Bidspirit auction | Chofetz Chaim, Vilna, 1873. First

Chofetz Chaim, Vilna, 1873. First edition with the author’s annotations. Together with the seforim of Maran the Chofetz Chaim in first editions, and the sefer ‘Nefesh HaChaim’. - Presented here is a unique item — a single volume containing four seforim, three of them seforim of Maran the Chofetz Chaim in first editions. In the present copy of Chofetz Chaim appear two handwritten annotations in the holy hand of the author. A. The first sefer in the volume is Nefesh HaChaim, by the gaon Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, ztz”l. Vilna, 1874. The Seforim of Maran the Chofetz Chaim B. Chofetz Chaim. Vilna, 1873. First edition of the sefer that brought about a turning point for generations — the first sefer devoted entirely to the laws of Loshon Hara and Rechilus. The author, Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaKohen, became known thereafter as the “Baal HaChofetz Chaim” after this work. The author omitted his name from the title page, and even in the approbations his name is not mentioned explicitly; however, in the margin of the title page appears in Cyrillic letters: I. M. Kagan. Author’s Annotations: In two places in the sefer — on leaves 23 and 80 — the author added notes in his holy handwriting. These additions were later incorporated into the body of the sefer in the following edition. Trimming of the margins affected the completeness of the annotations. Stefansky, Sifrei Yesod, no. 209. C. Shmiras HaLoshon — essays on the preservation of speech, by Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaKohen of Radin. First and rare edition. Vilna, 1876. This sefer as well was printed without mention of the author’s name, aside from the inscription in Cyrillic letters in the margin of the title page: И. М. Кагана [Y. M. Kagan]. This copy includes two rare leaves not found in the other known copies, containing the concluding essay of the sefer and the index table by Maran the Chofetz Chaim. The copy also includes the Kuntres Sfas Tomim [6 leaves] — an addition not present in some copies. [The pagination of these leaves also differs from the other known copies.] D. Ahavas Chesed — elucidation of the positive commandments and Aggadic teachings of Chazal, by Rabbeinu the gaon Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaKohen of Radin. First edition, Warsaw, 1888. All seforim are complete and well preserved. Fine leather binding, stamped on the cover: Nefesh HaChaim. Details: [50], 81 [should read: 80], 38, [2], 39–44, 56 leaves. Trimming to the title page of Nefesh HaChaim slightly affecting the text. Minor wear to the final leaf of Ahavas Chesed. Good condition.