"Siddur im Dach" – Part I – Königsberg, 1852 - Printed in Prussia, for Russian Jewry

"Siddur im Dach" – Part I – Königsberg, 1852 - Printed in Prussia, for Russian Jewry

Siddur based on the text of the Arizal, Part I, Shacharit LeChol, Seder Seudah UVerachot, Seder Irusin VeKiddushin, Seder Milah, Tikun Chatzot, by Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi – the Baal HaTanya. [Königsberg: Adolf Zamter, 1852]. The word "Berditchev" is featured on the title page.
Third edition of "Siddur im Dach" – "Divrei Elohim Chayim".

186 ff. 22 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dark stains. Wear. Marginl open tears to some 20 leaves at the beginning of the volume - restored with paper (without damage to text). Stamps and ownership inscriptions to endpapers. New binding.

Jewish Printing Presses in Prussia
A copy of the present Siddur, found in the library of Chabad Lubavitch, contains an additional title page, indicating the place of publication and printer – Königsberg, A. Zamter (see: Levin, "MiBeit HaGenazim, p. 196-197 [Hebrew]). Secretary of Rebbe Rayatz, the bibliographer R. Chayim Lieberman, described the circumstances that led to the printing of Hebrew books in the Kingdom of Prussia, intended for Russian Jewry:
"During that period – following the Printer's Decree of 1836 [which forbade the printing of Hebrew books in all territories of the Russian Empire, except for the city of Vilna] – Hebrew printing presses were established in the state of Prussia, in cities bordering with the Russian state of Lithuania, such as: Königsberg, Johannisburg, Memel, and Danzig. Initially, these printing presses were not intended to serve German Jewry, but the Jews of Russia. Books which the printers intended to legally export to Russia, i.e., through customs, censorship, etc., were printed with regular title pages, bearing the printer's name, and correct place and date of publication. However, for different reasons, some books were printed in order to be smuggled into Russia; these books were printed without indication of the place of publication, the name of the printer or the date of publication; often, a fake, much earlier, date of publication was indicated, so that if the books will happen to be seized by the authorities, one will be able to argue that these are old books, printed many years before, in an unknown place." (Hebrew)
The imprint of the present copy, printed in Prussia for the benefit of Russian Jews, does not include the name of its publisher, and the title page features a fake place of publication (Berditchev), alongside an earlier year of publication (1831).
PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.