Biblia (Antigue Testamento), exquisite edition of the Alba Bible – translation of the Bible to early Castilian Spanish, by R. Moshe Arragel. [Madrid], Imprenta Artistica, 1920-1922. Spanish. Two volumes.
Exquisite edition of the Alba Bible, in two volumes, accompanied with many printed plates – facsimiles of ornaments, illustrations and complete pages from the original manuscript (some in color).
The translation of the Bible to Castilian Spanish – the dominant dialect in modern Spain, known as the Alba Bible, was created between 1422-1430 in Maqueda, near Madrid. The translation project was commissioned by Don Luis de Guzmán, a high-ranking Churchman in Calatrava, and it was done under the supervision of R. Moshe Arragel (Mose Arragel de Guadalfajara), together with Christian scholars.
The colorful manuscript includes 334 miniatures of biblical scenes produced by Christian artists, who surprisingly tended to express the Jewish view of the Biblical text. The codex is known after its owners since the 17th century, the dukes of Alba and Berwick.

2 volumes. Vol. I: XXI, 845, [2] pages + [72] black & white and colored plates; Vol. II: [1] leaves, 922 pages + [45] plates. 42.5 cm. Good condition. Minor stains. Some leaves detached or partially detached. Decorated leather bindings, with defects and wear. Tears to spines. Both front boards detached.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv.