Lot 17
Collection of Documents from the Estate of the First JNF Chairman Yona (Johann) Kremenezky
About 90 documents from the estate of Yona (Johann) Kremenezky (1850-1934) - industrialist, capitalist and Zionist activist, a pioneer of electrical industry in Europe, first chairman of JNF (in the years 1902-1907), initiator of JNF fund raising operations (Blue Box, stamps and the "Golden Book") and a close friend of the Herzl family (executor of Herzl's personal estate).
The collection includes:
• Thirteen photos of Kremenezky (studio photos), six of them taken in his youth. • Professional photograph of "JNF Golden Book". • Letter handwritten by Trude Neuman-Herzl, Theodor Herzl's daughter (September 1934, about one month prior to Kremenezky's passing). • Letters from William Henry Hechler, a missionary and Zionist-Christian clergyman (1910-1911); Hechler promoted Zionism and Herzl's ideology, and even joined him when he visited Eretz Israel in 1898. • Drafts of speeches and articles handwritten and typewritten, with corrections in Kremenesky's handwriting, amongst them a composition written on the 25th anniversary of Herzl's death, a composition titled "JNF and Myself" (German), writings about Zionism, industry and more. • Tens of JNF stamps with Kremenezky's portrait as well as stamps inscribed "For JNF from its loyal servant Kremenezky". • Copies of letters (typewritten) to David Wolfson and from him (1905-1907). • Copies of letters (typewritten) from Theodor Herzl (1901-1903). • Letters sent to Kremenezky from JNF bureaus in Vienna (1925) and from the head office in Cologne (1910). • Letters from the artist Emil Ranzenhofer, designer of JNF telegrams (1911) as well as 4 sketches for a JNF telegram (pencil on paper, not signed). • Photocopies of articles from "Di Welt" issues. • Letter from "Otzar Hityashvut HaYehudim (Jewish Colonial Bank in London)", 1901. • A telegram from Meir Dizengoff with a birthday greeting for Kremenezky's 85th birthday (1934). Enclosed: booklet printed in honor of Kremenezky, "Johann Kremenezky, Seine Technische Laufbahn die Geschichte Seiner Firma". Vienna, 1930 (two copies); about 25 letters sent to Kremenezky's descendants from JNF (ca. 1960s). Most material is in German. Lot of about 115 items; some consist of several leaves. Size and condition varies.
