Books and Manuscripts

The First Complete Hebrew Bible Published in America

Athias, Joseph, et al. 
Biblia Hebraica, Secundum Ultimam Editionem Jos. Athiae, a Johanne Leusden, Denuo Recognitam, Recensita Variisque Notis Latinis Illustrata ab Everardo Van Der Hooght, V.D.M. Editio Prima Americana, Sine Punctis Masorethicis
Philadelphia: Thomas Dobson, 1814. In two volumes. First American edition. 8vo. (iv), 159, (3), 162-296, (1); (vii), 312, (1) leaves, including half-titles and front and rear blanks, as well as scarce publisher's notice in volume one (not found in all copies); Van der Hooght's four leaf Preface bound in at front of second volume. Full contemporary speckled tan calf, rubbing to boards and extremities, front and rear joints of first volume just starting, light wear to head of spine in both volumes, spine labels sometime lost; speckled brown edges; foxing to endpapers and blanks in each volume; very light foxing and toning to some leaves and front and rear of each volume. Goldman, Hebrew Printing in America 4; Wright, Early Bibles of America, 123-24; Rosenbach, An American Jewish Bibliography 171; O'Callaghan 8; Darlow and Moule 5168a; Shaw & Shoemaker 30857

A remarkably fresh and unsophisticated copy of the increasingly rare first complete edition of the Hebrew Bible published in America. 

Based on the text of the 1705 Joseph Athias Bible (edited by Johanne Leusden with notes and preface by Everardo van der Hooght), the publication of this edition was initiated in 1812 by Polish emigre Jonathan Horwitz. Facing stiff competition from others seeking to be the first to publish the first complete Hebrew Bible in America, in 1813, Horowitz sold his type to William Fry and his list of subscribers and rights to Philadelphia publisher Thomas Dobson. Using Fry's type, Dobson published this edition the following year. According to Dobson's notice printed in the first volume of this set, the second volume was published a few months later, and included both title-pages and Van der Hooght's Preface, the latter of which is bound into this set's second volume. 

According to RBH this is only the fifth copy offered at auction in the past 10 years.