Auction 63 - Rare and Important Items
Likutei Moharan – First Edition – Ostroh, 1808 – Fine Copy with Wide Margins – Foremost Book of the Writings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Published in his Lifetime – Segula for Protection and Prosperity
Opening: $35,000
Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000
Sold for: $55,000
Including buyer's premium
Likutei Moharan, "Pure essays from the renowned and pious… R. Nachman, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov". Ostroh: Shmuel son of Yissachar Ber Segal, [1808]. First edition.
Complete, fine copy, with wide margins, in good condition.
Likutei Moharan (acronym of "our master and teacher, the rabbi R. Nachman"), the most important book of R. Nachman of Breslov (Bratslav), is the primary work of the Breslov Chassidism doctrine, with considerable influence on Chassidic Jewry until this day. This book is the first edition, consisting of the first part of the composition. This is the only book of R. Nachman's teachings printed during his lifetime and under his directives. After R. Nachman's passing, R. Natan published a second part named Likutei Moharan Tinyana.
The book was edited by R. Nachman's foremost disciple – R. Natan Sternhartz of Nemirov (Nemyriv), known as Moharnat, based on booklets containing the teachings of R. Nachman which R. Natan (and his colleagues) recorded during his lectures. The editing was done at the behest of R. Nachman and under his directives. While R. Natan was engaged in binding the manuscript composition, R. Nachman reputedly told him that although he probably thinks he is dealing with something inconsequential, several worlds actually depend on the binding of this book. R. Nachman considered the printing and study of the book as Atchalta D'Geula – beginning of the Redemption (Chayei Moharan, 346). He expressed effusive praise for his book and its power to confer holiness and purity to whoever studies it, saying amongst others that the book can grant a person superior intellect, since it contains exceptional and profound wisdom, and that studying the book could influence a person to complete repentance (Chayei Moharan, 347, 349). He informed his disciple R. Natan: "You know a little, but more so should you believe, in the magnitude of this book's greatness and holiness" (Chayei Moharan, 369).
R. Nachman also described the great importance of buying this book, asserting that every person should endeavor to purchase the book, and that anyone who could not afford it, should sell the pillow from under his head to buy the book (Chayei Moharan, 349). He
prophesized that it the future, the book would be in high demand and reprinted many times over (ibid.). Furthermore, R. Nachman declared that just having his book in the house is very beneficial for protection of the house and possessions (referring to Likutei Moharan, the only book printed in his lifetime) and he actually urged wealthy people to buy his book as a safeguard for their fortune (Chayei Moharan, 355).
This book earned approbations from the leading righteous men of the generation, yet in his modesty, R. Nachman did not wish to publish them (see R. Natan's preface to the book). These approbations from the Chozeh of Lublin, the Maggid of Kozhnitz and R. Avraham Chaim of Zelechov, were printed in later editions, and include effusive descriptions of R. Nachman's greatness and holiness.
At the top of the title page, a (penciled) signature appears: "Yitzchak Twersky son of the Rabbi of Usti[la]". Another signature at the top of next leaf: "Yitzchak Twersky" (R. Yitzchak Twersky was the son of Rebbe Pinchas Twersky of Ustila and Pshemishel (R. Piniele Ustiler), son-in-law of Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach of Belz. R. Yitzchak perished in the Holocaust together with his father the Rebbe and his entire family).
The foot of the page contains a dedication written by R. Yitzchak, granting this book as a wedding gift to a relative: "…to my dear relative, the groom… Avraham Yoshua Heschel on the occasion of his wedding…". The bottom of the title page contains a stamp of Josef Schneid – Book and Judaica Store in Pshemishel (where Rebbe Pinchas of Ustila and his family resided). [It is intriguing that a Rebbe and his son, from the Chernobyl dynasty (family Twersky) known as fierce opponents of the Breslov movement, would possess a Likutei Moharan].
Complete copy. 160 [i.e. 162] leaves (mispagination). Wide margins. High-quality, light-blueish paper. Good condition. Complete leaves. Stains. Dampstains to several leaves. Dark inkstains to leaves 1-2 affecting several letters. Minor worming to several leaves. Recent inscriptions in pen (mostly addition of section numbers, which weren't published in this edition, and correction of the pagination). New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 284.
Complete, fine copy, with wide margins, in good condition.
Likutei Moharan (acronym of "our master and teacher, the rabbi R. Nachman"), the most important book of R. Nachman of Breslov (Bratslav), is the primary work of the Breslov Chassidism doctrine, with considerable influence on Chassidic Jewry until this day. This book is the first edition, consisting of the first part of the composition. This is the only book of R. Nachman's teachings printed during his lifetime and under his directives. After R. Nachman's passing, R. Natan published a second part named Likutei Moharan Tinyana.
The book was edited by R. Nachman's foremost disciple – R. Natan Sternhartz of Nemirov (Nemyriv), known as Moharnat, based on booklets containing the teachings of R. Nachman which R. Natan (and his colleagues) recorded during his lectures. The editing was done at the behest of R. Nachman and under his directives. While R. Natan was engaged in binding the manuscript composition, R. Nachman reputedly told him that although he probably thinks he is dealing with something inconsequential, several worlds actually depend on the binding of this book. R. Nachman considered the printing and study of the book as Atchalta D'Geula – beginning of the Redemption (Chayei Moharan, 346). He expressed effusive praise for his book and its power to confer holiness and purity to whoever studies it, saying amongst others that the book can grant a person superior intellect, since it contains exceptional and profound wisdom, and that studying the book could influence a person to complete repentance (Chayei Moharan, 347, 349). He informed his disciple R. Natan: "You know a little, but more so should you believe, in the magnitude of this book's greatness and holiness" (Chayei Moharan, 369).
R. Nachman also described the great importance of buying this book, asserting that every person should endeavor to purchase the book, and that anyone who could not afford it, should sell the pillow from under his head to buy the book (Chayei Moharan, 349). He
prophesized that it the future, the book would be in high demand and reprinted many times over (ibid.). Furthermore, R. Nachman declared that just having his book in the house is very beneficial for protection of the house and possessions (referring to Likutei Moharan, the only book printed in his lifetime) and he actually urged wealthy people to buy his book as a safeguard for their fortune (Chayei Moharan, 355).
This book earned approbations from the leading righteous men of the generation, yet in his modesty, R. Nachman did not wish to publish them (see R. Natan's preface to the book). These approbations from the Chozeh of Lublin, the Maggid of Kozhnitz and R. Avraham Chaim of Zelechov, were printed in later editions, and include effusive descriptions of R. Nachman's greatness and holiness.
At the top of the title page, a (penciled) signature appears: "Yitzchak Twersky son of the Rabbi of Usti[la]". Another signature at the top of next leaf: "Yitzchak Twersky" (R. Yitzchak Twersky was the son of Rebbe Pinchas Twersky of Ustila and Pshemishel (R. Piniele Ustiler), son-in-law of Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach of Belz. R. Yitzchak perished in the Holocaust together with his father the Rebbe and his entire family).
The foot of the page contains a dedication written by R. Yitzchak, granting this book as a wedding gift to a relative: "…to my dear relative, the groom… Avraham Yoshua Heschel on the occasion of his wedding…". The bottom of the title page contains a stamp of Josef Schneid – Book and Judaica Store in Pshemishel (where Rebbe Pinchas of Ustila and his family resided). [It is intriguing that a Rebbe and his son, from the Chernobyl dynasty (family Twersky) known as fierce opponents of the Breslov movement, would possess a Likutei Moharan].
Complete copy. 160 [i.e. 162] leaves (mispagination). Wide margins. High-quality, light-blueish paper. Good condition. Complete leaves. Stains. Dampstains to several leaves. Dark inkstains to leaves 1-2 affecting several letters. Minor worming to several leaves. Recent inscriptions in pen (mostly addition of section numbers, which weren't published in this edition, and correction of the pagination). New binding.
Stefansky Chassidut, no. 284.
Books of Breslov Chassidism - Early and Rare Editions
Books of Breslov Chassidism - Early and Rare Editions