Beschreibung:

BIBLE, Hebrew. [Complete vocalized Hebrew Bible]. Amsterdam: Menasseh ben Israel, 1631-35. 370 (parts 1-3), 124 (part 4) folios. General Hebrew title within architectural border and separate general Latin title with printer's mark of Henricus Laurentius. The three Hebrew divisional titles are dated 1631, but the general titles and the colophon are dated 1635. 4 parts in one, 4to, 216 x 167 mm. (8½ x 6 5/8 in.), rebound in modern calf; general Hebrew title soiled and frayed at edges (a few small marginal repairs), slight marginal darkening. Steinschneider 464; Fuks, HTN 1, 153; Zedner 99; Roest 169; Darlow & Moule 5124 ("the second, and most important, of the editions prepared by Menasseh ben Israel"); Treasures from the Library of Ets Haim/Livraria Montezinos (Jerusalem 1980) 95, pp. 56-57; Cat. Menasseh 25. This fully vocalized and accentuated Hebrew Bible was printed at the request and at the expense of the Amsterdam printer and publisher Henricus Laurentius, who, among other publications of Menasseh's, also financed the unvocalized Hebrew Bible edition of 1630. As a result of Laurentius's financial involvement in his printing activities Menasseh was able to strengthen his position not only on the local market, but also on the international market. In his Latin introduction Menasseh wrote: "In preparing this edition I used the four most accurate editions, and in places where there were variant readings, I relied on the rules of grammar and the Masorah."