Auction 87 Jewish and Israeli Art, History and Culture - Including: sketches by Ze'ev Raban and Bezalel items, hildren's books, avant-garde books, rare ladino periodicals, and more
By Kedem
Jul 19, 2022
8 Ramban St, Jerusalem., Israel

The present catalogue includes an extensive chapter dedicated to Bezalel artists, including illustrated books, various objects, drawing and paintings. This chapter features numerous original sketches for works by Ze'ev Raban - Raban's sketchbook (lot 318), sketches for illustrations to the Song of Songs (lot 320), sketches of the signs of the Zodiac (lot 327), a large collection of photographs of works by Raban and Meir Gur Aryeh (lot 344), and many other unique items from the estate of Shlomo Kedmi, who succeeded Raban and Gur Aryeh in the Industrial Art Studio.

The chapter dedicated to Hebrew children's books features charming works by prominent writers and illustrators: stories by Benzion Raskin illustrated by Uriel Kahana, Chaim Hanft and Haim Goldberg; poems by Itzhak Katzenelson illustrated by Gertrud Caspari; rhymes by Ya'akov David Kamson illustrated by Else Wenz-Viëtor; children's book published by "Omanut", with color lithograph illustrations by "Chavurat Tsayarim" (Apter, Mutzelmacher, Kravtsov and Higer); pop-up books illustrated by David Gilboa; and other rare books.

The avant-garde chapter features Yiiddish, Hebrew and Russian books, with illustrations and cover-designs by important Russian avant-garde artists such as El Lissitzky, Joseph Chaikov, Issachar Ber Ryback, Mark Epstein and Nathan Altman.

The catalogue further features a variety of choice items representing the history of Palestine and Zionism, bibliophile works, letters, travelogues and maps of Palestine, photographs, postcards, rare Ladino periodicals, works by Safed-based artist Yosef Zvi Geiger, bibliophile works, a chapter dedicated to numismatics, and many more items.


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LOT 47:

Kibbutz Giv'ot Zaid – Letters, Photographs and Documents – Late 1930s to 1950s

Sold for: $160
Start price:
$ 150
Buyer's Premium: 25%
VAT: 17% On commission only
tags:

Kibbutz Giv'ot Zaid – Letters, Photographs and Documents – Late 1930s to 1950s

Large collection of letters, photographs and documents, belonging to Menachem Kaufmann, a founding member of Givo't Zaid, a dissolved Kibbutz near today's Kiryat Tiv'on. Late 1940s to early 1950s. Hebrew; some items in German.
The collection comprises:
• Approx. 75 letters exchanged between Kaufmann, Members of Giv'ot Zaid and other settlements, and several official organizations: the "Histadrut", "Hever HaKevutzot VeHaKibbutzim", "Ahavah Children and Youth Village". and more.
The letters reflect life in the Kibbutzim during the 1948 War, and the early days of the State of Israel. They describe the harsh conditions endured during the period, various plans for the financial and social development of the Kibbutz, dilemmas regarding the Kibbutz way and life within a tight-knit community, various private matters, and more.
Some letters, sent to Kaufmann by his friend Avihud Zifroni (see next lot) describe in vivid detail Zifroni's experiences as a Zionist emissary to North Africa, including detailed descriptions of his work, encounters with local Jews, the lack of food and basic living conditions, and his homesickness.
• Approx. 30 documents and paper items, handwritten and printed: drafts for the Kibbutz's regulations document, eulogy for a late Kibbutz members, notes and lectures, book review ("I, Cloudius"), printed report on the cultivation of potatoes (1947), fourteen "Shanah Tovah" greetings cards from friends and institutions, and more.
• Approx. 280 photographs, placed in an album: Kibbutz members at work in construction and agriculture, life in the Kibbutz, the Kibbutz's children and members, military parades, excursions, and more. Several photographs captioned or dedicated to Kaufmann in handwriting.

Size and condition vary.


Kibbutz Giv'ot Zaid in the north-western part of the Jezreel Valley was founded in 1940, by graduates of the Kadoorie Agricultural High School and Mikveh Israel, and was named after Alexander Zaid, important figure of the Second Aliyah, prominent member of "Bar Giora" and "HaShomer, " who resided nearby (killed in 1938). Zaid's twin sons were among the founding members of the Kibbutz. Initially, the Kibbutz was not affiliated with any political movement, and therefore did not enjoy the support of the Zionist institutions. Growing financial hardships, and worsening social conditions, led to a steady abandonment of members, until the Kibbutz was finally dissolved in 1957.