Silver snuffbox used by Rebbe Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn – the Rashab of Lubavitch, during Pesach.

Rectangular box. Silver (84), marked: Moscow, 1852; maker's mark: "AB". Illustrations of castles and palaces, framed by foliate pattern (niello), featured on the bottom and lid of the box.

Letter of authenticity enclosed (handwritten note, in English), signed in Hebrew by his granddaughter Rebbetzin Chana Gurary (1899-1991), eldest daughter of Rebbe Rayatz: "I hereby gift… my grandfather's Pessach tabak box. The Rashab was very careful that even the snuff before Pessach should be checked. There was Bochrim in the Yeshiva who my grandfather trusted who did the checking". Dated - February 18, 1990. A wooden box which may have also been used by the Rebbe or his family is enclosed (the box was given together with the snuffbox, though it is not mentioned in the letter).

The Rebbes of Chabad were famously meticulous during the days of Pesach; among the precautionary measures customarily observed by them, Rebbe Rashab and Rebbe Rayatz took care to consume exclusively Kosher-for-Passover smoking tobacco and snuff. According to the enclosed letter, the present snuffbox was used by the Rebbe Rashab specifically during the days of Pesach (see next lot for a snuff box used by his son the Rebbe Rayatz for the same purpose).

Approx. 8.5X5.5 cm. Good condition. The attached box is damaged.

PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.