Manuscript of Chabad Essays - Essays of Rebbe Shmuel (Maharash) of Lubavitch - Two Words in the Lubavitcher Rebbe's ...

Manuscript of Chabad Essays - Essays of Rebbe Shmuel (Maharash) of Lubavitch - Two Words in the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Handwriting
Handwritten volume, Chassidic essays of the teachings of R. Shmuel of Lubavitch, the Rebbe Maharash. [Russia, after 1881].
The volume contains copies of essays of the Rebbe Maharash from the years 1867-1881, with "hemshechim" [continuations] renowned in the circles of Chabad Chassidism: "V'Hecherim" 1871, "Mayim Rabim" 1876, etc. ("Hemshech" in Chabad terminology refers to a series of essays which extensively expound upon kabbalistic and Chassidic treatises, where each essay is a continuation from the previous one. The Maharash is the first who initiated this unique form of presenting his teachings).
Most of the volume is written by one copier, the rest is written by others. The title of one essay bears a date in the copier's handwriting: "Maharash, at a wedding in 1874".
Two essays (p. [153a] and p. [161b]) bear the name of the parsha (Naso and Shelach) in their titles, in the copier's handwriting, with the date 1874 in a different handwriting beside them. This handwriting is very similar to that of R. Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Chabad-Lubavitch, and apparently, he reviewed this manuscript and marked these dates.
The essay Yafa Shaah Achat attributed to the "Middle Rebbe" of Lubavitch (R. Dov Ber) was copied on leaves [185]-[190].
The first leaves bear ownership inscriptions: "Belongs to Yosef shochet and bodek of Obchuga".
Rebbe Shmuel Schneerson (1834-1883), the fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe, youngest son of the Tzemach Tzedek, was constantly in his father's presence, and after his father's death in 1866, succeeded him as Rebbe. He established his court in the town of Lubavitch, whereas his elder brothers served as rebbes in the towns of Kopys (Kapust), Liadi and Nizhyn.
His essays and "hemshechim" are renowned for their sharpness, clarity and brevity (in comparison to the other Chabad rebbes), and in their exceptional proficiency in kabbalistic and Jewish philosophy books. His many writings were printed in the Likutei Torah - Torat Shmuel series.
The Maharash carried the Jewish People's burden on his shoulders, and was very active in lobbying on behalf of the Jewish population which resided in the "Pale of Settlement" and suffered greatly from the decrees of the Russian Tsars. He had tremendous impact on his Chassidim. He was knowledgeable and extremely clever in worldly matters, had comprehensive medical knowledge and mastered several languages. (An interesting description of him appears in HeAvar, vol. 2, pp. 86-93, by a resident of Lubavitch in those times, Zvi Har-Shefer).
[306]; [10] leaves. More than 600 written pages. 22 cm. Good condition. Tears to margins of a few leaves, slightly affecting text. The gathering ending on leaf [201] is incomplete. Stains and wear. New binding.