מכתב רבי עקיבא אייגר ל"חמדת שלמה"

Beginning of a responsum on Jewish law, from our teacher Akiva Eiger. 27 Tammuz [5]563 (1803). The letter was written to "my friend and beloved teacher, as dear to me as my own soul, from [another city] the honored sage... the famous gaon... R. Zalman." The recipient of the letter is the gaon Rabbi Zalman, author of "Chemed Shlomo," who was appointed that year as chief rabbi of Oshlisq. This responsum was printed in New Responsa, section 21, with numerous variations in wording (almost every line; see attached photograph). At the head of the section in print appears the title "Community of Oshlisq." We do not know whether we have here a page from the original letter sent or whether this is the first draft page of Rabbi Akiva Eiger's responsum (the break in the middle of the page, at the end of one of the topics discussed in the responsum, supports the possibility that this is the first draft). It is clear that this is not a page from the copying register, since the pages of Rabbi Akiva Eiger's copying register were of different size (folio). The humility of R.A.E. the writer is evident: "Regarding the matter that you asked... and in his great humility he desires to add my weak and lowly thoughts, and although I knew in my heart that you do not need me and my views, and what do I know that you do not know, nonetheless to fulfill the desire of my friend I shall not refrain, and may it be so." 2 pages, 20.5 cm. Paper worn and restored at margins, with almost no damage to text. Ornate leather binding. Attached is an expert certification of the identification of the handwriting as an autograph of R.A.E.