first and last pages of vol. 2.