Book of Tehillim in Hebrew and Latin – Cambridge, 1809 – First Hebrew Book of Tehillim Printed in America – First ...

Book of Tehillim in Hebrew and Latin – Cambridge, 1809 – First Hebrew Book of Tehillim Printed in America – First Book of the Bible Printed in Hebrew in America
Book of Tehillim, Liber Psalmorum Hebraice cum notis selectis ex editione Francisci Hare; et cum selecta lectionum varietate ex ed. Vet. Test. Heb. Benj. Kennicott. [Published by the Harvard University]. Cambridge: Hilliard et Metcalf, 1809. Hebrew and Latin.
Book of Tehillim in Hebrew, with translation and notes in Latin – first book of the Bible printed in Hebrew in America (and in fact the first Hebrew Book of Tehillim printed in America).
The first books of the Bible to be published in America were printed in English, to meet the needs of the Christian Puritan community. In the early 19th century, the need arose for a Hebrew Bible. The printing of this Book of Tehillim was the first time any part of the Bible was printed in Hebrew in America. Shortly after its publication, plans to print the entire Bible in Hebrew were proposed, and in 1814, the first Hebrew Bible in America was published (see next item).
The present copy was owned by the Osgood family for several generations. It originally belonged to Hannah P. Osgood, and was handed over to Jacob Osgood upon her passing. Handwritten ownership inscription (in English) on the front endpapers, with the signature of Peter Osgood.
[1], 495 pages. 18 cm. Good condition. Stains, including some ink stains. Minor creases and several tears. Fine original leather binding (with book title gilt-lettered on spine). Damage and repairs to binding. Placed in a fine (new) slipcase.
Goldman 1. Not recorded by Singerman; does not appear in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book nor in the NLI catalog.