Psalms – Hebrew and Latin – Cambridge, 1809 – the First Book of the Hebrew Bible Printed in America

Psalms – Hebrew and Latin – Cambridge, 1809 – the First Book of the Hebrew Bible Printed in America
Sefer Tehilim [Hebrew], Liber Psalmorum Hebraice cum notis selectis ex editione Francisci Hare; et cum selecta lectionum varietate ex ed. Vet. Test. Heb. Benj. Kennicott. [Harvard University Press]. Hilliard et Metcalf printing house, Cambridge, 1809. Hebrew and Latin.
Book of Psalms in Hebrew, with translation and commentaries in Latin.
Reprint of the 1736 edition published by the English Bishop Francis Hare, with text from Kennicott Bible. First Printing of Any Part of the Bible in Hebrew in America.
The first Bible books printed in America were printed in English to meet the needs of the Puritan Christian community that attributed great significance to Jewish Holy Scriptures. The beginning of the 19th century witnessed a surge of interest in the publication of a Hebrew Bible. The printing of the Hebrew Book of Psalms presented here was the first time that any part of the bible was printed in Hebrew in America. Shortly after that, the printing of the complete Bible in Hebrew has been planned and in 1814 the first Hebrew Bible was published in America (see following item).
The book passed through several generations of the Osgood family. Originally owned by Hannah P. Osgood, it passed to her nephew, Jacob Osgood, upon her death.
On the blank leaves preceding the title page: A handwritten ownership inscription (eight lines), and Peter Osgood’s signature.
[1], 495 pp, 18 cm. Good condition. Original fine leather binding. With red title plate on spine. Spotting. Front cover slightly loose, with tears to spine.
Goldman 1.
Not recorded by Singerman, nor in the Bibliography Institute CD, the National Library of Israel catalogue or “Otzar HaSefer HaIvri”.