Abraham Usque

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Abraham Usque was born at Lisbon, where he was known as Duarte Pinel (Pinhel). He fled from the Inquisition shortly after 1543, and established himself at Ferrara where he became associated with the press established by the Spanish ex-Marrano, Yom-Tov ben Levi Athias (Jeronimo de Vargas).

Usque published Jewish liturgies in the vernacular, as well as other texts intended to facilitate the Marranos’ return to Judaism. His most important work is the so-called Ferrara Bible. It was Spanish translation of the Bible published in 1553 in two forms. One was intended for a Jewish audience and dedicated to Dona Gracia Nasi, and the other was intended for the Christian world and dedicated to Duke Ercole d’Este of Ferrara. After 1555, Usque published only Hebrew books, and only to 1558.