Bidspirit auction | Tanya – THE MASTER  EDITION.

Tanya – THE MASTER  EDITION. Prited on Regal Paper in Vilna, 1900.  All subsequent editions of Tanya until today are based on this rare edition. * The holy sefer Likkutei Amarim, better known as Tanya, by the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who became known by the title of this very sefer: the “Baal HaTanya.” An especially important edition of Tanya, carefully proofread by the Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch, whose involvement was intentionally left unmentioned. The text was corrected, among other sources, from manuscripts of the Alter Rebbe himself, and several new passages were incorporated into the work (see Mondshine for details). This edition established the final form of Tanya as it is known today. All subsequent editions of Tanya — amounting to hundreds of editions and hundreds of thousands of copies — were printed based on this foundational edition. A remarkable copy, printed on thick, high-quality paper known as “regal paper, ” bound in an attractive original binding. The front cover bears an embossed impression, without color, reading: “Sefer Tanya, Published by the Tomchei Temimim Society, Year 1900.” The sefer was issued in two paper qualities — standard paper and deluxe paper — and in two binding styles: a standard binding and a deluxe binding. There are several varieties of the deluxe binding. The present binding is a type that is not known. See the discussion below. Copies such as the present one, which were the most beautiful and most luxurious versions produced, were exceptionally expensive and sold for as much as ten times the price of the ordinary copies! One of the leaders of the Tomchei Temimim Society that published the sefer was the son of the Rashab and his future successor – the Rayatz. His deep involvement in the project is evident from numerous letters written to him by the Rashab regarding the printing, containing various instructions for the edition. Vilna, 1900. First edition of Tanya in its known form. Page Count: [1] pink wrapper title-page, [2] title-pages (general and detailed), [1] “He’arah” (note) leaf (lacking in some copies), 2–163 leaves. (Without the rear wrapper; see below.) Height: 21.1 cm. Condition: Good. Tiny hole in the opening leaves, tears and repairs to one leaf, stains. Wear and holes to the binding. Bibliography: Mondshine, Sefer HaTanya – Bibliography, no. 30, pp. 107–113. See also the extensive discussion in Keramim, containing many fascinating details. - - - - - - The original binding before us is of a rare type which, to the best of Zaidy’s knowledge, has never been documented! As noted above, the Rayatz was one of the leaders of the Tomchei Temimim Society that printed the sefer, and he proposed producing six different styles of bindings. This emerges from a letter written by his father, the Rebbe Rashab (who preferred not to place excessive emphasis on the bindings – Iggros Kodesh, vol. 3, letter 611, p. 82). This edition has been studied extensively from many perspectives; however, thus far, only one type of deluxe binding has been documented: a black binding with gold stamping. Mondshine brings its illustration on p. 113. In fact, additional varieties are known. In an auction of Moreshet (sale 37, lot 4), a similar but different deluxe binding appeared, featuring different decorative elements. That binding was likewise black, with a blind-stamped impression rather than colored stamping. The present binding is dark blue and decorated in an entirely different style. Its impression is likewise blind-stamped, without color. We therefore have evidence of three different varieties of deluxe stamped bindings, in addition to the ordinary standard binding (which apparently bore no stamping at all), as well as special bindings prepared specifically for the Rashab and the Rayatz, carrying personalized dedication inscriptions. - - - - - - - - - - The Rashab’s Proofreading of Tanya and the Reprinting of Leaves with Corrections As noted above, the sefer was proofread by the Rashab. Although his name does not appear in the volume, his involvement is clearly established through his correspondence from the period of publication, and especially through a dedication letter accompanying a copy of Tanya that he gifted to a cousin. There he writes: “Hashem granted success to our efforts in proofreading the holy Sefer HaTanya... We invested tremendous effort, both spiritual and physical, in comparing it against the many sacred manuscripts we were able to obtain... and the printing itself was carried out under the closest supervision humanly possible.” During the printing process, errors were discovered in eight separate leaves. Since the Rashab wished the sefer to be as accurate as possible, he instructed the publisher, Rabbi Asher Grossman of Nikolayev, to have all eight leaves reprinted. He further directed that no expense be spared in ensuring the work was done properly.