Pentateuch, Five Scrolls and Haftarot, Venice: Giovanni di Gara, 1588-1589

246 leaves (3½ x 1¾ in.; 90 x 45 mm). Foliation: 1-162, 1-22 [2],1-60; collation: 1-13^{12, 146; 1-212; 1-512=246 leaves; borders of typographic ornaments on three titles; damp-stains on title and on some margins, a few leaves shaved at fore-margins affecting text. eighteenth-century Italian morocco, pastedowns of decorated paper, gilt and gauffered edges; clasps gone, scraped, worm holes in spine.}

Vinograd, Venice 723; Habermann, di Gara 100, 105, 106 

246 leaves (3½ x 1¾ in.; 90 x 45 mm). Foliation 1-162, 1-22 [2],1-60; collation: 1-1312, 146; 1-212; 1-512=246 leaves, borders of typographic ornament on three titles; damp-stains on title and on some margins, a few leaves shaved at fore-margins affecting text. eighteenth-century Italian morocco, pastedowns of decorated paper, gilt and gauffered edges; clasps gone, scraped, worm holes in spine.
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Giovanni di Gara was the most successful Venetian printer of Hebrew books in the second half of the sixteenth century. Di Gara had apparently learned the art of Hebrew printing from Daniel Bomberg and considered himself to be the latter's successor. His printing activity spanned a half-century (1565–1616) and covered a wide range of Hebrew literature.

This miniature bible is composed of three sections: the Pentateuch, the Five Scrolls and the Haftarot. It therefore served to contain all the biblical texts included within the liturgy throughout the year. The Pentateuch was divided into 54 pericopes to be read weekly, and the Five Scrolls were read in the synagogue at various points in the liturgical calendar. In addition, each pericope was assigned an appropriate haftarah reading from the books of the Prophets. Other haftarot for special Sabbaths and other holidays and fast days were also included. Di Gara attempted to ensure the success of this pocket size work by appealing to all three of the constituencies in Venice that formed his strongest potential customer base. By including the haftarah versions of both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews as well as the variants of the native Italian community, he had provided a work, which had broad appeal, and with its convenient miniature format, could be easily carried at all times. The title page declares that the present edition is an improvement on earlier versions which did not include all the haftarot. An index of the correct biblical readings for holidays follows the end of the Pentateuch section.