Arba'ah ve-'Esrim (Hebrew Bible) Basle: Johann Froben, 1536

1196 pages (8 7/8 x 6 ½ in.; 225 x 165 mm). [2], 3-1179 [17]. Pages 19-23 in facsimile; pp. 1069-1076 in manuscript. Printers device on title and verso of final leaf (Yaari, Hebrew Printers' Marks 12); initial words set in decorative woodcut frames; three divisional titles; owners’ incriptions on title; library inkstamp on title, p. 1061. Paginated in print in Hebrew letters; later manuscript mispagination in numerals; Latin running titles in manuscript; Hebrew and Latin marginal notes; one excised on p.897, not affecting printed text; verse numbers added in Pentateuch, through p. 165. Lightly browned and stained; marginal tape repairs pp. 1-12. Elaborate sixteenth century blind tooled pigskin; blind tooled panel portraits of Martin Luther on both covers, each stamped PD; the upper dated 1597. Rebacked.

Vinograd, Basle 45; Steinschneider 79; Prijs 47; Darlow & Moule (noted not listed) following no. 5087; Adams B-1220.

The first edition of the Hebrew Bible edited by Sebastian Muenster, professor of Hebrew at the Universities of Heidelberg (1524-1528) and Basle (1528-1552). A prolific author and translator, Muenster was among the most outstanding Christian Hebraists of the 16th century; he contributed significantly to numerous aspects of Hebrew and Jewish studies. The end-matter in this volume includes a printed Latin postscript by Muenster, as well as a list of haftarot, and errata. Most important, however, is Muenster's list of variant textual readings.