Bidspirit auction | First Tanach Printed in Amsterdam!

First Tanach Printed in Amsterdam! Magnificent Edition Printing Press of Menashe ben Israel Amsterdam, 1630 * Chamisha Chumshei Torah, together with Nevi'im Rishonim, Nevi'im Achronim and Kesuvim, printed in two columns per page. The Hebrew printing press in Amsterdam was founded in 1627 and soon became the world center of Hebrew printing. This Tanach is the very first Tanach ever printed in Amsterdam! It was printed and also meticulously edited and proofread by the renowned scholar Menashe ben Israel. At the end of the Tanach appears a colophon: “And this splendid work was completed in the house of Menashe ben Israel, on Thursday, the month of Adar, in the year 1630, and was reviewed by him with loving diligence, as the good hand of Hashem was upon him; nothing is lacking in it…” A beautiful copy, with gilt edges. Rabbi Menashe ben Israel (1604-1657) was one of the great sages of 17th century Europe, a scholar and a statesman. Born in Portugal to a family of Anusim (forced converts), he worked tirelessly to draw the descendants of Anusim back to Judaism and public observance of mitzvos. He promoted dialogue between Jews and Christians and sought to explain the tenets of Judaism through an array of books that he authored and published in several languages. In 1655, he led a delegation to England to advocate for the resettlement of Jews in England, remaining in the country for two years. He holds the distinction of founding the first Jewish printing press in Amsterdam, in 1627, which soon became the central hub of Jewish printing throughout the world. Amsterdam, 1630. Page Count: 612 pages. Two additional title pages for Nevi'im Rishonim and Achronim. Size: 16 cm. Condition: Good. A fine copy. Elegant English binding. Bibliography: Alfei Menashe, no. 9. Provenance: Lunzer–Valmadonna Collection.