The Five Books of the Bible. Berlin: Soncino, [1930-1933].
A fine bibliophile edition in a large format, printed in 850 copies. The letters and initials were designed by Marcus Behmer "after the letters used in the printing press of Gershom Cohen in Prague".
The Soncino Society of Friends of the Jewish Book was founded in Berlin in 1924 and published books with a meticulous typographic design. The society was dismantled by order of the Nazi authorities in 1937.
The Soncino Society meant to continue and print all the other books of the bible, but dramatic political changes in Germany at the time led to the early termination of the project.
[136] leaves, 39.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Small tears at margins of leaves. Cardboard binding with leather spine. Stains and blemishes to binding. Tear along the spine, at attachment point of spine to rear binding (rear binding is loose).
Enclosed:
1. Leaflet (2 leaves) about the Bible by Soncino Society. Printed in 1929. German.
2. A sample print of the first two leaves of the Book of Genesis from the present edition.
3. Proof print (faulty) of the colophon, printed on thin paper and inserted in an envelope addressed to Heinrich Loewe, a member of the Soncino Society. Postal stamp dated 27.9.33.