Special copy with Polemic version of his disclaimer on the Vilna Gaon's words. Tzemach Tzedek First Edition, Vilna ...

Special copy with Polemic version of his disclaimer on the Vilna Gaon's words. Tzemach Tzedek First Edition, Vilna 1884 Responsa, Novellae and Halachic Rulings.

Tzemach Tzedek, responsa according to the order of the Shulchan Aruch, novellae and halachic rulings by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch. First edition-1884

Tzemach Tzedek, halachic rulings and novellae according to the order of the Tur, Shulchan Aruch and their commentaries – Parts I-II (in one volume). Vilna: Finn, Rosenkranz and Schriftsetzer / widow and brothers Romm, 1884.

In most of the known copies of this book, on Page 138 of Volume 2 (Leaf 69/2), printed on the Vilna Gaon's proof on an issue: "And I, in my lowliness, was not privileged to understand his holy words". – Interesting that the Rebbe of Lubavitch Chassidism, severely pursued by the Vilna Gaon, writes about him with such honor and humility.

In the 1949 edition published by K.H.T. the version "and this is not an answer" appears instead of "and I, in my lowliness, was not privileged to understand his holy words". Much polemic arose from this issue, Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner sent the book's printers a letter of protest and their answer was that the former version was a forgery – see a lengthy article in Yeshurun, Vol. 20, Adar 2008, pages 790-793. The article's writer, the renowned bibliographer Rabbi David Kaminetsky, writes: "… I searched in many large libraries throughout the world and by private collectors and I did not find a 'corrected' copy of the Vilna edition but all were written like the original. Apparently no 'corrected' copy exists in the Chabad library in NY either… recently… I found one single lone copy…". [See weekly "Kfar Chabad", Issues 1261, 1262, 1271 2008 where there is a photocopy of the rare copy that Rabbi David Kaminetsky saw and the polemic in regard to it].

This is an interesting and rare copy that has the original version "and this is not an answer".

To the best of our knowledge, no more than seven or eight original copies with the version "and this is not an answer" are known throughout the world.

[3], 2-286, [3, ] 2-70 Leaves. 25.5 Cm.

Overall Good condition, marginal stains, pages 213-216 are complete but from a different Tzemach Tzedek, original binding damaged.