Shemirat HaLashon by the Chafetz Chaim. First Printing. Vilna, 1876

Shemirat HaLashon by the Chafetz Chaim. First Printing. Vilna, 1876

Sefer Shemirat HaLashon - important sefer from the works of Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radin that caused a historic revolution in avoiding improper speech. Vilna, 1876. First edition, printed anonymously. Printed in the margins of the title page in Cyrillic letters: "I. M. Kagan." All first prints of books by the Chafetz Chaim are important and sought-after.

This work is titled differently, and is a supplement to the book Chafetz Chaim, but it appears that the author's intent was that this book should be the second part of his previous work Chafetz Chaim and not just a supplement. Printed at the end of the sefer: "Index for Chafetz Chaim Part I."

It is interesting to note that most of the Chafetz Chaim's world-wide fame over the generations is in the merit of his Mishnah Berurah series of books that conquered the halachic world to the extent that they became the most important and common halachic works of all time - the final psak. However, the author is forever known as "The Chafetz Chaim" for the eponymous book on watching one's tongue, as appears on the title page: "Sefer Shemirat HaLashon, as it says: One who guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from troubles ... and it completes Sefer Chafetz Chaim."

76 pp. 21.5 cm. Owner's stamps: "Ya'akov Ze'ev Eisenstat." Additional owners' notations, and dozens of glosses.

Moderate-fine condition. Aging stains. Two perforations in the title page, without lack in the text. Tiny tears in the margins. Detached title page. Old binding, dismantled.