יהושע ושופטים - Iosue & Iudices

Iosue & Iudices [BIBLE IN HEBREW] [ESTIENNE]
Robert Estienne, Paris 1544, 16mo (7x11,5cm), a volume bound in brown morocco.
First 16mo edition in Hebrew by Robert Estienne. This pocket edition was printed in 17 volumes between 1544 and 1546, after the success of the four-volume quarto edition printed from 1539 to 1544. Each individual volume (unnumbered on the title-page) could be acquired separately and considered complete in itself. Elaborate printer's woodcut device on each title page with book titles set within woodcut cartouche head-pieces. Only the title page is in Latin-Hebrew.

"This little edition, said to be very accurate, is a true typographical jewel, and perhaps the most beautiful one ever printed in the Hebrew language.” “Cette petite édition que l'on dit fort exacte, est vraiment un bijou typographique, et peut-être ce qui a jamais été imprimé de plus beau en langue hébraïque" (A. A. Renouard, Annales de l'imprimerie des Estienne)
Brown morocco later binding (1590-1615), smooth spine with gilt fillets, double gilt borders on covers, all edges gilt. Marginal wormhole on the lower part of the leaves, not affecting the text. Upper part of joint slightly cracked, some rubbing.
This edition is based on the Hebrew Soncino princeps published in 1488, and was established by Humanist François Vatable, early scholar of Hebrew studies during the Renaissance and royal lecturer of Hebrew under Francis I. The text in Hebrew follows the Masoretic tradition and presents diacritics that facilitate its vocalization.
Talented scholar François Vatable (1495-1547) was a member of the ‘Cénacle de Meaux' founded by Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples and published with him in 1530 the first complete French translation of the Bible known as the Bible of Antwerp. After founding the Collège de France in 1530, King Francis I appointed him chair of Hebrew studies. As a Royal lecturer he actively participated ten years later in a Hebrew edition the Bible with Robert Estienne (1503-1559) – printer to the King in Latin and Hebrew.
This edition is undoubtedly a real typographical feat for a small format text in Hebrew lettering. It was certainly intended for scholarly use by Sorbonne and Collège Royal students, given its pocket size sold in separate individual volumes. The presence of numerous contemporary marginal notes further indicates its educational purpose, as is the numbering of lines of several pages in some of our volumes.
A very beautiful and scarce collaborative work by two of the greatest figures of Parisian humanist scholarship – a fine example of the renewed interest in classical texts and their study in the original language.
Provenance: library of Charles John Dimsdale (1801-1872), fifth baron of the Russian Empire, with his bookplate on each pastedown endpaper.