March II 2021 Catalogue

B a u m a n R a r e B o o k s F a i t h 2 0 2 1 54 Of Exceptional Rarity: 1814 First Edition Of The First Hebrew Bible Published In America 55. (BIBLE) Biblia Hebraica... Editio Prima Americana, Sine Punctis Masorethicis. Philadelphia, 1814. Two volumes. Octavo, modern full dark brown calf. $28,000. Click for More Info Very rare first edition of the first Hebrew Bible published in America, of major importance in the field of American Judaica, handsomely bound. The publisher of this edition, Thomas Dobson, explained: “In the year 1812, Mr. [Jonathan] Horowitz had proposed the publication of an edition of the Hebrew Bible, being the first proposal of the kind ever offered in the United States. The undertaking was strongly recommended by many clergymen… and a considerable number of subscriptions for the work were obtained by him… Horowitz, recently arrived from Amsterdam with a font of Hebrew type, made his proposal, but he was not alone.” Facing competition from several others hoping to publish an edition before his, Horowitz decided early in 1813 to transfer his right to the edition to Philadelphia publisher Thomas Dobson; he sold his type to William Fry. Dobson’s edition, printed by Fry and published in 1814, precedes all others. Bound with half titles. Rosenbach, American Jewish Bibliography : 171. Darlow & Moule 5168a. Occasional light spotting, early ink stain along lower edge of Volume I text block (not affecting text), bindings fine and handsome. Rare.