"Everything is from hashem"
Fascinating lengthy letter written entirely by the holy Chofetz Chaim. Radin, 1897
The Chofetz Chaim opens this letter with heartfelt words of encouragement to the recipient who, apparently, had little success selling his sefarim.
He writes:
"as for his disappointment due to the small profit, it is without reason, since everything is from Hashem’s hand, and one doesn’t know in what manner he would gain his earnings, Hashem will provide for him from another place."
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The Chofetz Chaim’s sale instructions with price-list of His Sefarim in America.
In this letter, the Chofetz Chaim advises the agent selling his sefarim, to seek a competent speaker to address the communities about the value and importance of his sefarim, motivating them to purchase and benefit from them.
He also lists how many copies of each of the sefarim he was sending abroad including: Mishnah Berurah, Chofetz Chaim, Nidchei Yisrael and Shem Olam, along with a price list in American cents. It is clear that the Chofetz Chaim was interested in reducing the price as much as possible.
He also mentioned that he published Nidchei Yisrael in Yiddish, “Since many advised me that in America and other such places people do not understand Lashon Kodesh, and therefore the sefer will be of little benefit. However if the sefer would be translated into a language that the people speak, then the sefer will be beneficial and well-received."
The Chofetz Chaim promises exclusive marketing rights of the sefarim in the State of New York to the recipient of the letter. He further notes that the courier from Radin "has the right to travel to Boston, Chicago, other cities and the country”.
Radin, 1897. 2 leaves, 3 sides + a few lines on the 4th side. The letter is not signed. Page size: 21×13. Good condition. Bound in a magnificent leather case with each leaf in an aesthetic transparent frame.
The Chofetz Chaim’s Sefarim Price List:
List of Sefarim and their prices:
“I sat down…to reduce the prices to the lowest possible price, until it would be impossible to sell them for even one Polish penny less…”
30 copies of the 3-volume Mishnah Berurah. [At the time this letter was written in 1897, only 3 of the 6 volumes had been printed, and the Chofetz Chaim sold them individually.] 10 of each volume, …..
35 Shem Olam bound, thirty five
10 Nidchei Yisrael Lashon Kodesh. ten
120 one hundred and twenty Nidchei Yisrael with Yiddish translation.
18 Chofetz Chaim with Shemiras Halashon, Ahavas Chessed and Shem Olam.
65 mekach [price of sale] the new sefer – sixty-five cents.
85 mekach [price of sale] Chofetz Chaim with all 4 books, eighty-five cents.
80 mekach [price of sale] each volume of the Mishnah Berurah, eighty cents.
40 mekach [price of sale] Nidchei Yisrael Lashon Kodesh, forty cents.
25 mekach [price of sale] Shem Olam, twenty-five cents.
[side note] if a customer purchases 10 sefarim, he may offer him a ten percent discount.
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