The Soncino-Gesellschaft – The Book of Bereshit / A Complete Copy of the Five Books of the Torah – Berlin, 1931-1933

The Soncino-Gesellschaft – The Book of Bereshit / A Complete Copy of the Five Books of the Torah – Berlin, 1931-1933

"The Five Books of the Torah", published by the Soncino Gesellschaft der Freunde des Jüdischen Buches ("Soncino Society of Friends of the Jewish Book"); copy of the complete Chumash and a copy of Bereshit. Berlin, 1931-1933.

The edition was printed in 850 copies; the type and initials were designed by Marcus Behmer ("after the letters used in the printing press of Gershom Cohen in Prague"). The present lot comprises two copies:

1. "The Five Books of the Torah". Berlin: [1931-1933].
[134] leaves. Approx. 40 cm.

2. "The Five Books of the Torah" – Bereshit (this volume was printed separately, two years before the publication of the rest of the books of the Torah; at the end of the volume are included the first leaves of the book of Shemot). Berlin: [1931].
[36] leaves. Approx. 40 cm.
Each of these copies is accompanied by a leaflet that was originally enclosed with the publication by the Soncino Gesellschaft.

The Soncino Society of Friends of the Jewish Book was founded in Berlin in 1924 in order to revive the art of Jewish and Hebrew printing (the name of the society refers to the Italian-Jewish Soncino family, in whose printing house the first Jewish Bible was printed). The crowning glory of the society's catalogue was to be the printing of a bibliophile edition of the entire Hebrew Bible, in calligraphic script and illustrations by Marcus Behmer. However, the edition was never completed, and the only books published were the present five books of the Torah (the edition was published in two parts: the Book of Bereshit in 1931, and the other four books in 1933). The Chumash, sometimes called "The Soncino Chumash", is consider by many to be the greatest achievement of the society, and among the most beautiful Hebrew books to be produced in the 20th century.
Good condition. Minor blemishes. Chumash volume rebound in new cloth binding. Bereshit volume bound in thick paper binding, detached (spine missing).

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.