A rare copy of the very first edition of the Tanya is set to go up for auction, with proceeds designated for the renovation of the Rebbe’s Ohel. The historic volume is expected to sell for at least half a million dollars, with estimates reaching close to one million dollars.

The sefer comes from the estate of noted philanthropist and Lubavitch chossid R’ Shlomo Drimmer, who passed away several years ago. A longtime Crown Heights resident, R’ Shlomo served as a member of the central administration of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch and was active as a community council member in the neighborhood.

Over roughly three decades, he assembled an impressive private collection of antique manuscripts and rare seforim. At the request of his family, all proceeds from the sale of this Tanya will support the Ohel renovation project.

Printed during the Alter Rebbe’s lifetime, in the years 5556-5557 (1796), the first edition – the Slavita edition – contains only the first two sections, Likkutei Amarim and Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah, together with the approbations of Reb Zusha of Anipoli and Reb Yehudah Leib HaKohen, as well as the Hakdamas HaMelaket. Unlike many later printings, this edition is especially significant as a completely uncensored text.

The edition was published by Harav Shalom Shachna, son-in-law of the Alter Rebbe and father of the Tzemach Tzedek, together with his partner. The present copy bears a signature reading, “the worker… Elazar son of Reb Tzvi Hirsch of Slavita,” while other known copies of the first edition carry the signature of a different typesetter, Avraham Tzvi son of Reb Eliezer Katz.

An early ownership inscription appears at the top of the title page stating: “Belongs to Yehudah Leib, son of Reb Tzvi. He who purchases this book acquires the life of Olam Haba.”

The volume is a rare survival in original, unaltered condition. It remains untrimmed and unbound, with unusually wide margins on many leaves due to the off-center printing. The book is described as being in good-fair condition, showing stains, wear, minor tears, and worming repairs that occasionally affect the text. Stamps of the Schocken Library appear on the title and final leaves, and new endpapers were later sewn on.

The sefer was first held in the Schocken Library collection in Yerushalayim, later sold at Sotheby’s in London and Judaica Jerusalem, until it was ultimately acquired by Reb Refael Shlomo Drimmer.

The opening bid has been set at $300,000, with an estimate of $500,000–800,000.

The sefer will be offered as part of the 106th public auction of Kedem Auction House, featuring sixteen exceptionally rare items, including early incunabula, illuminated medieval manuscripts, rare megilas Esther scrolls from the 17th and 18th centuries, historic silver and gold pieces with strong provenance, with the highlight being a first-edition printing of the Moreh Nevuchim by the Rambam.

The auction is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 7 Adar, with bidding available through Kedem’s auction platform.