Mikneh Avram – the Hebrew-Latin edition. Venice, [1523]. First edition.

Mikneh Avram – the Hebrew-Latin edition. Venice, [1523]. First edition.

Daniel Bomberg Press. Impressive copy. 

Sefer Mikneh Avraham, on Hebrew grammar - Peculium Abrae, Grammatica Hebraea, by the physician and grammarian Rabbi Avraham di Balmes.

Hebrew (vowelized) and Latin on facing pages. The translation was apparently done by Klonimus ben David Klonimus, who authored the book's final chapter, Sha'ar Beta'amei Hamikra, and edited the book.

Printed on verso of the title page is a Latin poem in honor of Daniel Bomberg followed by a Latin foreword by Bomberg. The author in his introduction also praises Bomberg.

At the same time, an edition in Hebrew only was published (in 1523). The typesetting of the text is almost identical. In this edition, every line is numbered.

Rabbi Avraham di Balmes (1440, Lecce, Napoli Kingdom – 1523, Venice): also known as the Balmesi, was a physician, author, translator and Hebrew grammarian. Authored the book Mikneh Avram as well as many translations. He is cited in the Malbim's writings, the Kabbalistic book Tiferet Adam by Yaakov Tzemach, a disciple of Rabbi Chaim Vital, and many times in Sefer Minchat Shai. Di Balmes was the personal physician of Cardinal Domenico Grimani.

Venice, [1523]. First edition. Daniel Bomberg Press.

[315] leaves. 21 cm. Very good condition.

Elegant, impressive copy: bright quality paper. Wide margins. New, elegant half-leather binding.

Haberman, Hamadpis Daniel Bomberg, #76.

Vinograd, Venice 81.

The first edition of an ancient, unique Hebrew grammar book printed at the famed Bomberg Press.