Auction No. 106
Letters by A. Einstein and Other Illustrious Personalities, Zionism, Jewish Art, letters of Rabbis and Rebbes and Collection of letters to Sir Moses Montefiore from the archive of the late Rabbi Avraham Shisha - London - Buyer's commission 22%
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- Letters by A. Einstein and Other Illustrious Personalities (14) Apply Letters by A. Einstein and Other Illustrious Personalities filter
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- A selection of works by Priechenfried (9) Apply A selection of works by Priechenfried filter
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Official postcard from Pierre Curie Laboratories of the Radom Institute in Paris, autographed by Prof. Marie Curie, 1921.
Specifications: [1] Curie Laboratories of the Radom Institute in Paris official postcard. 13x10 cm. Handwritten and signed by Prof. Curie.
Background: Marie Curie [1867-1934] was a breakthrough scientist and pioneer in the field of radioactivity research. She studied chemistry and physics at the Sorbonne in Paris and was the first woman student to receive a bachelor's degree in physics, the first woman in France to receive a doctorate. In 1906, she was also the first woman to serve as a lecturer at the Sorbonne. In 1903 she and her husband Pierre won the Nobel Prize in Physics for radiation research, and in 1911 won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of polonium and radium; making her the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. Her death was caused by an illness that developed as a result of her exposure to radioactivity during her research. A year later, her daughter also won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Marie Curie's life work is documented in many museums, books and films, and her image continues to inspire many researchers. Her name was immortalized in the scientific world by the chemical element named after her, "curium," the unit of radioactivity, the "curie," research institutes, scholarship funds, and scientific prizes. Dozens of years after her death, her bones and her husband's bones were transferred to the Pantheon in Paris, where the most important personalities of the French nation are buried.
Condition: Very fine.
Thank you letter from Senator John F. Kennedy after being elected president of the United States, sent to Mr. M. Deutsch of the Kupat Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes charity in Jerusalem. Washington D.C. 7.12.1960.
Specifications: [1] official U. S. Senate letterhead. 21x15 cm. Typewritten with Kennedy's signature. With original, official Senate envelope. 11x16 cm.
Background: The letter was written about a month after the presidential elections, but before he was sworn in. "I am most heartened by the many expressions of good will which I have received. I am sure that they reflect a broad unity of purpose in our nation. I hope that my record during next four years will sustain your generous confidence."
Kennedy was murdered on 22.11.1963 and did not complete his presidency.
Condition: Fine. Fold marks with light creases on the leaf, small tear along the fold line, not affecting text. Stains on the envelope.
![Sketches from a Trip to Algeria and [30] Lithographs Chez J. F. Wagner. 1839. Rare.](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/sale_106-public/15_1.jpg)
![Sketches from a Trip to Algeria and [30] Lithographs Chez J. F. Wagner. 1839. Rare.](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/sale_106-public/15_2.jpg)
![Sketches from a Trip to Algeria and [30] Lithographs Chez J. F. Wagner. 1839. Rare.](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/sale_106-public/15_3.jpg)
![Sketches from a Trip to Algeria and [30] Lithographs Chez J. F. Wagner. 1839. Rare.](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/sale_106-public/15_1.jpg?itok=XahiN1jb)
![Sketches from a Trip to Algeria and [30] Lithographs Chez J. F. Wagner. 1839. Rare.](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/sale_106-public/15_2.jpg?itok=maQw0mkn)
![Sketches from a Trip to Algeria and [30] Lithographs Chez J. F. Wagner. 1839. Rare.](https://winners-files.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/styles/gallery-small-thumb/s3/sale_106-public/15_3.jpg?itok=-AvDLZWW)
Esquisses Africaines. Dessinées pendant un voyage a Alger et lithographies par Adolphe Otth. 1839.
Specifications: [39] pages, 36x49 cm. Album with [30] gorgeous two-colored lithographs, preface with a detailed description of each lithograph. French. Preface in 1838. Original binding.
Content: Album of plates sketched during a trip to Algeria and its environs, published together with notes from the trip. Portrait of the artist at the start of the album. Includes natural scenery, cities, religious sites, historic buildings and more.
Background: Adolphe Otth's journey was enabled by the French conquest of Algeria in 1830. In 1836, he set off on a trip to the Balearic Islands and Algeria as a nature researcher, primarily interested in insects, reptiles and amphibians that lived in the area of the Mediterranean Sea. He returned from his trip with many sketches, and chose 30 of the most interesting ones to create this collection of lithographs. His works express much talent and serve are a rare, high-quality collection.
Condition: Fine, original binding with embossing. Worn and stained. Aging stains on the wide margins of the lithographs. A small number of lithographs have large stains, with stains to the picture itself.
Package with a pair of silver sugar spoons. Unique, with a gorgeous, multi-colored geometric design, made by the C. J. Begeer Company for Silverware [Utrechtse Fabriek van Zilverwerken]. This company, founded by Carel Joseph Begeer in 1866 in Utrecht, Holland was granted the license of the royal supplier of utensils to the palace, as appears in the marking printed in the original packaging. Utrecht, c. 1905.
Specifications: [2] silver spoons, each with [3] marks. Length: 16.8 cm., width 4.3 cm. The spoons are in their original packaging.
Refer to: Jan Eisenloeffel 1876-1957, Annelies Krekel-Aalberse: page 109, pic. 73 & colourpage XIV.
Condition: Very fine. Packing box slightly scraped.
Letter from Dr. Theodor Herzl, April 15, 1899, on the importance of the society of young adults for an idealist who seeks to work for good and just ideas.
Specifications: [1] leaf, official letterhead of the Viennese newspaper Neue Freie Presse, where Herzl worked. 15X22 cm. German.
Contents: The following is a translation of the letter from German:
Honorable Sir,
Your precious letter pleased me very much. To merit young friends is the best reward for a man who does not think of himself, fame or profit, but merely seeks to work for ideas that are good and right in his eyes. The younger members of society are the guarantors that our efforts were not in vain. I wish that you and your colleagues will also treat me in the future with sympathy. I do not have time to write an article for your high school graduates' newspaper. What can I tell you about my time as a student at the Gymnasium? It was probably similar to your time as a student. At first we are glad when this time passes, and then miss it afterwards, like we miss our youth.
Best regards,
Yours,
T. Herzl
Condition: Very fine. Fold marks. A few stains on the edges of the leaf without damage to text.
Tractate Baba Metzia published in Vilna, 1902, belonging to and studied by one of the greatest Zionist leaders, Ze'ev Jabotinsky.
Unique Features: Before us is an important discovery, revealing that Ze'ev Jabotinsky was interested in and studied the Babylonian Talmud. Ze'ev Jabotinsky signed his name on the title page. There are pencil marks throughout the book.
Jabotinsky studied in general public schools, and as a youth barely knew of Judaism and the Jews. Later on, he became acquainted with Judaism, visited many Jewish communities, and became familiar with the traditional Jewish way of life. In addition to his high level of knowledge in Hebrew, Jabotinsky was well versed in the Bible. In his speeches and articles, he quoted it often, as well as world views and many ideas which he drew from the Bible. However, his familiarity with the Talmud was unknown. So we have a surprising discovery, a Talmudic tractate that was in his possession, and even signed with his name. It is possible that during his visit to Petersburg he saw the book, and as was his way, wished to study it in depth and explore the tractate and the Talmud in general.
Background: Ze'ev Vladimir Jabotinsky [1880-1940] was a prominent Zionist leader, author, poet, and famous speaker. He was one of the founders of the Jewish Legion in the British Army during the First World War, and established Beitar and the Revisionist Zionist Organization (Hatzach).
Condition: Fine - very fine.
Letter from David Ben-Gurion, written to the editors of the Haartez newspaper, to deflect criticism of him for having conducted correspondence with French President De Gaulle. Sde Boker, January 16,1968.
Specifications: [1] page paper. 21x13 cm.
Background: After the Six-Day War, De Gaulle accused Israel of starting the war, and hence developed hostile policies against Israel, which included an embargo on weapon sales to Israel. In November, 1967, De Gaulle convened a press conference in which he harshly attacked the State of Israel. Using language with anti-Semitic undertones, he referred to the Jewish people as "an elitist, self-confident and domineering people." Following this, a correspondence developed between David Ben Gurion, the former Prime Minister of Israel, and De Gaulle. At De Gaulle's initiative, their correspondence was published in Israel and France, and this led to criticism of Ben Gurion by Foreign Minister Abba Eban. In order to defend his position, Ben-Gurion chose to write the letter before us and send it to Haaretz for publication. In his letter, Ben-Gurion stresses his right as a free citizen of the State of Israel to conduct communications without censorship and with whom he sees fit, and in the process criticizes the Mapai regime.
Quotes from the letter: "Foreign Minister Abba Eban displayed public resentment of me for having sent a letter to General De Gaulle without his or his staff's knowledge. And since I appreciate the Foreign Minister's work, I see it as a duty to explain to him that we do not live - at the present time in any case, and I hope also for the future - in a dictatorial, "communist," or fascist country - and each person is allowed to converse and correspond with anyone he sees fit, without any censorship whatsoever. I took upon myself, for reasons that I will not state here, a single limitation: not to discuss the present government's interest and policy with anyone who is not Israeli, even foreign Jews who come to visit me in Sde Boker, for my own reasons ...
Anyone who has read my letter ... knows that in this letter I only discussed De Gaulle's unfortunate statements at the November 1967 press conference; the nature and ways of our people; the return to Zion and the areas of the land; and conversations I had with De Gaulle on these matters when I was prime minister. I do not think I need guidance or censorship on these matters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or anyone else, though I know there are others who possess the talent and capability to write things that are more beautiful and intelligent. I did not show my last letter to De Gaulle to anyone - except for Paula - until the letter reached the person to whom it was addressed. And I do not see the need to show anyone what I write to whom I write. The regime that was practiced over the past few years in Mapai does not obligate the state, and I hope that the citizen's freedom will exist in the future in our country.
Respectfully, David Ben Gurion
Fine condition. Fold marks. Tiny tears on the edges of the page, along the fold line.
Description: Oil on wood. 11.5x9 cm. Within a wooden frame 19x17 cm. Signed in the upper left corner.
Condition: Very fine.
Description: Oil on wood. 12x9 cm. Within an impressive wooden frame, 32x29 cm. Signed in the top right corner.
Condition: Very fine.
Description: Oil on wood. 11.5x9 cm. Within an impressive wooden frame, 37x33 cm. Signed in the upper left corner.
Condition: Very fine.
Description: Oil on wood. 11.5x9 cm. Within an impressive wooden frame, 31x29 cm. Signed in the upper left corner.
Condition: Very fine.
Description: Oil on canvas. 41x33 cm. Within an impressive wooden frame, 63x54 cm. Signed in the upper right corner.
Condition: Fine - very fine, light repairs to the paint.