Kennicott Bible – Exquisite Facsimile

The Kennicott Bible. Exquisite facsimile published by Facsimile Editions, including a commentary volume. London, [1985]. A facsimile of an illustrated Spanish manuscript from 1476. The manuscript was commissioned by Don Solomon de Braga twenty years prior to the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. It was written and designed by Moshe Ibn Zabara and illustrated by Yosef Ibn Chaim whose style was influenced by Islamic art. The manuscript contains the whole Bible together with the Radak commentary and Sefer HaMichlol. The manuscript is known today as the “Kennicott Bible” after Benjamin Kennicot (1718-1783), an English clergyman and Hebraist, who acquired the manuscript for the Radcliffe Library in England. An exceptionally beautiful facsimile which was published after five and a half years of preparations. Printed on heavy paper of excellent quality especially produced to reproduce the appearance of the parchment on which the original manuscript was written. The gilding of the facsimile illustrations was done by hand, by seven artists who worked continuously for four months. Bound in an exquisite leather binding Copy no. 185 from an edition of 500 copies. Facsimile: [444] leaves, 30 cm. commentary volume: 97 pp. Very good condition. Both volumes are contained in a fine box, slightly damaged.