Auction 96 Early Printed Books, Chassidut and Kabbalah, Books Printed in Jerusalem, Letters and Manuscripts
Sidrei Taharot on Tractates Kelim and Ohalot – The "Talmud" Compiled by the Rebbe of Radzyn – Józefów-Piotrków, 1873-1903 – First Editions of Both Parts – Map of Eretz Israel and Author's Stamp
Sidrei Taharot, Part I on Tractate Kelim and Part II on Tractate Ohalot, by Rebbe Gershon Chanoch Henich Leiner, Rabbi of Radzyn (Radzyń Podlaski):
• Sidrei Taharot on Tractate Kelim. Józefów: brothers Shlomo and Baruch Setzer and Yechezkel Renner, 1873. First edition.
• Sidrei Taharot on Tractate Ohalot. Piotrków: Shlomo Belchatowski, 1903. First edition.
Sidrei Taharot is a comprehensive and brilliant original work on Tractates Kelim and Ohalot. Since there is neither Babylonian nor Jerusalem Talmud on these tractates, the author compiled a kind of "Gemara". The center of the page is occupied by the text of the Mishnah, followed by all the teachings of the Babylonian Talmud, Jerusalem Talmud and Midrashim pertaining to that Mishnah. The text of the Mishnah and Talmud is flanked by two commentaries by the author and compiler – one lengthy and one brief, replicating the style of Rashi and Tosafot. A great controversy arose at the time surrounding this work (see at length: Kedem catalog, auction 70, sidebar to lot 165).
At the end of volume I is printed a (folding) plate with map of Eretz Israel. Stamp of author on leaf with map: "Gershon Chanoch Henoch Leiner son of the Rabbi of Izhbitza".
Stamps of R. "Yitzchak Yosef Chazan" of Łowicz, author of Siach Yitzchak.
Two volumes. Volume I (Kelim): [12], 540, 543-544 pages + [1] plate (map). Volume II (Ohalot): [8], 546 pages. 36.5-37.5 cm. Dry, brittle paper to some leaves of first volume, and in second volume. Fair-good condition. Stains. Tears and open tears, including open tear affecting text to second leaf of first volume, repaired with paper. Light worming to several leaves. Detached leaves and gatherings. Old bindings, damaged and detached. Creases and open tear to map, affecting illustration.
Additional leaf at beginning of first volume (leaf [4]), undocumented in the Bibliography of the Hebrew Book. This leaf contains some approbations that had already appeared on leaf [2] as well as introductions appearing on the same leaf, with typographical changes (the reason for its printing is unclear).