Bible - Venice, 1521 - Printed by Daniel Bomberg

Bible. [Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1521].
One volume containing all 24 books of the Bible, fine vowelized printing. Ornamented initial words in most of the books. This edition is identical to the first edition of the Bible printed by Bomberg in Venice in 1518, with the exception of the Book of Tehillim which was printed in this volume in short lines, four columns per leaf.
Handwritten inscriptions at the end of the sections of the Haftarah which is read after the relevant parashah. Various inscriptions in ancient Ashkenazi scripts from the 17th century on blank pages and the title pages: the title page of Neviim Rishonim (p. 159a) bears an interesting ownership inscription from 1759, in rhyme, signed "Naftali son of R. Avraham Melamed…"; at the end of the Book of Melachim (p. 276b) are inscriptions of births, handwritten in Ashkenazi script, from the years 1644-1660; the title page of "Four Neviim Achronim" (p. 277a) bears a Yiddish inscription of a death in 1677; inscriptions of births and deaths in ancient Ashkenazi script from the years 1710-1721 appear at the end of Neviim Achronim and on the title page of Ketuvim (pp. 398b-399a).
Copy lacking 6 leaves. 3-24, 27-80, 82-433, 435-528, [1] leaves (originally: 528, [1] leaves. Lacking: title page and leaves 2, 25-26, 81, 434. These leaves were replaced with photocopies). 17.5 cm. Condition varies among the leaves, fair-good. Stains and wear. Minor worming in several places. Tears to several leaves. Open tears to two last leaves, affecting text. Burn signs to margins and inside of some leaves. Fungus and mildew traces to several leaves. Leaves trimmed damaging titles and numbers of leaves. New fabric binding.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Israel Mehlman.