Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim, "translated from the Holy Tongue, and written in Yiddish", Yiddish translation of the Bible, based on the commentaries: Targum Yonatan, Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Radak, R. Saadia Gaon, Ralbag and others. Amsterdam: Yosef Athias, [1686].

Translated by R. Yosef son of Alexander Witzenhausen.

Two title pages. The first contains a large, elaborate engraving, the center of which is occupied by the coat of arms of the Dutch Republic, flanked by the figures of Moses and King David. Biblical scenes unfold at the top and bottom of the page.

Approbation of the rabbis of the Council of Four Lands on leaf [4], signed once at the Yaroslav (Jarosław) fair in 1677, and then again at the Lublin fair in 1678. The approbation acclaims the printer "Mr. Yosef Athias son of the martyr Avraham Athias who was burnt alive in Spain", for the excellent printing press he established, "going beyond all his predecessors to accord grandeur and glory to the Torah, with beautiful paper and ink, and by attaching crowns to the letters…".

Signature on title page: "Pinchas son of R. Shimshon".

Signature on verso of first title page: "Bendit Segal". Ownership inscription on front endpaper: "This book belongs to… Bendit Segal in Ziegenhain". Birth inscription on front endpaper: "My son Mendel was born… Elul 1802".

[6], 79; 150 leaves. 30.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains, including many dampstains. Tears, including open tears to both title pages, affecting illustrations of first title page and title frame and text of second title page, repaired with paper. Light worming. Close trimming, affecting printed marginal notes. Early leather binding (spine repaired), with clasps. Damage to binding.

Yosef Athias presumably began printing the book around the year 1677 (the approbation from the Council of Four Lands and the ban against printing this translation for sixteen years following the printing of the book are dated 1677 and 1678). However, another translation of the Bible was printed concurrently in Amsterdam by Uri Phoebus HaLevi, in 1676-1679 (see previous item), leading to a dispute between the printers, each one accusing the other of copyright infringement. This dispute between the two printers is alluded to in rhyming verses in the center of the second title page, as well as in the "translator's apologia" at the beginning of the book. For further information regarding the controversy surrounding this printing, see: A.M. Habermann, Perakim BeToldot HaMadpisim HaIvriyim, pp. 300-310. These two translations are considered the first Yiddish translations of the Bible.

CB, no. 1179; Zedner, p. 100; Roest, p. 171.