More than 40 years elapsed from when the Alter Rebbe started
to write his Shulchan Aruch in 1771 until its first printing in
1814, one year after his passing (on 24 Teves, 5573 -
December 27, 1812).
However before this many of the Alter Rebbe’s books were
already in print. The Exhibition features the first printings of
each of these books in the chronological order of their
appearance:
31. Hilchos Talmud Torah, Shkalov, 1794.
32. Tanya, Slavita, 1796.
33. Luach Birchas Hanehenin, [Korzec, 1801].
34. Shulchan Aruch, Kopust, 1814.
One of his books that was printed several times in his lifetime,
and yet today not even one copy is extant, is the Sidur he
edited.
However immediately after his passing his son the Mitteler
Rebbe published the Sidur with his father’s Chassidic
discourses on the order of prayers. The first edition is presented
here:
35. Seder Tefilos Mikol Hashana, Kopust, 1816.
The Alter Rebbe’s grandson, the Rebbe "Tzemach Tzedek,"
arranged his teachings to be printed in a two volume set, but
due to decrees of the censors they had to be published with
different names and with an 11 year interlude in between. The
first editions of the two volumes are presented in the Exhibition:
36. Torah Ohr, Kopust, 1836.
37. Likutei Torah, Zitamir, 1848.
The Alter Rebbe’s original handwritten manuscripts of Tanya
and Shulchan Aruch are no longer extant. They were burned in
the great fire of Liadi in 1810, as related in many places.
One portion of Tanya however, the Igeres Hateshuvah, in the
Mitteler Rebbe’s handwriting with emendations penned by the
Alter Rebbe, is preserved in the Library and presented in the
Exhibition:
38. Igeres Hateshuvah Mugahas B’kesav Yad Kodesh,
Manuscript 1018.
These emendations were evidently written in 1806, when the
second edition of Igeres Hateshuva was printed.
There are also a number of handwritten copies of Tanya,
written before its first printing, kept in the Library. Several of
these are presented in the Exhibition:
39. Tanya, Manuscript 261.
40. Tanya, Manuscript 268.
41. Tanya, Manuscript 750.
The remnant of one copy of a portion of the Shulchan Aruch is
also presented:
42. Shulchan Aruch, Manuscript 238.
The Alter Rebbe frequently wrote notes on the margins of
books in his possession. A number of these were later copied in
the books of the Tzemach Tzedek, however the originals also
perished in the above mentioned fire.
Only one book with the Alter Rebbe’s notes on the margin
escaped destruction, and it is presented in the Exhibition:
43. Sha’alos U’Teshuvos Maharik, with the Alter Rebbe’s
notes on the margin.
The very earliest handwriting from the Alter Rebbe to reach us
is:
44. A letter written about 1781.
Also presented in the Exhibition:
45. Kipah, said to have been worn by Alter Rebbe.
154. Portrait, first printed in 1889, with the signature of
the artist Glitchevky. On the bottom are several lines in
Hebrew and Russian, with the signature of the publisher,
Rabbi Shmarya Schneershon and Z. Schatz.
155. Portrait, printed in Russia. Below is writing in
Hebrew and Russian. Damaged. 
156. Portrait, designed with the letters from Tanya, by
Nesanel Chazan. Print, Kopirit, Washington D.C., 1924.
157. Portrait. Print, Kehot, 1952.
158. Same as above, with colors added by an artist.
159. Portrait, composed of letters from Tanya, by Chaim
Yakov.
160. Portrait, by E.K. Tifenbrun.
161. Portrait, wearing Talis and Tefilin, by E.K.
Tifenbrun.
162. Portrait, by Yakov Lipshitz. 
163. Portrait, a sketch.
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