Isaiah with Greek and Latin translation, by Sebastian Munster and the commentary of Rabbi Dovid Kimchi [Radak]. Basle, 1535-1542.
[5], 345, [57] pages. 20 cm. Wide margins. Quality paper. Owner note dated 1557.
The Book of Isaiah printed independently, not part of a set. Concludes with Rabbi Dovid Kimchi’s commentary in Hebrew. Each page spread has Hebrew on the recto with the Septuagint Greek translation on its left, and the Latin translation of Hieronymus – founder of the Christian Church [320-342] on the verso along with the Latin translation of Sebastian Munster and his preface. Printed by Munster. Researchers believe that Munster printed this Book of Isaiah for the disciples he learned with. Therefore, only a few copies were printed.
The book is especially rare. Not in the large public libraries. Not in the National Library. Listed by the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book according to a copy in the British Library and the Biblioteca Palatina in Parma.
In his work regarding Basle prints, J. Prijs designates the year of printing as 1542. However Zender sets 1535 as the year of printing. Since bibliographers did not actually see the book, they erroneously wrote that it was printed from left to right. However, the book was actually printed from right to left, according to Hebrew!
The Bibliography of the Hebrew Book mistakenly states that the book includes a Latin dictionary for the difficult Hebrew words. This mistake was based on the section of the Radak which ends with the statement that he finished the work “in which he explains the difficult words of this book”. In addition, the book ends with a blank leaf with an impressive, large printer’s device on the verso. This is not noted by the bibliographers.
New, leather binding. Aging stains Fine-very fine condition.
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