By Oliver B. Pollak
RICHMOND, California — Combining the keyword “Hitler” and “Highest Price” on AbeBooks founded in 1995 and owned by Amazon since 2008 produces an amazing Judaica juxtaposition priced between $180,000 and $527,815. For less than $1.5 million you could own three unique 20th century works on Palestine, Mein Kampf and Einstein, and a 1543 letter by Martin Luther expressing his opinion about Jews. I am indebted to the sellers’ efforts for their deeply researched descriptions.
Benjamin Katz of Fine Books/Rare Manuscripts in Toronto provides commentary for a unique diary: “1936 handwritten manuscript diary of British Mandated Palestine, brilliantly written by a 16-17 yr. old British girl – historically significant witness to the first Arab intifada – Palestine uprising, terrorism and strike.”
During the first half of 1936 Doreen C., in her mid-teens, the daughter of a British Air Department officer kept a detailed diary about strikes, riots, daily murders and ambushes and traveling in Palestine. She lived in the King David Hotel and Talbiyeh Colony in Jerusalem. 1936 was a tumultuous year: Mussolini in Ethiopia, Hitler in Europe, Franco in Spain, Edward VIII abdicates, and the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem made a pact with Hitler to disrupt the British and Jewish presence.
Doreen collected information from newspapers, radio and short wave radio and from British travelers in the Middle East and North Africa. The Italians, the Germans and the plight of the Jews under Hitler disturbed her. The seller provides a few snippets: “Mussolini is the greatest liar on earth. Hitler is number 2. Hitler is ‘bats’ or something for he is daring to order every German Jew youth back to Germany (those who have been turned out included) for conscription.” “[I] was told a few tales of storm troops that dared not to be published. They may sound a little far fetched but I do believe them as true. Poland is treating the Jews disgustingly.”
Antiquariat INLIBRIS Gilhofer Nfg. GmbH in Vienna offers a limited edition of Mein Kampf (1925-27) by Adolf Hitler, published in Munich.
In November 1923, Hitler was arrested after an unsuccessful Nazi Beer Hall Putsch in Berlin. He wrote “Mein Kampf” while in jail. This is copy number 94 of a deluxe limited edition of 500 copies, signed by Hitler and bound in vellum. Hitler inscribed it to the widow of Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter, a Nazi leader who died in the Putsch. The handwritten dedication to Scheubner-Richter’s widow Mathilde dated 27 December 1927 translated into English reads “At the end of this very sad year for you, I send heartfelt hope that you will be able to forget the deep pain that you and we have all met. I think of you and him often and remain, your cordial servant and very devoted, Adolf Hitler.”
Seth Kaller Inc. in White Plains, NY, offers The Building Blocks of Albert Einstein’s Creative Mind a set of Anker-Steinbaukasten children’s building blocks produced in the1880s came onto the market after an auction at Christie’s. Two wooden boxes contained approximately 160 blocks in various sizes and shapes, together with building plans. Einstein, born in 1879, played with these blocks. These blocks were popular toys in the late 19th century. The blocks stimulated the imagination and three-dimensional perception. J. Robert Oppenheimer, Frank Lloyd Wright and Walter Gropius also played with Anker blocks. Einstein left Germany after Hitler’s rise to power. Einstein joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey in 1933 and received U.S. citizenship in 1940.
The Vienna dealer offering Hitler’s Mein Kampf also has an Autographed letter signed by Martinus Luther (1483-1546), Wittenberg, dated September 1, 1543. The 683-word description contains the word Jew at least twelve times. The letter according to Haaretz was discovered in 1914 in a private collection and was auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction.
Luther’s letter to Georg Buchholzer (1503–66), Provost of St Nikolai in Berlin, regarded Buchholzer’s altercation with the court preacher Johann Agricola from Eisleben (1492–1566) with whom Luther had once been friendly. Agricola appeared to favor enlightened tolerance and protection of local Jews. Luther on the other hand sees the Jews as “devils incarnate who curse our Lord.”
Antiquariat INLIBRIS Gilhofer Nfg. GmbH has documents signed by Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin, Leon Trotsky and Rosa Luxemburg. The marvelous intersection between the internet and Judaica is the occasion for continuous surprises, gratification and education. Seller descriptions of provenance, importance and uniqueness are gratifying educational opportunities.
*
Pollak, an attorney and professor emeritus of history at the University of Nebraska Omaha, is a SDJW correspondent now based in Richmond, California. He may be contacted via oliver.pollak@sdjewishworld.com