Lot 246
Collection of Letters from Joseph Klausner to Avrham Kahana, 1895-1938
33 postcards and a dozen autograph letters from Joseph Klausner. The letters and postcards were sent to the researcher and author Avraham Kahana from Odessa, Warsaw and Jerusalem, to Zhitomir, Kiev, Warsaw and Tel-Aviv, 1895-1938 (most letters are from the first and second decades of the 20th century).
A large collection of letters recording literary-scholarly relations over a period of about 40 years. The letters are written in a close and friendly manner; dealing mainly with literary matters, publication of essays and books, editing, critiques, comments and corrections of essays, and more. Most letters were written on postcards and on official stationery of "Hashiloach" in Odessa as well as of "Achiasaf" company in Warsaw (some of the later letters were written on stationery and envelopes of "Hashiloach" and of Klausner in Jerusalem). Some of the postcards in this collection were sent in 1895, when Klausner was only 21 years old.
In a postcard from March 1907 Klausner writes: "In the renewed 'Yeshiva' in Tchernovitz I teach not bible but Jewish history according to the new research, it seems that by doing so I contribute more to Judaism than by sitting in the chair of the free university in Petersburg". In another postcard Klausner promises to write an important critique essay about the bible with Kahana commentary.
Joseph Klausner (1874-1958), historian, literary scholar and intellectual, one of the founders of the Hebrew University and head of the department of Hebrew Literature. Editor of "Hashiloach" and winner of the Israel Prize.
Enclosed: letter from Kahana to Klausner, original envelopes in which the letters were sent.
Size and condition vary. Good overall condition. Creases and stains. Seven dark postcards (early ones). Tears at margins of some postcards. Filing holes to some postcards.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.
