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[The Torah or Pentateuch] The Five Books of Moses, in five volumes, text in Hebrew.
Description
5 vols. Eighteenth century Pentateuch, vocalized. Text in Hebrew in single column format. Commentary by Rashi. Title pages within borders. Occasional headpieces and ornaments.
Collation
Genesis: [1, title], 1-19^4, 1-4^1, 13, 1-7^2, 1-3^2; Exodus: [lacks title], 1-18^2, 1-5^2, 1^3, 1-7^2, 1^2, 2^4, 1-6^2; Leviticus: [1, title], 1-12^4, 1-4^2, 5^1, 1^3, 1-7^2, 1-5^4, 6^2, 7^2, 8^4, 9^1; Numbers: [1, title],1-15^4, [1],1-3^1,1^3, 1-7^2, 1^2, 2^4, 3^2; Deuteronomy: [1, title], 1-14^3, 1-3^2, 1^3, 1-7^2, 1-3^1. Exodus lacks title, otherwise complete.
Binding
Rebound in quarter calf. Spines lettered in gilt. Marbled endpapers. Accompanied by slipcase.
Condition
Clean and bright. The second volume chipped at head and with some staining to lower gutter impacting up to five lines of text.
Provenance
“Sara van Gelder Loewenstamm” to front endpaper of first volume. Collection of Tim Lutz.
Note
The Proops family were a notable dynasty of Hebrew printers, publishers, and booksellers in Amsterdam. Solomon ben Yosef (d. 1734), likely son of a printer, began as a bookseller and in 1704 founded a Hebrew press producing liturgical works, as well as texts on halakhah, Kabbalah, ethics, and history. From 1715 his books carried advertisements, and in 1730 he issued the first Hebrew sales catalogue.
After his death, guardians and later his sons continued the press, using his name until 1751. In 1785 Joseph Proops sold most stock to Kurzbeck of Vienna; his widow and sons printed on a smaller scale until 1812. Solomon ben Abraham Proops, his grandson, split in 1797 and worked independently until 1827.