Bidspirit auction | Chafetz Chaim. Rare Wrapper Title

Chafetz Chaim. Rare Wrapper Title Page. First Edition. With the Prenumeranten Leaves - Chafetz Chaim with a Rare Wrapper Title Page. First Edition. With the Prenumeranten Leaves. Chafetz Chaim – laws of lashon hara and rechilut, by [Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen]. Vilna, Dwarzetz Press, 1873. First edition of a groundbreaking sefer. This was the first time a book was printed entirely devoted to the subject of lashon hara and rechilut. The author, Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen, became known as the “Chafetz Chaim” after this work, even though he later authored the Mishnah Berurah and other sefarim. The author concealed his name in this sefer, and even in the approbations his name does not appear, though at the bottom of the title page his name is printed in Cyrillic letters as I. M. Kagan. Includes an extensive list of prenumeranten (advance subscribers), with approximately 1,000 names. At the beginning of the prenumeranten leaves the author wrote: “As an eternal remembrance shall be all the distinguished individuals who signed on to receive the sefer Chafetz Chaim. May Hashem bless them with all good…” Stefansky, Sifrei Yessod, no. 209. [2], ii–iii, [1], v, [1], viii–81, [4] leaves. Approximately 22 cm. With 4 prenumeranten leaves added only in some copies. With a front wrapper title page printed on blue paper, not recorded in the bibliography. Good condition. Slight aging stains. Minor worming in the inner blank margins, not affecting text.