Ferrara Bible – First Edition of the Complete Spanish Translation of the Bible – Ferrara, 1553 – Incomplete Copy

Ferrara Bible – First Edition of the Complete Spanish Translation of the Bible – Ferrara, 1553 – Incomplete Copy
Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim translated into Spanish – Biblia en lengua española traduzida palabra por palabra dela verdad Hebrayca por muy excelentes letrados vista y examinada por el officio dela Inquisicion. [Ferrara: Duarte Pinel (Abraham Usque) for Jerónimo de Vargas (Yom Tob ben Levi Atias), 1553].
First printed Spanish translation of the entire Bible. Woodcut historiated initials. Several glosses and inscriptions.
The publishing of this Bible, known as the Ferrara Bible, was initiated by the Portuguese printer Abraham Usque and the Spanish publisher Yom Tob Atias, known by their 'Christian' names Duarte Pinel and Jerónimo de Vargas, names adopted due to the threats of the Inquisition. It was presumably intended for the use of Marranos and Jews who had fled the Spanish Inquisition. The edition was printed on high-quality paper, in an impressive folio format; the body of the text was printed in two columns, in semi-Gothic typeface.
The Spanish translation, reprinted in subsequent centuries, is of particular importance for Spanish speaking Jewry, due to the unique way the verses were translated, and it forming an important basis for subsequent translations.
There are several known variants of this edition. In this copy, the word "alma" (Yeshayahu 7:14; leaf 186 column 2 in this edition) is transliterated. In other variants, it is translated as "moça" – Spanish for "young woman", or "virgen" (virgin) – following the Christian interpretation.
This copy begins in the middle of the first chapter of Shemot, and ends in the middle of chapter 37 of Iyov. It is also missing the Five Megillot, originally appearing after Divrei HaYamim.
Incomplete copy. 26-240, 240-333 leaves. Altogether containing 309 leaves, out of 412 original leaves. Lacking 103 leaves: 33 leaves at the beginning and 70 leaves at the end, including illustrated title page, introduction leaves, table of Haftarot and colophon leaf. 31 cm. Fair condition. Stains and wear. Many stains, extensive wear and creases to some leaves. Many tears and worming in several places, affecting text. Large open tear to one leaf, with loss of text. Detached gatherings. Without binding.