Reverendi patris Fratris Hieronymi ab Oleastro Lusitani, Prædicatorii Ordinis ... Co[m]mentaria in Mósi Pentateuchum, iuxta M. Sanctis Pagníni Lucensis eiusde[m] ordinis interpretationem: quibus Hebraica veritas exactissime explicatur…. de [BIBLE. O.T. Pentateuch]. Fr. Jerónimo Oleastro [de Azambuja], O.P

Lisbon, apud Iohannem Berrerium [João de Barreira], 1556.. FIRST EDITION. 5 volumes in 1. Folio (29.5 x 20.3 cm.), contemporary limp vellum (some wear), vertical manuscript short author-title on spine, old style fore edge with short author-title. Several large woodcut initials; many other smaller ones as well. Title-pages of volumes II through V within elegant architectural woodcuts. Large, attractive woodcut printer's device on versos of final leaves of volumes II through IV and recto of final leaf of volume V; images of volume IV title page differ from the others. Main text of all 5 volumes in 2 columns. Occasional light spotting. A few leaves browned. Worming in lower blank margins G7 of Genesis to E7 of Exodus, about half consisting of a single small round hole, but somewhat more extensive, still minor elsewhere, never affecting the text. Additional minor worming at inner blank margins from leaf K1 of Numbers to leaf B5 of Deuteronomy, again without affecting text. Despite these flaws, the 5-volume work is an exceptionally honest, interesting, complete copy, overall in good to very good condition. Old oval stamp of the Biblioteca de los Franciscanos, Balaguer on title page. Smaller old almost round stamp with "A.s". Several ink manuscript inscriptions on title page indicating that the work had been expurgated in 1585, 1622 [?] and 1632. Several lines scored on leaves *3 verso and *4 recto of Genesis. Overslip 3.3 x.4 cm. obscuring text on *4 recto. Significant old ink annotation in all 5 volumes. Part of 1 line scored on leaf L2 recto. (4 ll.), 315, (1) pp., (6 ll., 1 l. errata, 1 l.). *4, A-T8, V6, A8. *** First EditionS of these commentaries, including the full text of the first five books of the Bible. The initial volume contains a dedication by the author to the Cardinal D. Henrique and a prologue by the author to the reader. At the beginning of Exodus is a letter in Latin from D. Jerónimo Osório to the author, and another from Jerónimo de Brito to the reader. At the beginning of Leviticus is a letter in Latin from André de Resende to the Cardinal D. Henrique.A Dominican Friar born in Azambuja (d. 1563), Frey Jerónimo Oleastro was one of the most notable theologians of his time, known for being accomplished in Hebrew and Greek. D. João III sent him to the Council of Trent, where he was most noticed in the session of 7 January 1546, when he energetically opposed any attempt at innovation. It was at the Council of Trent that he became known for his commentaries on the Pentateuch. Having been elected Prior of the Monastery of Batalha in 1552, the Cardinal Infante D. Henrique called on him to take up the post of Inquisitor at Évora. He was then transferred to the Lisbon Inquisition, where he became inquisidor-mor in 1555. As head of the Inquisition, he was known for practicing the greatest violence and cruelty. In 1560 he was elected Provincial of his order.Frey Jerónimo Oleastro based his work on the translation of the Bible by Sanctes Pagnino (1470-1541), a native of Lucca (Tuscany) who became a Dominican at age 16 and studied under Savonarola and others. Pagnino, who counted the Medici among his patrons, was summoned by Pope Leo X to teach at the school for Oriental languages in Rome. He was admired by other scholars, including some rabbis, for his literal adherence to the Hebrew in Veteris et Novi Testamenti nova translatio, first published in Lyon, 1527.*** Academia das Ciências de Lisboa, Livros quinhentistas portugueses 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Adams 153 and 154 (Leviticum and Deuteronomii only; according to the collation of Deuteronomii given by signatures, apparently with a final blank leaf not present in our copy; however, this is not explained, and the pagination given does not go beyond leaf 69, the same as in our copy). Anselmo 141, 320, 321, 322, and 323. BM Portuguese Pre-1601 STC, p. 4. Barbosa Machado II, 483-4. Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, Catálogo dos impressos de tipografia portuguesa do século XVI, 393 (three copies, none of which have the final two leaves present in our copy: one with leaves badly deteriorated in the margins; another in extremely poor condition overall, lacking the final gathering); 389 (three copies; one in poor condition); 390 (four copies); 392 (five copies: two in poor condition); 391 (five copies: at least one in poor condition). For an introduction to the study of these commentaries see Manuel Augusto Rodrigues, "A obra exegética de Fr. Jerónimo de Azambuja," Biblos, LV (1979), 183-195. See also José Sebastião da Silva Dias, Correntes de sentimento religioso em Portugal (séculos XVI a XVIII), 2 volumes, Coimbra: Universidade, 1960; and Grande enciclopédia, III, 886-7. Not in King Manuel. Not in Darlow and Moule. Not in Orbis. Hollis cites only a 1586 Lyon edition. Oxford University online catalogue cites only a Lyon 1588 edition. Melvyl cites only the Antwerp 1568 edition at the California State Library. KVK (51 databases searched) locates copies at Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München (no collation), and Stadtbibliothek Mainz with collation [9] Bl., 315 pp., [4], 96, [4], 67, [2] 86, [2], 69, [1]. Not located in NUC.*** BOUND WITH:  Reverendi admodum patris Fratris Hieronymi Oleastræi Lusitani prædicatorij ordinis … Comentaria in Exodum, iuxta M. Santis Paginini Luc[n]sis eiusdem ordinis interpretationem: Quibus Hebraica veritas exactissime explicatur …. Lisbon: ex officina Joannis Blauij Coloniensis [João Blávio], 1557. Twelve lines of text scored on leaf F2 recto. (4), 96 ll. *4, A-M8. Leaf I2 wrongly signed I3 and wrongly numbered 65 (should be 66).  AND BOUND WITH:Reverendi adminum partis Fratris Hieronimi Oleastroei Lusitani prædicatorij ordinis … Commentaria in Leviticum iuxta M. Santis Pagnini Lucensis interpretaionem: Quibus Hebraica veritas exactissime explicatur …. Lisbon: apud Ioannem Blauium [João Blávio], 1557. Four lines scored on leaf H4 verso. (2), 67 ll. Leaf 3 is misnumbered 6; leaf 6 misnumbered 11; leaf 7 misnumbered 9; leaf 14 misnumered 15; leaf 61 misnumbered 62; leaf 62 unnumbered; leaf 63 misnumbered 65. []2, A-G8, H-I6. AND BOUND WITH:Reverendi adminum partis Fratris Hieronimi Oleastræi Lusitani prædicatorij ordinis … Commentaria in Librum Numerorum, iuxta M. Santis Pagnini Lucensis interpretaionem: Quibus Hebraica veritas exactissime explicatur …. Lisbon: ex officina Joannis Blauij Coloniensis [João Blávio], 1557. (2), 86 ll. ¶2, A-K8, L6. AND BOUND WITH:Reverendi adminum partis Fratris Hieronimi Oleastræi Lusitani prædicatorij ordinis ... Commentaria in Librum Deuteronomii, iuxta M. Santis Pagnini Lucensis interpretaionem: Quibus Hebraica veritas exactissime explicatur …. Lisbon: ex officina Ioan[n]is Blauij Colonie[n]sis [João Blávio], 1558. (3 [of 4, lacking blank ¶1, according to Adams; Anselmo also says that this leaf is blank]), 69, (1) ll. []2, ¶2, A-H8, I6.