Minchat Chinuch – First Edition, Printed Anonymously – Lviv, 1869

Minchat Chinuch – First Edition, Printed Anonymously – Lviv, 1869
Minchat Chinuch, "A wide-ranging commentary to Sefer HaChinuch, with tremendous pilpul and wondrous, wide-ranging erudition", Parts I-III. Lemberg (Lviv): R. Uri Ze'ev Wolf Salat, [1869]. Three title pages.
First edition of the book, published anonymously in the lifetime of the author – R. Yosef Babad Rabbi of Tarnopol, as stated on the title page: "Composed by one of the greatest Torah scholars of our times, who is holy and pure, and published it anonymously out of his exceptional modesty… was published through the efforts of R. Reuven Kohen Rappaport". Only in the second edition, printed in Lviv 1889, approx. 15 years after the passing of the author, did the publisher reveal the name of the author. Over the years, Minchat Chinuch became a basic book in the world of scholarly and in-depth study, in all study halls, in Galicia and Poland, Lithuania or Hungary, and throughout the Jewish world until this day. To date, hundreds of thousands of copies have been printed in dozens of different editions, apart from dozens of books discussing his teachings and questions.
The author, R. Yosef Babad (1801-1879), Rabbi of Tarnopol, was a leading Torah scholar of his times. He was also known for his holiness, and was close to a number of Chassidic luminaries. He considered Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz as his mentor.
Signatures and ownership inscriptions on endpaper: "My acquisition, Shlomo Bernstein"; "This Minchat Chinuch belongs to R. Shlomo Bernstein"; "Moshe son of R. Shlomo Bernstein". Inscription handwritten by R. Shlomo Bernstein in the center of the title page: "Composed by the kabbalist R. Yosef Babad Rabbi of Tarnopol".
All three parts in one volume: [2], 116 leaves; [1], 1-91, 148 leaves; [2], 1-54, 57-73, [1], 74-92, 95-105, 4, [3] leaves. 37 cm. Partly printed on dark, brittle paper, and partly on high-quality paper. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains and dark stains. Worming. Open tear to title page, and tears to other leaves, not affecting text. Inscriptions. New binding.