The Kennicott Bible - Elaborate Facsimile

The Kennicott Bible. Elaborate facsimile published by Facsimile Editions. Including a commentary volume. London, [1985]. AP (Ad Personam) copy, out of 50 AP copies identical to the regular copies (altogether 550 copies were produced). A facsimile of the Kennicott Bible, illuminated Spanish manuscript from 1476. The manuscript is named after Benjamin Kennicot (1718-1783), an English clergyman and Hebraist, who acquired the manuscript for the Radcliffe Library in England. The manuscript was commissioned by Don Solomon de Braga, about twenty years before the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. It was designed and written by Moses ibn Zabara and illuminated by Yosef ibn Haim, in a fashion inspired by Islamic art. The manuscript contains the complete Bible, with the Radak commentary and Sefer HaMichlol. An exceptionally beautiful facsimile, which was published after five and a half years of preparation. Printed on paper of excellent quality, specially created to reproduce the appearance of the parchment upon which the original Bible was written. The gilding was done by hand, by seven artists who worked continuously for four months. Bound in an ornamented leather box-binding. Facsimile: [444] leaves. 30 cm. Commentary volume: 97 pages. Very good condition. Both volumes are placed in a fine case.