Binding crafted by London artist
Tanach with Spanish Translation
Amsterdam, 1762
Ornate Tanach with leather binding crafted by London artist.
Torah, Nevi’im and Kesuvim precisely edited and printed on facing columns with Spanish translation. This sefer is a true artistic masterpiece crafted by the prestigious Propes Press in Amsterdam.
The Tanach opens with the following inscription in Spanish: “Biblia en dos colunas, Hebrayco y Espanol… en la primera coluna, el original hebraico…en la segunda coluna, la traduccion en la lengua Espanola” which translates as “Special edition with Jewish translation in accordance with Spanish Jewish tradition” for the members of the Spanish expatriate congregations in Western Europe.”
The sefer was printed in extra-large format (41 cm!) and boasts 4 title pages, with the first title page partially printed in red ink.
This Tanach is exceedingly rare, both for its beauty and superb condition. It boasts gilded edges and is bound in a rich red leather binding with gilded engravings on both the interior and exterior bindings, which is a rare phenomenon. Both the cover and expensive marble paper were handcrafted by a London artist in 1768.
Provenance: The owner’s name Isaac de Elias Lindo is engraved into the inner side of the front cover, and the name Londres Anno, 1768 is engraved into interior binding of the back cover.
The Tanach opens with a lengthy foreword in Spanish in which the Propes brothers explain that their motives for printing an elaborate edition of Tanach with Spanish translation is that the majority of families in their congregation are Spanish speaking, and it is only proper that they should understand the holy scriptures in their mother tongue. They likewise relate that as young children growing up in the shadow of their noble father, the famous Jewish printer Solomon Propes, they view it as their privilege and duty to perpetuate his legacy. As such, the Propes brothers note that they spare no effort or resources to invest into the finest paper, ink and type with the goal of producing sefarim of superb quality.
The translation of the text was rendered by Avraham Mendes de Castro, a resident of Curaçao, South America (see foreword).
Amsterdam, 1762. Page Count: Torah: [6] leaves, 178 columns. Nevi’im Rishonim: [1] leaf, 179-332 columns; Nevi’im Achronim and Kesuvim: [1] leaf, 350 columns.
Page Size: 41 cm.
Condition: Excellent with light wear on spine of binding and border.
The Lindo Family was one of the most prominent families in the Sephardic Jewish community in London during that era (see Wikipedia, Lindo Family).
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