Album of c. 90 original black-and-white photographs taken in, and chronicling the state of affairs of, British Mandate-era Palestine from 1936 through 1938.

AUCTION 53 | Thursday, December 08th, 2011 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters & Graphic Art

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Lot 157
(ISRAEL, LAND OF).

Album of c. 90 original black-and-white photographs taken in, and chronicling the state of affairs of, British Mandate-era Palestine from 1936 through 1938.

Photographs housed in Bezalel School-style leather album with embossed brass plaque inset on front cover depicting the Western Wall. Hand-written captions in English throughout. Opening page inscribed: "In appreciation to Mr. Albert Hollander from Rachel & Fritz Grunebaum. March 1938." 40 pages (excluding blanks). Leaves loose. Rectangular folio

Palestine: 1936-38

Est: $1,000 - $1,500
PRICE REALIZED $1,000
A dynamic album of black and white photographs in which the capturing of the historic events of the day are front and center the album's theme. Almost all pages include opinionated captions by the Jewish photographer. The photographs themselves are often creatively displayed on the page. Captions of the photograph include: "Arab Terrorisme." / "From Spring 1936 until Dec. 1937 More than 30 Attacks were Made on Palestine Railways." / "Destruction of Houses on the Jaffa-Tel Aviv Border." - Followed by: "Nevertheless! The Work Continues! " Showing photographs of newly-founded kibbutzim with Zionist farmers working the land. Several pages are devoted to Tel Aviv, entitled: "Tel Aviv, the 100% Jewish City." Photographs depict the development of the Tel Aviv port, a Purim parade, the commercial strip of Dizengoff Street and a striking photograph of a religious man blowing a horn with a caption alongside reading: "Attention Jews!! Sabbath is beginning." "Section of Jerusalem with its Residents" display Orthodox Jewish street-scenes in the Holy City. Many snapshots are of historic interest including, Rachel's Tomb, Tower of David, the Western Wall, Lake of Tiberias, as well as the Hebrew University, Trumpeldor's Tomb, Haifa, etc. The final and perhaps most acrimonious segment is entitled: "The Problem of Palestine? - The Arabs." The last page carries an image of an elderly religious Jew in dialogue with a young Arab man in headress under the poignant caption: "Will They Ever Understand Each Other? " An album rich in content by a photographer with a distinctly Zionist perspective.