Arbaa VeEsrim (Griselini Bible) – All Four Parts – Venice, 1739-1741 – Engravings

Arbaa VeEsrim (Griselini Bible) – All Four Parts – Venice, 1739-1741 – Engravings
Arbaa VeEsrim, with commentary in Italian, all four parts – Five Books of the Torah, Neviim Rishonim, Neviim Acharonim and Ketuvim. Venice: Bragadin, [1739-1741]. All four parts in two volumes, additional volume with extra copy of Ketuvim.
Elaborate edition of the Bible, with a brief Italian commentary, prepared and published by Isaac Foa (printer in Bragadin's press). The present copy is a complete set including all four parts in two volumes – Torah and Neviim Rishonim in one volume, and Neviim Acharonim and Ketuvim in the second volume. Each part opens with an engraved frontispiece depicting figures from the Bible, produced by Francesco Griselini, designer of an illustrated Esther scroll which was published several years later in Venice. Each frontispiece consists of an elaborate engraving within a decorative engraved border (printed in two stages – first the borders and then the engravings in center). The central engravings depict the Binding of Isaac (part I); the figures of Joshua, Samuel and David (part II); Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel (part III); King David praying reciting Psalms (part IV). In some copies, the central engravings were printed in sepia; in the present copy they were printed in black.
In part I, a general title page, followed by an additional, more detailed title page. Divisional title pages for Neviim Rishonim and Ketuvim (title page of Neviim Acharonim lacking in the present copy).
Handwritten leaves enclosed in the book, with various prayers and more, in Italian script.
Three volumes. Vol. I (Torah and Neviim Rishonim): 9, 14-20, 17-21, [3]; 148; 108 leaves. Vol. II (Neviim Acharonim and Ketuvim): [1], 130-228, 209-223; [2], 225-348 leaves. Lacking title page of Neviim Acharonim. Vol. III (extra copy of Ketuvim): [1], 225-347 leaves. Lacking final leaf, and without engraved frontispiece. 24.5-26 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear to some leaves. Tears to general title page and several other leaves, including minor open tears, slightly affecting text. Margins of some title pages and engravings reinforced with paper. Several detached and loose leaves. Old leather bindings, worn and damaged (open tears to spines of first two volumes).

PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.