Illustrated Calligraphic Book – Bezalel, 1956 – Parting Gift Presented to Moshe Sharett by Members of the ...

Illustrated Calligraphic Book – Bezalel, 1956 – Parting Gift Presented to Moshe Sharett by Members of the Government and Knesset, Signed by some 60 Statesmen: Golda Meir, Zalman Shazar, Pinchas Sapir, Dov Yosef, Teddy Kollek, and Others

A unique copy – written in calligraphic handwriting and illuminated with colorful illustrations – of the tale by Haim Hazaz, "Chatan Damim" (lit. "Bridegroom of Blood"; this copy was submitted as a final art project by the Bezalel graduating art student Dina Merhav); parting gift presented to Moshe Sharett upon his departure from the Knesset, and upon his embarkment on his last diplomatic mission. Jerusalem, 1956.

Manuscript on thick, high-quality paper, with illuminated title page and opening initial, and with colorful illustrations in the body of the text. Clothbound, in original binding, and with an additional illustration glued onto face of front board. Inked stamp of the Bezalel school on final leaf.

A handwritten dedication (presumably written by Golda Meir) appears on the first page: "To Moshe, our dearest, upon your departure on a great mission, may this blessing from all of us accompany you". This dedication is hand signed by more than 60 government ministers, Knesset members, and other notable Israeli personalities, including Golda Meir, Zalman Shazar, Minister of Trade Pinchas Sapir, Minister of Labor Dov Yosef, Minister of Transportation Zalman Aran, Minister of Agriculture Peretz Naftali, Chairman of the Keren HaYesod foundation Eliyahu Dobkin, Secretary to the Prime Minister Teddy Kollek, Secretary of the Mapai political party Giora Yoseftal, Knesset Speaker Kadish Luz, Israel Ambassador to the Soviet Union Mordechai Namir, and many others (some of the signatures appear on the reverse side of the page).

Apparently, the present copy was presented to Sharett as a parting gift after he stepped down as Israel’s prime minister and foreign minister – the latter being a position he filled since the establishment of the State of Israel. It also marked the occasion of his departure on his last official task, a mission for which he set out in September, 1956, involving visits to countries throughout Asia and Africa for the purpose of improving Israel’s relations with those countries, having been appointed Israel’s "Goodwill Ambassador at Large". The mission was effectively Sharett’s final task as an Israeli politician and statesman; once he completed his term as Israel’s second prime minister, he never returned to the Knesset. Nor did he play any political role following his ambassadorial journey.

The creator of the manuscript, Dina Merhav (née Gross; 1936-2022), was an Israeli artist and sculptor. Born in Vinkovci (then Yugoslavia, today in Croatia). Immigrated to Israel with her family in 1949 and graduated in 1957 from the Department of Graphic Design of what is now the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. As her artistic career progressed, she began specializing in metal sculpture, and in particular outdoor sculpture – a field which earned her international acclaim; among other places, her works were put on public display in the United States, Switzerland, Macedonia, Croatia, China, India, and Turkey.

[47] pages. with text and illustrations. 29 cm. Good condition. Stains. Slightly loose gatherings. Binding stained, with minor wear. Blemishes and abrasions to illustration adhering to front board.