Bidspirit auction | Extremely Rare Hilchos Derech Eretz

Extremely Rare Hilchos Derech Eretz by the Kabbalist Rabbi Meir Papirsh Ostroh?, 1821 * Hilchos Derech Eretz — a collection of 120 teachings of refining conduct, moral guidance, and sanctity, composed by Rabbi Meir Popperes, one of the great kabbalists of Ashkenaz, with a Yiddish translation. This work was first printed in his sefer Ohr HaYashar, and, due to its popularity, was later included in various siddurim, such as that of Rabbi Shabsai of Rashkov (after Shacharis). It was also printed as a stand-alone volume in several exceedingly rare editions in Eastern Europe, few of which have survived. This edition is exceedingly rare! No other copy is known to us — it is not listed in the Bibliographic Institute, the National Library of Israel, Shmuel Wiener (Koheles Moshe), nor in the international WorldCat database. The only bibliographer who may have seen this edition is Chaim Dov Friedberg, who records in his sefer Beis Eked an Ostroh, 1821 edition with 12 leaves. In our copy, the title page indeed bears the date 1821, though the copy before us contains 13 leaves. The title page features a vase with flowers — a rare illustration not found in any other book from Russian–Polish printing presses of that period (hundreds of title pages were examined). Ostroh?, 1821. Page Count: [13] leaves. Size: 16.5 cm. Condition: Good. Completion of margins on several leaves. New binding.