Sixteen press photos documenting the arrival in Palestine of the Zionist Commission, headed by Chaim Weizmann, in 1918.
The Zionist Commission was a Zionist organization established following the Balfour Declaration with the aim of mediating between the British government and the Jewish yishuv in Palestine. The Zionist Commission was active in Palestine, with the consent of the British government, during the years 1918-1921. It was headed by Chaim Weizmann and most of its members were British Jews. Commission members included James de Rothschild, David Eder, Sir Aryeh (Leon) Simon, Major William Ormsby-Gore, Aaron Aaronsohn, Zalman David Levontin and others. The Commission members arrived in Palestine in April 1918. Their work focused on the renewal and development of the Jewish settlement in Palestine, and on laying a firm basis for the implementation of the Balfour Declaration.
The collection includes group photos of the Zionist Commission members and photos from events and receptions held in their honor in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Rishon LeZion.
Including: * Two photos of the Commission members at a train station. * Photos from a reception for the Zionist Commission in Tel Aviv: a group photo of the Commission members (in the center is Chaim Weizmann dressed in a white suit, beside him are Betzalel Yaffe, James de Rothschild, Major Ormsby-Gore, Edwin Samuel, Aaron Aaronsohn and others); photo of the public gathered at the reception. * Photos from a celebratory dinner held in honor of the Commission at a public park in Rishon LeZion: the Commission members seated around the dining table, Weizmann speaking at the event, Commission members dancing after the meal and more. * Reception for the Zionist Commission in Jerusalem. * Additional photos.
16 photos: 15 approx. 15X20 cm., stamped with the stamp of the British Associated Illustration Agencies, with titles on verso. One photo 13X16.5 cm., with a handwritten title on verso. Overall good condition. Minor damage. Tears to two photographs.
Provenance: Estate of Sir Aryeh (Leon) Simon (1881-1965) - one of the leaders of the British Zionists, a writer and translator. Simon assisted in formulating the draft of the Balfour Declaration (the declaration draft, written on a napkin, was found in his archive and sold by Sotheby’s in 2005); member of the Zionist Commission.

Ten photographers by the photographer Falu Zivlin. Rishon LeZion, [2nd half of 1920s].
Eight of the photographs are stamped on the reverse with photographer's ink-stamp; two are not stamped. Nine of the photographs portray the Rishon LeZion wineries facilities, grape harvest, handling bottles, and more; the Post Office of Rishon LeZion appears in one of the photographs.
Zivlin (1902-1982) was born in Russia to a family of Habad Chassidim that immigrated to Palestine in 1914 and settled in Tel-Aviv. When Zivlin married in 1926 he moved to Rishon LeZion where he opened a Photo-Studio and became the colony's photographer. Zivlin moved to Jerusalem in 1929 and opened a studio on King George Street.
8.5X13.5 cm. Overall good condition. Some photographs are stained on the reverse, some tears and glue marks.

Thirteen black-and-white press photos documenting Léon Blum's visit to Palestine and Kibbutz Kfar Blum in the Hula Valley, [1946]. Stamped on verso with the stamp of the French newspaper Paris-Matin.
1-11. Eleven photos from Kibbutz Kfar Blum: general view of kibbutz houses; Work at the "Hedek" factory for laundry pegs - the first factory in Kfar Blum; group photos from the dining hall, with a photographic portrait of Léon Blum hanging on one of the walls; photo of the kibbutz children; and more.
12-13. Two photographs of Léon Blum's visit to Palestine (greeting his hosts at the airport). Handwritten titles on verso (French). One is dated: 30.5.1946.
Léon Blum (1872-1950), French-Jewish politician, leader of the Socialist Party; served three times as prime minister of France. Kibbutz Kfar Blum is called after him.
Total of 13 photographs. Average size: 18X24 cm. Overall good condition. Folding marks. Damage to margins of some photos.

1. Photograph of illegal immigrants from the ship "Wedgewood" on a motor boat, before being lowered from the deck of the Wedgewood near the Haifa shore, [June 1946]. Photographer: Emil Reynolds. Press photograph, described in detail on paper attached to its verso. 18X23.5 cm. Good condition.
2. Photograph of cloth sign hung from the deck of the illegal immigration ship "Dov Hoz" or "Eliyahu Golomb" at La Specia Port, Italy, [April 1946]. The sign reads “hunger strike of 1014 persons, 75 hours” in Hebrew, English and Italian. Photo described in handwriting on verso. Divided on verso for use as a postcard. 9X14 cm. Good condition. Markings in preparation for printing.

Photo of the IDF paratroopers occupying the Western Wall, David Rubinger, 7 June 1967. Signed on verso. Photo shows three soldiers from Batallion 66 of the Paratroops Brigade (Haim Osher, Yitzhak Yifat and Zion Karasanti) at the Western Wall immediately following its occupation.
On the photo is a dedication in Rubinger's handwriting, from Rosh Hashana 5730 (1969): "With hearty greetings for many years of peace / Annie and David Rubinger".
28X35 cm. Good-fair condition. Creases. Slight defects to margins.