Historical discovery! Chofetz Chaim. R. Yisroel Meir Ha’Cohen. Four page letter concerning the marketing of his ...

Historical discovery! Chofetz Chaim. R. Yisroel Meir Ha’Cohen. Four page letter concerning the marketing of his seforim. Radin 1897. Extremely rare.
Long handwritten letter (unsigned) by the Chafetz Chaim to R. Yosef Stern of New York regarding the distribution of his seforim in America.
The Chofetz Chaim begins the letter by confirming that he has received the money and the letter sent by R. Yosef. He then writes that the lack of profits should not be a source of worry, as everything is from the hand of HaShem and no one knows from which source his sustenance will come.
He then responds to a complaint from the American distributor. Seemingly the distributor complained to the Chofetz Chaim that a different seforim dealer had received the Chofetz Chaim’s seforim for less. The Chofetz Chaim writes that this is untrue, using the expression “אין בפיו נכונה” and that, that dealer pays the same price as everybody else.
With regard to the small volume of seforim that R. Stern was able to sell, the Chofetz Chaim explains the reason why is his personal experience it is more difficult to sell seforim in America than in Europe. In Europe a “Magid” would go from town to town selling the seforim. In each town, the Magid would give a two hour derosho about the topic of the sefer, following which tens of people would buy it. However, when the seforim have to be sold individually, and each person has to be explained the need for the sefer, the volume of sales is much lower. The Chofetz Chaim notes that this was the same in Russia when the seforim sellers were not “Maggidim”.
The Chofetz Chaim then writes of the recent publication of his sefer Nidchei Yisroel with Yiddish translation, at the suggestion of many people, who pointed out that in America they do not understand Hebrew, and hopes now with the Yiddish, it will sell well.
He then writes concerning a person by the name of R. Aaron from Radin who has travelled to New York. This R. Aaron, intends to travel around America and give derashos about the seforim and then sell them. However, he reassures R. Stern that R. Aaron only has permission to sell the seforim in Boston and Chicago and certain other areas, but not in New York where R. Stern has the exclusive rights. However, should R. Stern wish to make an arrangement with this R. Aaron to sell the seforim in New York, he may do so.
With regard to the complaint that the distributor is not making any profit, the Chofetz Chaim agrees to a new financial arrangement, but stipulates however that it only comes into effect from when the new shipment arrives. This is followed by detailed price list of all the available seforim, including information about the shipping costs, and a discount available for bulk orders.
Personal letters of this nature are extremely rare.
With certification of R. Shimon Schwartz.
13.5 by 22cm. Two pages, written on three and a half sides.
Opening bid $20,000