Letter handwritten by the Chofetz Chaim regarding his book distribution in America

History books are filled with stories of great conquests and defeats, the highlights of great men's lives and their deaths, but obtaining insight in to great men's daily life, can be very elusive. A 4 page letter of the Chofetz Chaim, R. Israel Meir Kagan I got in this week, was a rare insight in to how this great man meticulously handled his finances and the minute details involved in the publishing and selling of his printed works.

Addressed to a bookseller in New York, who was selling the Chofetz Chaim's sefarim, the lengthy letter details the agreements that are in place for their partnership. Reassuring the bookseller that he will be the sole distributor of the sefarim in New York, he mentions that he allowed someone else to sell the books in Chicago and Boston, but the rights in New York remain his. The sale prices for the books were listed in cents, the cheapest being Shem Olam at 20c a copy and the most expensive being the work titled Chofetz Chaim at 85c, of which the bookseller would received 33% of the sale price.

Addressing the complaint of the bookseller of lackluster sales, the Chofetz Chaim noted that all is in the hands of G-d and we never know from what source G-d will send us our sustenance. He further explains the difference in the modes in selling, that in Eastern Europe, as most of the booksellers were travelling maggids, and when they finished giving a sermon, the potential customers would have already known the books that were offered and the contents within, making an easy sale. Not so in America, where the bookseller was not a maggid, and every customer had to be convinced individually, making a sale all the more laborsome.

The Chofetz Chaim's care and meticulously writing of the details, is evident throughout the letter. Through this letter, one can get a glimpse in to how this great man handled himself with regards to his fellow person's feelings and finances.