Biblia Sacra Polyglotta – Multilingual Edition of the Bible Edited by Brian Walton. Printed by Thomas Roycroft, London, 1657. First Volume (Thick) with Engraved Plates of the Land of Israel and Jerusalem.
Volume I – Genesis to Deuteronomy. The first volume, containing the Five Books of Moses, is accompanied by eight engraved plates, including: An illustrated title page, A portrait of Walton, Maps of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel (both printed across two pages), Illustrations of the Temple and its sacred vessels, And more.
This is one of the most significant philological projects of the 17th century, in which the Bible was printed in multiple ancient languages side by side, enabling comparative analysis of different versions. The project was funded by the King of England and was published between 1654 and 1657, making it one of the most important editions of the Hebrew Bible. The Polyglot Bible, compiled by Walton and a team of scholars, includes philological studies and translations of the Bible into nine different languages, including Samaritan, Persian, Ethiopian, Greek, and Latin. This was among the first instances in history where Biblical texts were published simultaneously in nine languages. A copy of this edition was owned by Sir Isaac Newton and was used for his work “Observations on the Jewish Temple.”
14, 52, [20], 39, 102, [2], 865 pages. 46 cm. Original leather binding with gilt embossing. Stains on some pages. Spine reinforced with adhesive repairs.
Wear to the upper corners of the final pages, not affecting text. Overall good condition.