By COLlive reporter
Kestenbaum & Company, an auction house based in New York City specializing in the sale of books, manuscripts and fine Judaica, will be holding their auction Thursday, April 2, 2009.
Between the artifacts, a COLlive.com fan has identified a few Lubavitch related items including the first Tanya printed in America.
Founder and Director, Daniel E. Kestenbaum, with over twenty years in the auction business, is renowned for his expertise in Hebraica and Judaica.
On March 22, 2007, he sold Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi‘s Likutei Amarim, the editio princeps of the Tanya printed in Slavuta in 1796, for $70,800.
Here is the description from the catalogue:
(CHASSIDISM). SHNEUR ZALMAN OF LIADI.
Tanya-Likutei Amarim [the fundamental exposition of Chabad Chassidism].
WITH CORRECTIONS IN A NUMBER OF HANDS, INCLUDING THAT OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE, MENACHEM MENDEL SCHNEERSON. Few leaves frayed with some wear. Unbound. Sm. 4to. [Mondschein, Sepher HaTanya: Bibliographia (1981) pp. 123, no. 42]. Brooklyn, Saphograph Co. 1953.
$5000-7000
THE FIRST TANYA PRINTED IN AMERICA, THIS COPY WITH MANUSCRIPT CORRECTIONS IN THE HAND OF THE REBBE.
Although the Vilna edition has remained the standard layout for all subsequent editions of the Tanya, in preparation for the publication of the first American edition in 1953, the Lubavitcher Rebbe noted that a number of minor corrections were still in order.
Using this printer’s proof, the Rebbe indicated in pencil a handful of errors to be attended to. This copy was then forwarded to the printer to be used as a matrix for the printing of the thousands of subsequent editions published all over the world for decades hence.
Accompanying this lot is a description specifying the importance of this work, along with a letter written by R. Chaim Shaul Bruk, editor of Hanachoth BeLashon HaKodesh, attesting as to which penciled corrections are in the hand of the Rebbe.
SCHNEERSON, MENACHEM MENDEL.
Three Typed Letters Signed in English by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi M. M.Schneerson to Mr. Harry A. Goodman, Agudath Israel leader, London, concerning efforts to seek release of Rabbi Eliezer Zushye Portugal (Skulener Rebbe) and his son from prison in Romania. Each letter, one page. Brooklyn, New York, 1959, 1960 and 1961.
Concerning the clandestine efforts by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to seek the release from imprisonment of the Skulener Rebbe, Rabbi Eliezer Zushye Portugal (1898-1982), who, along with his son, had been arrested for Jewish activities by the Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania. Upon his eventual release Rabbi Portugal settled in the Crown Heights section of Brookyn and is fondly remembered for the stirring Chassidic nigunim (chassidic melodies) he composed. He is buried in the Vizhnitz cemetery in Monsey, New York.
Harry A. Goodman, British Secretary of the Agudath Israel World Organization, was active in Hatzalah work and a deeply committed communal leader. See EJ, Vol. II, col. 423.
ESTIMATE: $500 – 700
Read the catalogue and view the letters – HERE
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many thanks