(ISRAEL, STATE OF)

AUCTION 37 | Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 223

(ISRAEL, STATE OF)

Typed Letter Signed on the letterhead of "Medinath Yisrael, ha-Memshalah ha-Zemanith, Misrad ha-Moshel ha-Tzeva'i, Yerushalayim" [State of Israel, Provisional Government, Office of the Military Governor, Jerusalem], with stamp of the military command, "Machleketh ha-Shikun" [Housing Section]. Addressed to Reuben Mass, "Mukhtar Talbiyeh" [Mayor of Talbiyeh]

Jerusalem: 26th December, 1948

Est: $100 - $150

PRICE REALIZED $150

Talbiyeh was a comfortable Arab residential area of Jerusalem. During the course of the War of Independence in 1948, the Arab inhabitants fled their homes whereupon Talbiyeh was transformed into "Talpiyot," a now Jewish neighborhood. This official letter makes discrete inquiry sa to whether there are still empty residences available in the area. The complexity of the interim situation is borne out by the Arabic title of “Mukhtar” given to the addressee, the well-known Jerusalem publisher, Reuben Mass. In light of the on-going demand by today’s Palestinian Arabs of the "right of return," the sensitive nature of this letter is clear