Discovery! – Tehillim with the Nora Tehillot Commentary – Zhitomir, Printed by Shapira ca. 1863 – Unknown Chassidic ...

Discovery! – Tehillim with the Nora Tehillot Commentary – Zhitomir, Printed by Shapira ca. 1863 – Unknown Chassidic Commentary on Tehillim
Tehillim, with the Nora Tehillot commentary compiled from the books of prominent Chassidic leaders, by an unknown author; with Seder Maamadot. [Zhitomir: R. Chanina Lipa and R. Yehoshua Heshel Shapira, grandsons of the rabbi of Slavita, ca. 1863].
The Nora Tehillot commentary found in this Tehillim is not known today, and there is no mention of it in any bibliographic listing or library catalog. The only reference we found to it is in the book Yalkut Divrei Chachamim (Jerusalem, 1948), p. 175, where it is quoted as the source for one passage: "Tehillim Nora Tehillot quoting Likutei R.M.L.". In the bibliography at the beginning of the book, the book Nora Tehillot is listed without any bibliographic details, unlike the other books).
This composition is mainly a compilation of commentaries on Tehillim by prominent Chassidic and Torah leaders, such as Or HaMeir, Duda'im BaSadeh (disciple of the Noam Elimelech), Maayan HaChochmah (by R. Asher Tzvi of Ostroh), the Maggid of Kozhnitz, R. Yeibi, Binah LeItim, Be'er Mayim Chaim, the rabbi of Polonne, Kav HaYashar, Be'er Mayim, Sidduro shel Shabbat, Likutei R.M.L. (R. Moshe Leib of Sassov), Noam Elimelech, Chazeh Tzion (by the Mishnat Chassidim), Amarot Tehorot, Kedushat Levi, Zot Zikaron (by the Chozeh of Lublin), Ohev Yisrael and others.
Several editions of the Book of Tehillim were printed in the press of the Shapira brothers in Zhitomir, starting from 1858. The present book has many similarities to these editions: the fonts and the page numbering; the Shimush Tehillim (directives for Tehillim usage) headings preceding each Psalm; Seder Maamadot, and other details. Upon comparing the decorative initial-word panel of the first verse to various Zhitomir editions, it becomes clear that the present book was indeed printed in Zhitomir in that period (see enclosed photocopies for comparison).
Our assumption is that this work was printed in Zhitomir in the early 1860s (ca. 1863), since it quotes commentaries from books printed in that time. The latest work mentioned in this book is Ohev Yisrael by the rebbe of Apta, first printed in Zhitomir in 1863 (the teachings were presumably taken from the book after it was printed). Conversely, the writer brings in several places teachings from "the Maggid of Kozhnitz, in manuscript", while the book Tehillot Yisrael on Tehillim by the Maggid of Kozhnitz was already printed in 1861 (the Maggid's commentary on Tehillim remained in manuscript form for many years, until being printed in Tehillot Yisrael; the author may have not obtained a printed copy of the book and continued using the manuscript copy in his possession).
Copy lacking beginning; Book of Tehillim itself complete, including Seder Maamadot at the end.
[1] leaf (presumably leaf 3), 4-152 leaves (lacking title page and presumably also following leaf). 18.5 cm. Overall good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Wear, worming, minor tears, damage and paper repairs to some leaves, slightly affecting text in several places. Large open tears to leaf [3], with loss to a quarter of text of Yehi Ratzon prayers (this leaf is detached). Inscriptions and stamps. Non-original binding, damaged.