Bible – Philadelphia, 1814 – First Hebrew Bible Printed in America

Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim [Hebrew], Biblia Hebraica, Secundum Ultimam Editionem Jos. Athiae, a Johanne Leusden Denuo Recognitam, Recensita Variisque Notis Latinis Illustrata Ab Everardo Van der Hooght. Philadelphia: Thomae Dobson, Gulielmi Fry printing house, 1814. Hebrew, some Latin. Two volumes. Without vowels.
Bible in two volumes, reprinting of the second edition of the Joseph Athias bible (Amsterdam), edited by Johann Leusden, with introduction and notes in Latin by Van der Hooght.
The first Hebrew Bible ever printed in America. In 1812 Jonathan Horwitz proposed the publication of a Hebrew Bible using the font of Hebrew type which he brought with him to the America, but he soon discovered that he was not alone in his desire to produce such a bible. In early 1813, in the face of stiff competition, Horwitz sold the Hebrew type to William Fry and transferred his right to publish and the subscription lists to Philadelphia publisher Thomas Dobson; It were they who printed and published the present edition.
Volume 1: [6], 296 leaves. (Similar pagination recorded by Goldman; some copies have additional [2] leaves at the beginning of the book). Volume 2: [4], 3-312 leaves, 22 cm. Overall good condition Minor spots. Professional restoration to corners of several leaves at the beginning of the first volume. Second volume: professional restoration to corners of first leaves, last leaf (margins), and leaves no. 32-33 (vertical tears- restored, with danage to text). Leaves 305-308 bound upside down. Fine new period style leather bindings.
Singerman 236, Goldman 4.