Bomberg Talmud, c.1526-1548

Bomberg Talmud [Sion Arc Quarto A70.1/T14] • Lambeth Palace Library

This Babylonian Talmud was printed in Venice, c.1526-1548. It was purchased for Sion College Library by the parishioners of St John the Evangelist, London, in 1629 and is now part of the Lambeth Palace Library collections.

The Babylonian Talmud is a central text of rabbinic Judaism, encompassing Jewish law, customs, history, and folklore. Printed by Daniel Bomberg in Venice, this book is one of the greatest achievements in the history of Hebrew printing and served as a model for all subsequent editions. Although the first edition was printed at the request of Pope Leo X in 1519, Hebrew literature was being burned by the 1550s. Surviving copies are very rare.

A page from a copy of the Babylonian Talmud showing blocks of Hebrew.
Bomberg Talmud [Sion Arc Quarto A70.1/T14] • Lambeth Palace Library

The Sion Talmud was given to Sion College in 1629 by the church of St John the Evangelist, Watling Street and the initials of the church, ‘SIEW’, are stamped in gilt on the covers of each of the twelve volumes. George Walker, incumbent of the parish, raised the substantial purchase price of £26 from eighteen of his parishioners, whose names are inscribed in the first volume.

Discover more Hidden Treasures

Hidden Treasures: Celebrating the documents, photos and artefacts in British archives that tell the story of Jews in Britain