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Please bid generously on these historic treasures connected to Ben-Gurion & the warriors of Israel, all sourced by the curators at Curio Auctions. Use your charitable giving to acquire heirlooms that will inspire your family’s relationship with the Jewish People for generations, while supporting Beit Udi's Be'er Sheva Tech Impact Center creating elite IDF soldiers.
PRIME MINISTER DAVID BEN-GURION HAND-SIGNED
'LETTERS TO PAULA AND THE CHILDREN'
MAY 22 1968, PUBLISHED BY AM OVED, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $500 (estimate $900-$1200)
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David Ben-Gurion spent his life giving to Israel. Israel's founder and first Prime Minister, Ben-Gurion was also a devoted husband and father. Here is a rare first edition of Ben-Gurion’s letters to his wife Paula and his family, inscribed in Hebrew by Ben-Gurion in the year of publication, shortly after his wife’s death. The text is entirely in Hebrew and printed in Tel Aviv.
Drawn largely from letters written between the world wars, during the struggle to create a Jewish State, the letters of Israel’s first Prime Minister to his family reveal David Ben-Gurion to be an absolutely dedicated politician and a visionary who never lost sight of his aim. The two outstanding issues in the letters are internal politics, mainly within the framework of the Zionist Organization and foreign policy, namely the struggle with the British. The death of his wife Paula in 1968 was reported to be a shock from which Ben-Gurion never fully recovered.
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8.5 x 5.5in; 303 Pages, In Good Condition with some wear to dust jacket
WWII JEWISH SOLDIER'S DAY POSTER
BRITISH ARMY JEWISH BRIGADE
APRIL 15 1941, ERETZ YISRAEL
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RESERVE: $1800 (estimate $2500-$3500)
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This iconic Eretz Yisrael wartime poster from 1941 celebrates the Jewish soldiers from Palestine who were fighting in the British military as part of the Jewish Brigade. Jewish Soldier's Day was devised by the Jewish Agency to raise funds and provide assistance to the families of the recruits, with events including parades, public gatherings, sports competitions and other celebrations.
In the early years of World War II the British wartime manpower requirements and the strategic need to defend the Middle East induced the British to permit the formation of 15 Palestinian Jewish battalions. These units were incorporated into the British army in September 1940.
Jewish units fought with the Allies in North Africa, Italy and Greece. In 1941 100 Palestinian Jews were killed and 1,700 captured by the Germans. Britain disbanded the Jewish Brigade in the summer of 1946. Overall some 30,000 Jewish volunteers from Palestine served with the British forces during World War II. More than 700 were killed during active duty.
This lithographic poster was designed by Franz Kraus, at the time the preeminent graphic designer in Eretz Yisrael. He based the image of the Jewish soldier on a famous photograph by Alfons Himmelreich, the leading portrait photographer of the period.
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36 x 24in; In Excellent Near Mint Condition
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'STATE OF ISRAEL' BEN-GURION'S FIRST OFFICIAL
POSTER OF A NEWLY INDEPENDENT ISRAEL
MAY 14 1948, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $3700 (estimate $4500-$5000)
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The most iconic date in Jewish history could be May 14th, 1948, the day David Ben-Gurion as head of the Jewish Yishuv's Provisional Government declared the birth of the newly formed State of Israel. The historic artifact before us is the new Israeli government's first official public proclamation. Printed in Hebrew as a broadside poster, it is a "Proclamation to all inhabitants of the State of Israel."
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Printed in Tel Aviv on the Day of Independence itself by the “HaPoel HaTzair” Cooperative, the colors chosen to bear this first historic message issued by the newly constituted government to its citizens were the national colors of the State of Israel, blue on white:
"Citizens! In this period of supreme challenge, during which we are under the enemy's malicious attack, the Provisional Council has taken the governing of Israel into its hands. Our State is the finest expression of a vision which has persisted for generations. We are commanded to defend the realization of this vision with all our might […] We have been flung into a cruel war. But we shall remember: Within our borders the Arab citizens continue to live – and for many of them this war is unwelcome. We are mandated to observe their rights, equal citizens’ rights. Our face is towards peace; our hands are stretched out to them to share in the building of the country. Citizens! We will protect the honor of our young State. Each and every one of us is responsible for it by his conduct, the purity of his stand, his honesty, his responsibility for its security and its future. Citizens! To arms, to the war effort, to the building of our homeland."
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37.5 x 24in; In Good Condition
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BEN-GURION & MOSHE DAYAN IN WAR
BORIS CARMI PHOTOGRAPH
1956, SINAI CAMPAIGN, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $700 (estimate $1200-$1600)
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This rare photograph by famed Israeli photojournalist Boris Carmi depicts an historic wartime event during the Sinai ‘Kadesh’ Campaign. Shown are Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan reviewing a map of the Straits of Tiran during a flight above the Sinai Peninsula during the 1956 campaign against the Egyptian Army. Behind the duo sits daughter Renana Ben-Gurion, looking on as history unfolds. Attesting to the historic importance of this image, in November 1961 it was signed and dedicated to Carmi in the negative by both Ben-Gurion and Dayan.
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Born in Moscow in 1914, more than any other photographer Carmi succeeded in capturing the essence of Israeli society from its very beginning. He was one of the founding fathers of photojournalism in the new-born country, with his camera focusing on scenes of everyday life and the country's cultural elite. In the midst of conflicts, however, it was the ordinary people who interested Carmi most, and it is this talent that led to him becoming acknowledged as Israel’s finest military photojournalist, becoming the first photographer hired by BaMahaneh, the official newspaper of the Israeli Army.
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Carmi’s contribution to the documentation of the early years of the State was recognized with lifetime achievement awards from the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. His works reside in numerous institutional and private collections in Israel and abroad.​
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15 x 12in; In Very Good Condition
LIFE & VISION OF BEN-GURION 1886-1973
YAACOV AGAM SIGNED SERIGRAPH
OCTOBER 1 1984, GEORGES PUBLISHER, PARIS
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RESERVE: $700 (estimate $1100-$1200)
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Agam is a pioneer of Optical Art. Born 1928 as Yaacov Gibstein in Rishon Letzion, Agam’s abstract artworks typically incorporate light, sound, or viewer participation. The son of an orthodox rabbi, Agam first trained as an artist in Jerusalem at the Bezalel School in 1948, with furthers studies in Paris. He went on to combine formalist art with kabbalistic mysticism, and he is credited with introducing geometric abstraction to Israeli art. In 1953, Agam had his first solo exhibition, where he laid the foundations of his work by referring to Judaism from a philosophical perspective.
His best known works in Tel Aviv are the fountain called Fire and Water, located at the center of Dizengoff Square, and the colorful facade of the Dan Hotel facing the Tel Aviv Promenade. Over the years, Agam received many awards and since the 1950s his works can be found in important collections. His works have been exhibited in major exhibitions and museums across the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim in New York and the Pompidou Center in Paris. Agam's works are also displayed in famous sites such as the Élysée Palace in Paris, the White House in Washington DC, Beit HaNassi in Jerusalem, and in the Western Wall plaza. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art hosts his monumental “Pace of Time”, which welcomes visitors entering the lobby. ​
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22 x 18in; In Very Good Condition
'NEGEV LAND' EARLY STATE RARE MAP
BE'ER SHEVA, GAZA, & THE DEAD SEA
MID-20TH CENTURY, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $300 (estimate $400-$600)
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The 1948 War of Independence's Battle of Be'er Sheva was code-named Operation Moses, which was the tail-end of Operation Yoav. The Israeli offensive on Be'er Sheva began October 21, 1948. It was made possible following the opening of a land corridor from the Negev desert to the rest of Israel in the Battles of the Separation Corridor. The capture had both military and political significance. It helped sever the supply route of the Egyptian expeditionary force's eastern wing from Hevron and Bethlehem, and strengthened Israel's claim to the Negev desert.
Even before the opening of the land corridor to the Negev, the capture of Be'er Sheva was the top priority of the Negev Brigade following its replenishment and resupply enabled by Operation Avak. On the night of October 19–20, the Israelis sent much of the 8th Brigade and Negev's 7th Battalion to the enclave, as well as Negev Brigade infantry forces (from the 9th Battalion) engaged in raids in the Gaza–Rafah corridor (today the Gaza Strip). On October 20, the commanders of the respective forces met in the Negev Brigade headquarters in Shoval for a final briefing. The Israeli attack started at 4am, involving the Negev Brigade and the 89th Battalion of the 8th Brigade. It ended at 9:15am, when the Egyptians surrendered the town's police station.
According to an Egyptian telegram intercepted by the Israelis, the forces in what would become the Fallujah Pocket were ordered to move to Be'er Sheva, not knowing of the Israeli plan to take the town. Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion did not believe in the IDF's ability to take Be'er Sheva in such a short time, but the telegram significantly increased the town's importance in his eyes, and he worked to delay the United Nations-imposed ceasefire as much as possible so that it could be taken.
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27 x15in; In Good Condition with gentle folds
'FLYING THE INK FLAG' PHOTOGRAPH
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE FINAL VICTORY
MARCH 10 1949, EILAT, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $900 (estimate $1200-$1500)
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Operation Uvda began on March 5th, 1949, and was the last campaign conducted by the IDF during the War of Independence. This iconic photograph depicts the now-famous moment of the raising of the hand-inked flag (‘Degel HaDyo’) at the peak of the operation.
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At the start of the mission to complete the war for the south of Israel, the Negev and Golani Brigades were dispatched towards Eilat. Five days later, Negev Brigade forces arrived at the abandoned police station in Umm Rashrash, previously occupied by The Jordanian Arab Legion. When Nahum Sarig, commander of the Brigade, noticed that there was no Israeli flag on hand, he ordered his soldiers to make one. The Brigade secretary, Pu'ah Erel, found a white bed sheet and drew the flag's two horizontal stripes using fountain pen ink, while the Star of David was taken from a first-aid kit and sewn on. The flag was raised by Avraham Adan, company commander of the 8th Battalion of the Negev Brigade.
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The historic moment of the raising of the Ink Flag to symbolize the victorious end to the last campaign of the War of Independence was immortalized in this photograph taken by Negev Brigade soldier Micha Perry. This iconic image is renowned as the most enduring visual symbol of the War of Independence and one of the most famous IDF images of all time. It has been compared, in regards to both aesthetic and historic importance, to the 1945 photograph of the raising the flag at Iwo Jima and now is also commemorated by a National Heritage Site sculpture in Eilat.​
This rare photograph was printed by Micha Perry himself, signed in the negative and ink stamped, described and numbered by Perry on the back.
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10 x 8in; In Excellent Condition​​
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE FALLEN HAGANA SOLDIER
PARCHMENT HAND-SIGNED BY BEN-GURION
1948, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $3600 (estimate $5000-$6200)
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Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion took it upon himself to personally sign a hand scribed animal skin parchment memorial letter to the families of every soldier lost during the War of Independence. Written in the traditional style of a Torah sofer stam, this moving klaf relic on behalf of 'Medinat Yisrael'' honors Yehuda Gelfand.
Yehuda Pocito Gelfand was the only son of Shoshana Rosa and Shlomo. He was born in 1929 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He made Aliyah and from 1945 he was a member of the Hagana. He was known for his devotion to his friends and duties, having humility and good character.
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At the beginning of the War of Independence, he served in positions in the south of Tel Aviv, being attached to the Armored Corps and then to a battalion in the Givati Brigade. Having the option as an only child to avoid combat deployment, he nonetheless chose to fight in the Negev. Bravely and with great success, he participated in many infiltrations into enemy territory, including in the defense of Kibbutz Nitzanim.
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After the advance of the Egyptian column was halted near Ashdod, Kibbutz Nitzanim was left in their rear. The Egyptians realized that this could serve as a base for IDF activity in their rear, so the their forces concentrated considerable effort to conquer it. The Egyptian attack was launched on June 7th 1948. During the night, the farm was heavily shelled and in the morning the infantry assault began, initially being halted by the Hagana defenders. The Egyptians continued to increase their shelling and called in planes to bombard the farm, causing heavy damage.
Under the intensive bombardment, the Egyptian infantry and armor corps advanced, succeeding to penetrate the Kibbutz defenses, taking it over. Yehuda was hit by a cannon shell and fell in this battle, on the 1st of Sivan 5708 (June 8th 1948). He was laid to rest in the cemetery of Nitzanim. When his mother learned of his death, she committed suicide out of grief and despair.
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6.75 x 5.25in; Animal Parchment, In Good Condition
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BEN-GURION SIGNED INVITATION TO SDE BOKER
WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL ZIONIST ORGANIZATION
OCTOBER 25 1968, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $550 (estimate $700-$850)
Ben-Gurion was a champion for the role of women in the Zionist movement. This handwritten signed note to leaders within WIZO to visit with him at his famed desert Kibbutz home in Sde Boker, is an historic window into the former Prime Minister's continuing Jewish world activities. In the letter, Ben-Gurion promises to discuss with them "the big and difficult questions at hand."​​​
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Founded in London, the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) offered an opportunity for women who felt marginalized by existing Zionist organizations. Moreover, the founders believed that in order for the establishment of a Jewish state to succeed, the Zionist movement must support and uplift women and children.
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​Kibbutz Sde Boker was founded in 1952 by a number of pioneering families committed to establishing settlements within the far from hospitable conditions of the Negev Desert. Soon after, whilst on a trip to the town of Mitzpe Ramon, south of Sde Boker, Prime Minister Ben-Gurion noticed a group of tents and basic buildings beside the road. Asking his driver who was living there, he was told that a group of pioneering families had moved from the center of the country to establish a settlement in the desert. Their vision of creating industry and life in the desert impressed Ben Gurion who asked his driver to stop off at the kibbutz. Told that it wasn’t so simple for a Prime Minister to just stop, he gave his aides two hours to arrange the visit and was thoroughly impressed with what he saw.
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After returning home to Tel Aviv, Ben-Gurion wrote to the members of the kibbutz stating that he has never “envied a person, nor the qualities of anyone or their property. But when I visited Sde Boker I was unable to stop being jealous and envious of you: Why wouldn’t I deserve to participate in a community like this?” Staggered by the request of the Prime Minister to join their small and struggling community, the kibbutz pondered the question of whether to accept Ben Gurion. After a big debate (on the one hand, having the Prime Minister would immensely help their cause and development, on the other hand, he was an elderly man), and a vote, Ben Gurion was accepted with a margin of one vote, and made Sde Boker his home.
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It’s a truly incredible story, and Ben-Gurion lived in Sde Boker for the remainder of his life apart from a brief spell in which he returned to politics. He hosted world leaders and many other dignitaries in his home there, and, as a member of the community worked like the other members. His passion for developing Israel’s desert and membership of Sde Boker have undoubtedly been of paramount importance in securing investment in infrastructure and the creation of the thriving communities and industries in the Negev which continue to flourish.
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8 x 4.5in; In Good Condition with minor wear
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE MAP
OPERATION UVDA NEGEV CONQUEST
MID-20TH CENTURY, PUBLISHED BY IDF, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $360 (estimate $500-$550)
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Operation Uvda was conducted from March 5-10th 1949 by the Israel Defense Forces during the War of Independence. It was the last campaign undertaken by the IDF during the war with an objective to capture the southern Negev desert and Eilat. The southern Negev was designated to be part of the Jewish State in the 1947 UN Partition Plan, but it was also claimed by the Kingdom of Jordan in armistice talks. The name 'uvda' is Hebrew for 'fact', referring to the operation's objective to establish de facto Israeli sovereignty over the territory in question.
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The Negev, Golani and Alexandroni brigades participated in the operation, as well as a number of smaller units. The Negev Brigade reached Eilat first, bringing in part of their forces through Egyptian territory at Taba in a surprising and somewhat risky maneuver. The commander, Nachum Sarig, took the Negev Beasts Jeep commando through Moon Valley.
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This map of Operation Udva, showing troop movements in the Negev during the war, was published in the early years of the State by the IDF Chief Education Officer for the IDF General Staff Information Branch.​
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27.5 x 19.5in; In Excellent Condition
BEN-GURION AUTOGRAPHED RARE CARICATURE
DRAWN AND SIGNED BY JOSEPH ROSS
MID-20TH CENTURY, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $1850 (estimate $2200-$2600)
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Here we have a charming caricature of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion from the early days of the State. Created by the famed Israeli illustrator Joseph Ross in ink and color on tracing paper, this rare piece is signed by Ross in both Hebrew and English, and boldly signed in pen by Ben-Gurion himself.
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Joseph Ross, born Rosenberg in 1911 in Antwerp, Belgium, began painting as a teenager. He was self-taught by studying at the Rijksmuseum, drawing the works on display. In the early 1930s he studied medicine in Berlin, Germany. Painting was a hobby that allowed him to finance his studies. In 1933, his studies were interrupted due to condemnation of caricatures he drew of his teachers, so he returned to the Netherlands and began to make a living by drawing cartoons under the name "Yuppy". In 1935 he made Aliyah with his wife Rebecca, settling in Tel Aviv. He began publishing cartoons in the local press, and opened an advertising agency. Ross was one of the first cartoonists in the Yishuv, and was considered one of the most active cartoonists at the time. His works have been published over the years in most papers in Israel including, Davar, Haaretz, Palestine Post, Hador, Yediot Aharonot, & Ma'ariv.
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Ross was especially known for his cartoons that mocked the British Mandate authorities. His works which were rejected by the British censors were sent to the United States, where they got published in Zionist newspapers. In 1947, he created a series of cartoons that accompanied the discussions of the UNSCOP Committee, which was established by the United Nations to examine the status of Palestine.
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Throughout his career, Ross drew more than 20,000 cartoons. He spoke about his work in an interview with Maariv in 1967, saying: “I want to draw the character of the man. I am not one of those cartoonists who lengthen the nose or crook the jaw of their ‘victim’. I look for the typical and the special in the face. I do not draw a situation but try to encompass and reflect the problems from the side that an article cannot do.”
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Alongside political cartoons, Ross frequently drew situations from theater performances as well as cartoons of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1967 he presented a comprehensive exhibition of his works at the Eretz Israel Museum.
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​11 x 6in; Drawing & Signature in Good Condition, paper edges worn
INDEPENDENCE HAGADAH
PUBLISHED BY THE IDF
1952, PUBLISHED IN TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
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​​RESERVE: $650 (estimate $700-$800)
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The Independence Hagadah was written by the author Aharon Megged while on reserve-duty service as an IDF education and culture officer, at the request of the Minister of Education Ben-Zion Dinur. Ten thousand copies were printed for IDF soldiers to read on the eve of Pesach.
However the content of Megged’s interpretation of the Passover Hagadah, which emphasized human action and minimizes divine redemption – as well as the secularization of the traditional text of the Hagadah – aroused the ire of many religious circles.
Capitulating to the opposition of religious army units and at the demand of the military rabbinate, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion ordered that all copies of the Independence Hagadah be destroyed. Only a few rare copies survived the purge.
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8 x 6in; In Good Condition
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DAVID BEN-GURION, ISRAEL : A PERSONAL HISTORY
HAND-SIGNED COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
1971, TEL AVIV / NEW YORK
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RESERVE: $1800
(estimate $2600-$3000)​​​​​​​
This commemorative edition, numbered 231 of only 2000 printed, of David Ben-Gurion's book “Israel: A Personal History” is boldly signed by the author himself on the title page in-English. This is a near perfect printing of his published recollections of the founding of the State of Israel. Sponsored by the United Jewish Appeal, this epic sweeping narrative features historic documents, his personal correspondences and
speeches from Israel’s first Prime Minister while sharing his perspective on the history of the Jewish People from Abraham to the 19th Century Ottoman-era Jewish resettlement, from the rise of a nationalist-Zionist movement under the British Mandate to the establishment of the modern Jewish State. A timeless treasure for every generation, this unique edition is a testimony to the enduring spirit of the Jewish People.
Funk & Wagnalls / Sabra Books, 862 Pages with Illustrations, In Good Condition
ISRAELI AIR FORCE DESK STAND
PLAQUE HONORING AIR WING 4 COLONEL
MAY 1 1964, ISRAEL
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Moshe Peled (Feldman) was born 1923 in Bessarabia. In 1935 he made Aliyah and enlisted in the Palmach, taking a flying course with the aviation club in Kfar Kedem. As a soldier he participated in operational activities including the bombing of the Sidna Ali police station, the 1945 bombing of the railways on the night of the trains, and in a confrontation with British Mandate soldiers in the 1946 attempt to launch the ship "Wingate".
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24 x 14 x 10in; Wood & Metal, In Good Condition
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In the 1948 War of Independence, he flew with Squadron A and with the "Galil" squadron, which he commanded until the time he was sent to the Czech Republic for an advanced pilot training course. In August 1954 he was assigned to the 4th Air Wing and was appointed commander of an aviation squadron. In December 1955 he was assigned to Air Force Headquarters in the position of 4/B Air Commandant for Hatzor. In August 1959 he was appointed the commander of the 4th Air Wing, bring promoted to Colonel in April 1961.
The stand includes military insignias, silver plaque and four metal fighter planes hovering from a wooden base.
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GOLD APOLL0 PAGER
YEP, IT'S ONE OF THOSE
EARLY-21ST CENTURY, ORIGIN UNKNOWN
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The DPC ALA25.S T60 Gold Apollo 460-470 MHz is a traditional handheld /clip-on alphanumeric beeper/pager. Features include:
- Narrow-band (12.5 kHz) or wide-band (25 kHz)
- A holographically enhanced 4-line LCD display for improved clarity, paired with a crisp, blue backlight
- 4 easy use navigation buttons while Jihading
- Rugged, heavy gauge poly-carbonate housing
- Powered by single AA alkaline totally safe battery
- Definitely not tampered with by any Zionist pig
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- May cause bodily harm if you're part of an anti-Semitic death cult focused on wiping Israel off the map
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3 x 2in; In Good Condition, or is it???
DAVID BEN-GURION'S 'MEMOIRS'
ALL THREE VOLUMES HAND-SIGNED
1971-1973, AM OVED PUBLISHING, TEL AVIV
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First editions of the first three volumes of David Ben-Gurion’s Memoirs 'Zichronot', each volume hand-signed by him in Hebrew.
Foremost among the founding fathers of modern Israel, David Ben-Gurion drafted Israel's Declaration of Independence, served as the new nation's first Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. He not only founded the State, but ensured its survival. Considered one of the most scholarly heads of state in human history, Ben-Gurion was, like Winston Churchill, a prolific author in addition to being a statesman. He was not only his country's George Washington but its Thomas Jefferson as well, and was voted as one of 100 people to most greatly shape the 20th Century, according to Time. These three rare volumes cover Ben-Gurion's life from childhood through 1936.
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9.5 x 7in; @600/750 Pages per volume. Books in Good Condition with various wear to dust jackets
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1948 WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
IDF AIR FORCE SECRET ARCHIVE
JUNE 10 1948, ISRAEL
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From its founding, the IAF was a unique Air Force in three respects – it was born at the same time as the State of Israel in May 1948; it was born in the heat of battle; and over 95% of the combat-trained air crews were World War II veterans who came as volunteers from 16 foreign lands to help Israel in its War of Independence. We are proud to offer this historic IDF Air Force archive, created at the beginning of the fateful war that gave sovereignty to the Jewish People after millennia being homeless.
Arthur Meyerstein began working in the 1930's as a clandestine operative for David Ben-Gurion's Hagana. Arthur, born in Germany, became one of the founders of Israel's aviation industry and one of our first flight instructors. He first learned to fly as part of the German gliding program between the world wars (alongside Luftwaffe commander Hermann Göring), at a time when the Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany from establishing a motorized air force, forcing pilots to train only with gliders. Arthur took this vital experience, and when he arrived in Eretz Yisrael he began building the foundation for what would become Israel's Air Force.
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Arthur founded the Haifa Aviation Club with the intent of secretly creating Israel's first combat pilots. Taking a public job for the British Mandate authorities as an engineer, he would often patrol areas of the Galil with the hidden purpose of scouting the terrain and preparing the infrastructure for airstrips intended to be used by the Israeli Air Force when it was established. When war ultimately broke out against the Arab forces, Arthur's undercover preparatory work crucially bore fruit.
This museum-worthy auction lot includes the original papers, photographs and most notably, the signed and dated (June 10, 1948) architectural plan of the IDF's first airstrips in the north of Israel, near Nahariya (making for an incredibly cool framed wall-display treasure). These documents related to the founding of the IAF in the 1948 War of Independence offer a rare glimpse into the early days of aviation in the Land of Israel, and also into the life and Zionist activities of a man who was involved, with every fiber of his being, in the security of Israel, his clandestine work shrouded in mystery, that allowed the secure establishment of the State of Israel in its early fragile years.
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Archive contains various sizes & conditions. 27 x 19in; Air Force Air Strip Plans, In Good Condition
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IDF OFFICER HANUKAH MENORAH
WWII GERMAN MAUSER RIFLE BUTT
MID-20TH CENTURY, ISRAEL
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​​RESERVE: $550 (estimate $700-$800)
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After WWII, the Hagana found themselves facing a problem.
The world that had just emerged from a war was ripe with weapons, but the British didn't want the Jews to have any. No one in the West was willing to sell them arms, not wanting to antagonize their allies. Stalin, not opposed to the idea of a Jewish state, was stalling and unsure about the whole thing. But Czechoslovakia was stuffed to the gills with surrendered German armaments, desperately short on cash, and best of all, not part of either block. The Czech were willing to part with all those rapidly aging German arms for the right amount of dollars, and thus the Hagana got to work.
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One of the most important purchases was a secret January 14, 1948 contract with the Czechoslovak government for $12,280,000 as part of the Hagana smuggling operation, Operation Balak. UN resolutions notwithstanding, the first sales were made, and the first ships sailed before Israel even existed. As the Hagana merged into the nascent IDF, and the 1948 War of Independence escalated, the Jewish state was won using plenty of Nazi-made weaponry. The young country's primary infantry rifle was the Mauser Karabiner 98 kurz, the former weapon of the Wehrmacht, an instrument originally intended to help destroy the Jewish People. The rifle continued to be used by reserve branches of the IDF well into the 1960s and saw action during the 1967 Six-Day War.
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Here we have the butt of one of those famed German Mauser rifles, used by the IDF to gain independence, that also saw crucial victory throughout Israel's many early battles. Ours has been trench-art converted soon after the Six-Day War into a functioning Hanukah menorah, complete with splayed rifle shell casings, and a silvered pedestal base. A weapon of war initially intended to help Hitler's Nazi army conquer the world with death, now transformed as a holy object bringing the Jewish festival of lights to life. An engraved plaque honors Lieutenant Colonel Aharon Levi with this gift to his parents in 5771.
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12 x 6.5in; In Good Condition
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'THE ROAD TO VICTORY'
ANTI-NAZI JEWISH CHILD'S GAME BOARD
1942, ERETZ YISRAEL
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This rare Eretz Yisrael children's game board depicts the war between the Allied Forces and Nazi Germany, with a path leading to victory consisting of one hundred stations located in North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Along the path are intricate color illustrations depicting various war scenes: British soldiers, tanks, warplanes and ships, a Japanese spy equipped with a camera, Spitfire and Messerschmitt fighter planes, a sinking German battleship and more.
Progressing through the game leads to the defeat of the Nazi German Army. Near the end of the adventure Mussolini is shot and Hitler is captured, and the last station shows the surrender of the German army, illustrated by a kneeling German armored unit commander. The goal is to be the first player to reach the end of the course. Players advance by throwing dice and fulfilling instructions at different stations. The game is intended for up to six players, each representing one of the Allies: British, American, Russian, Chinese, Australian or Eretz Yisraeli.​​
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A truly rare example of the pre-State of Israel children’s games industry, unique in its illustrating the battle between good and evil, with the shadow of the Holocaust in Europe lurking in the background.
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18 x 13in; In Good Condition with some wear
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JEWISH BRIGADE PATCHES
WWII ERETZ YISRAEL VOLUNTEER SOLDIER
1942, ERETZ YISRAEL
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An important grouping of material related to the service of a Jew living in Eretz Yisrael who volunteered to fight as a member of the Jewish Brigade, attached to the British Army during World War II.
The Jewish Brigade was the first and only Jewish formation to fight in the war under a Jewish flag. In July 1944 the British government consented to the establishment of a Jewish Brigade with hand-picked Jewish and non-Jewish senior officers, including more than 5,000 Jewish volunteers from the Land of Israel. The Jewish Brigade fought against the Germans in Italy from March 1945 until the end of the war in May 1945, playing a vital role in efforts to help Jews escape Europe for Palestine. After the war some of its members formed assassination squads to locate and execute former SS and Wehrmacht officers who had participated in atrocities against European Jews. Using the military experience garnered during the war, Jewish Brigade members formed the backbone of the Eretz Yisrael paramilitary underground movements and later of the nascent IDF.
The Jewish Brigade Magen David shoulder patch is reminiscent of today's Israeli flag. The Star of David’s yellow color was purposely chosen as a reminder for the Jewish Brigade’s soldiers of the infamous yellow star forced upon Jews as a part of Nazi persecution during the Holocaust.
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4 x 2in; In Very Good Condition with minor wear
* AUCTION HIGHLIGHT *​
DAVID BEN-GURION HISTORIC WWII TRAVEL PASS
WAR TIME MISSION : JERUSALEM TO CAIRO TO LONDON
MUSEUM WORTHY ORIGINAL PHOTO & SIGNATURE
JULY 25 1941, JERUSALEM​
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RESERVE: $30,000 (estimate $40,000-$50,000)
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We are honored to offer this museum quality artifact of incredible historic significance for sale to benefit the Jewish People today. Before us is a unique personally signed document in French of David Ben-Gurion from the height of war torn World War II. As the President of the Jewish Agency in Palestine, Ben-Gurion applied to the Belgian Consulate in Jerusalem for a travel pass to fly from Cairo to London. Fascinatingly, this document references his place of birth as Poland 1887, but his national origin as Turkish.
​In 1941, David Ben-Gurion traveled to London where he stayed with Arthur Lourie, the future Israeli ambassador to the UK. Little is known about Ben-Gurion's secretive activities in London, but published letters by Chaim Weizmann written during the summer of 1941 make note of Ben-Gurion's arrival and plans. In a letter dated August 19, 1941, Weizmann writes, "Ben Gurion arrived from Palestine a couple of days ago." In another letter to Meyer Weisgal dated August 26, 1941, he writes, "Ben Gurion is here, and has brought us some news of recent developments in Palestine."
Although his total motivations for his mission are unclear, historians note that Ben-Gurion saw his journey as an act of solidarity with England, which was being severely battered by Nazi blitz air strikes. In a letter to his wife Paula, Ben-Gurion wrote of British resilience: "I am dumbfounded by the levelheadedness and inner confidence of this wonderful nation. It is as if nothing can shock it and nothing undermines its faith and confidence that victory will come in the end."
Historian Colin Schindler writes that "London became sanctified" in the eyes of Ben-Gurion for the city's sacrifice. While Ben-Gurion was at odds with the British government after it issued the 1939 White Paper that limited Jewish immigration to
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Palestine to 15,000 a year for the first five years, he thoroughly supported the British cause throughout World War II. Ben-Gurion encouraged Jews to enlist in the British army, famously saying: "Support the British as if there is no White Paper and oppose the White Paper as if there is no war." Some 10 percent of the Jewish population in Palestine volunteered to fight for the British.
This is an exceedingly rare offering documenting Ben-Gurion's wartime travels only seven years before he declared the establishment of the State.
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8 x 11in; In Excellent Condition
DAVID BEN-GURION TO CHAIM WEIZMANN
HISTORIC WWII JEWISH AGENCY TELEGRAM
OCTOBER 19 1942, NEW YORK
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RESERVE: $7500 (estimate $9000-$9800)
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This original historic telegram was sent from the Executive of The Jewish Agency for Palestine to Chaim Weizmann, who would eventually become Israel's first President. In May 1942, the Weizmann convened a meeting of leading Zionists in New York pressing for a policy of unrestricted immigration into Palestine in light of the horrors inflicted on the Jewish community of Europe. Weizmann heralded that a Jewish Commonwealth needed to be established, helping to prompt Churchill to give his backing for the founding of the State of Israel. At this time, David Ben-Gurion, who spent most of his adult life giving to the cause of Israel, served as the Chairman of the Jewish Agency's Executive Committee. In the years before the founding of the state, the Jewish Agency oversaw the establishment of about 1,000 towns and villages in Mandate Palestine.
When World War II broke out, the Jewish Agency established a committee to aid European Jewry by finding them entry permits to Palestine, sending them food, and maintaining contact. The Agency also helped recruit 40,000 members of the Palestinian Jewish community to be trained by the British military and aid in the Allies' struggle against the Nazis.
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8.5 x 7.25 in; In Good Condition, Two Pages
YOM HAZIKARON FALLEN SOLDIERS
BEN-GURION SIGNED COMMEMORATION
APRIL 29 1957, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $360 (estimate $450-$550)
Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion signed this Yom HaZikaron commemoration beautifully printed large format envelope by the Ministry of Defense in honor of the fallen IDF soldiers from the 1956 Sinai Campaign against Egypt.
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Yom HaZikaron is the Israeli day of national remembrance to commemorate all the soldiers and citizens who lost their lives during the struggle to defend the State of Israel. Yom HaZikaron, which follows the Jewish calendar cycle, begins with a siren at 8pm in the evening. As soon as the siren is heard, Israelis stop whatever they are doing, wherever they are, and stand firm to honor those they have lost. People driving on highways even stop their cars in the middle of the road to get out and stand in solemn remembrance.
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An entire office will stop working and a family having dinner together will stop eating in order to spend a minute in respectful silence.
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6.5 x 9.5in; In Excellent Condition
STATE OF ISRAEL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
RARE FIRST PRINTING
MAY 14 1948, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
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RESERVE: $2250 (estimate $3000-$4000)
This seemingly innocuous publication from Iton Rishmi, the official gazette of the Provisional Government of the State of Israel, bears a simple, five-word headline reading, “Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel”, and is the first printing of the historic document, as read by Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, at 4:30pm on Friday, May 14, 1948, in the Tel Aviv Museum (now known as Independence Hall).
Arguably the most important Jewish document of the past 2,000 years, this scarce first edition, first issue, was printed on the first day of the birth of Israel. It declares, “The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish People. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.” This issue also includes a manifest of the Provisional Government determining legislative rights; an official annulment of the 1939 White Paper (which restricted Jewish immigration to, and controlled the sale of land to Jews in, Mandatory Palestine); and the names of all 37 signatories of the declaration.
Published from 1948 to 1949, Iton Rishmi provided the official text of all legislation, decrees and notices issued by the Israeli government. After the establishment of the Knesset in February 1949, its name was changed to Reshumot.
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13 x 8.25in; Four Bifolium Leaf Pages; In Good Condition with foxing & filing holes
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SALVADOR DALI'S 'ALIYAH: THE REBIRTH OF ISRAEL'
25 SIGNED IMAGES, PORTFOLIO #1
1968, SHOREWOOD PUBLISHERS, N.Y.C.
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RESERVE: $35,000 (estimate $40,000-$45,000)
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Published to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Israel's independence, Dali's 'Aliyah : The Rebirth of Israel' dramatically portrays via stunning imagery the history of the Jewish People's return to their Homeland.
Curio Auctions is proud to offer for sale Portfolio #1 of the series, the most important set of Dali's ‘Aliyah.’ This complete portfolio includes the full suite of 25 original color lithographs printed on Arches paper, each hand-signed by Dali and numbered in pencil, an introduction by David Ben-Gurion, and title, text and justification pages, all contained in the original linen-covered portfolio box with cover image.
The Aliyah portfolio was published for sale in a strictly limited edition of 275 copies, of which only about one-quarter still exist as complete sets. Of those, about half are in private hands and the remnant are featured in the collections of major art museums and institutions world-wide. The unique Portfolio #1 we are offering is truly a museum-quality historic and artistic treasure.
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Sam Shore, an ardent Zionist and owner of the New York-based art publishing firm Shorewood Publishers, wanted to honor Israel's 20th anniversary taking place in 1968. Inspired by the example of the Chagall Windows displayed in Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital, Shore decided to approach another famous contemporary artist to create a set of paintings on the theme of the history and renewal of the Jewish People.
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He chose Salvador Dali, one of the pre-eminent artists of the 20th century. Once Dali agreed to take on the historic project, Shore invited David Ben-Gurion, the recently-retired Prime Minister of Israel, to write the portfolio introduction. He also solicited the support of Israel Bonds to display Dali’s original art for the portfolio at the Huntington Museum in New York City.
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It was late in life that Dali became inspired by the story of the Jewish People, despite his having no inner or prior connection with Judaism or Zionism. Drawing inspiration from the Old Testament as well as contemporary Jewish history, Dali created 25 works for ‘Aliyah’ that exude a palpable emotive Zionist energy and inspirational fervor, successfully capturing the spirit of the rebirth of the Jewish People in their homeland with remarkable skill and passion.
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Since its publication copies of Dali's Aliyah have sold for tens of thousands of dollars at Christie's, Sotheby's, and other prominent international auctions. But while anyone can own a regular Dali 'Aliyah' portfolio, only one person can enjoy pride of ownership of Portfolio #1, the most important set of the series. This is not another Dali 'Aliyah' portfolio… It is THE Dali 'Aliyah' portfolio. For a deeper dive into the history of this unique ‘Aliyah’ portfolio and its intriguing connection to David Ben-Gurion and the Israel Museum, click here:
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Prints: 25 x 20in; In Excellent, Near-Mint Condition
Portfolio Box: 27 x 20.5in; In Good Condition
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BEN-GURION DECLARES AN
INDEPENDENT STATE OF ISRAEL
MAY 14 1948, TEL AVIV
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RESERVE: $1600 (estimate $3000-$4000)
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This historic archival photograph captures one of the most important moments in Jewish history, David Ben-Gurion publicly proclaiming the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel. The ceremony was held in the Tel Aviv Museum (today known as Independence Hall) but was not widely publicized as it was feared that the British authorities might attempt to prevent it or that the Arab armies might invade earlier than expected. The event started at 4pm (a time chosen so as not to violate Shabbat) and was broadcast live as the first transmission of the new radio station Kol Yisrael.
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6.75 x 4.75in; In Decent Condition with some wear
EARLY HAND-CRAFTED FLAG
STATE OF ISRAEL
MID-20TH CENTURY
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RESERVE: $360 (estimate $700-$800)
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We love seeing these retired old flags honored in style when framed prominently on the wall. Nothing compares to the pride one feels when knowing that the star and stripes of Israel’s blue and white flag had a long life fluttering in the breeze. More than a state, Israel is a people, a faith and a light unto the nations. In less than a century, Israel’s flag has become an iconic representation of the painful past, prodigious present and fantastic future of the Jewish People - at home and abroad.
This hand-crafted flag in linen, sewn during the earliest days of the creation of the state, pays homage to the sacrifices of Israel’s founding Zionists. These pioneers secured the miracle of modern statehood for generations to come. This flag reminds us all that the Jewish People, wherever they may be, are united by the idea and ideals for which Israel so staunchly stands.
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40.5 x 37in; In Good Condition with minor wear
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