Sefer Tehillim – With Commentary of The Shela Hakadosh, Ostroh 1833. An Extremely Rare Edition – Printed Entirely ...

Sefer Tehillim – With Commentary of The Shela Hakadosh, Ostroh 1833. An Extremely Rare Edition – Printed Entirely on Blue Paper

Sefer Tehillim with Sha’ar Hashamayim – commentary of the Shela Hakadosh, Ostroh 1833. A very rare edition of a Chasidic Tehillim, printed by the competitor of R. Moshe Shapiro of Slavita in neighboring Ostroh. The printers of Ostroh were the first to print a Tehillim with the Shela’s commentary during the 19th century. 

Interestingly, in their approbation to another edition (1826), the Beis Din of Ostroh writes the following: “The printers are worried that their toil will be for naught… we therefore decree that nobody is allowed to print a Tehillim with the Shaar Hashamayim commentary for five years… everybody that is – aside from R. Moshe Shapiro of Slavuta (!) – the decree does not manifest inself on him, and he is allowed to print a Tehillim with this commentary if he so wishes… as our decree is only relevant to other printers and their workers..”. 

From these words it is evident that although the printers of Ostroh and Slavita competed against each other, nonetheless they maintained a close working relationship. In fact, the towns of Ostroh and Slavuta are located in very close proximity to one another (only a 30 minute drive by car!), and the two printing presses often produced books almost identical in their appearance. It is altogether possible that they would often use each other’s materials and tools during the printing process, given their close proximity to one another, and because of this they didn't want to prohibit R. Moshe Shapiro from printing a similar Tehillim. 

Printed on entirely blue paper. With the commentary of the Shela, and Yiddish-Teitch. At the end of the volume is the “Seder Amiras Tehillim” from the Shela Hakadosh. Title page within a decorated architectural arch, which is very similar to some editions printed in Slavita. Printed without Ma’amados. 

An extremely rare edition of Tehillim. To the best of our knowledge, it has never appeared at auction. 

In good-very good condition. Bound in original binding, with some damage to spine. A small burn hole is seen at the header of some pages, with no damage to text. Minor worming to some pages, sometimes affecting text. A small tear is seen at bottom corner of pp. 47, with loss to three letters. 

Page size: 18.5cm 

[4], 228 pp.