Eleven forms from the registry of the Jewish community in Thessaloniki, reconstructed after the great fire in 1917, stating names and places of residence alongside photographs. Thessaloniki, 1924. Ladino.
Eleven printed leaves, each bearing four forms declaring that the persons indicated indeed belong to the Jewish community of Thessaloniki: "We the undersigned declare that […] are natives of Thessaloniki". Each form bears a small portrait picture of those listed on it and is signed by witnesses, members of the local Jewish community. Except for the heading, the entire text is printed in the Rashi typeface. The forms are numbered 784 to 825.
In early 20th century, the Jewish community of Thessaloniki was one of the largest and most thriving Jewish communities in the Balkan. The Jewish community constituted nearly half of the population of the city. Jewish life in the city was spiritually and materially rich, and so firmly established that it was known as "Jerusalem of the Balkan". The community had dozens of synagogues, Jewish and Hebrew schools, Jewish publishing houses, Jewish newspapers in a number of languages and even a modern, well-equipped Jewish hospital; the Jews of Thessaloniki practiced a variety professions – there were intellectuals, merchants, industrialists, craftsmen, fishermen and dockworkers. During those years, a large Zionist movement and a Jewish labor movement were active in the town, indicative of a lively, multi-class, diverse society.
In 1917, a fire ravaged the city, which constituted a veritable turning point in the history of the community. World war I was still raging, and thousands refugees were staying in the town; a spark from a kitchen fire ignited a refugee's house, quickly spreading through the clustered buildings of ancient Thessaloniki. The fire burned for thirty-two hours, destroying almost one-third of the city. The Jewish community in particular suffered a heavy blow. Out of 70,000 people that were left homeless, 52,000 were Jews. The archive of the Jewish community, which recorded generations of Jewish history in the city was also lost in the fire. In order to be eligible for damages, the victims of the fire were required to prove residency, and so the Jewish community began newly registering Jewish residents. These forms, originating in the reconstructed registry of the Jewish community, indicate that the persons listed were indeed residents of the city.
[11] leaves, 33 cm. Good to good-fair condition. Stains. Blemishes and small tears. Long tears to several leaves. Tape repairs.

Jeu d'laffaire dreyfus et de la verité [The Game of the Dreyfus Affair and the Truth]. [Sceaux]: E. Charaire, [1898?].
A pro-Dreyfus board game that was enclosed with an issue of the L'Aurore newspaper, the liberal newspaper that published Émile Zola's famous open letter "J'Accuse".
The 63 spaces depict various events and personalities related to the Dreyfus Affair, including Ferdinand Esterhazy, Émile Zola, the editor of L'Aurore and many others. The objective of the game is to get to the truth, which is represented as a young woman rising out of a well, a figure depicted also in several of the game's stations. This image was popular in turn-of-the-century France and is based on an aphorism by Greek philosopher Democritus, "Of truth we know nothing, for truth is in a well".
Approx. 45.5X62.5 cm. Good condition. Tears and stains. Mounted on (linen-backed) thick paper for display and preservation.

Seven books by Itzig Feitel Stern (the pseudonym of Heinrich Holzschuher), six in German (with some Yiddish) and one in Dutch. Meissen: F. W. Goedsche / Amsterdam: H. Moolenijzer, 1832-1835.
Seven books by Heinrich Holzschuher (1769-1861), a Christian-German writer who published several antisemitic works under the Jewish pseudonym Itzig Feitel Stern. His books introduced made-up Jewish folklore – dialogues, stories and poems written in distorted German, in order to imitate and mock the way Jews spoke.
The books feature anti-Semitic illustrations (print plates), some hand-colored.
1. Gedichter, Perobeln unn Schnoukes. [1832]. Third edition. XII, 96 pp. + [5] plates.
2. Das Schabbes-Gärtle vun unnere Leut. 1832.
[1] title page, XVI, 207, [3] pp. + [4] plates.
3. Das Schabbes Gärtle vun unnere Leut. 1835. Second edition. [1] title page. XV, 173, [3] pp. + [4] plates.
4. Israels Verkehr und Geist. 1833. Second edition. XIII, 117, [3] pp. (first leaves mispaginated) + [3] plates.
5. Knoblichblüthe, Gedichter, Perobeln und Schnoukes fer unnere Leute. [1833]. Part II. [1], XVI, 142 pp (missing one leaf) + [1] illustration plate and [2] plates of sheet music (folded).
6. Die Schabbes Lamp vun pollische Messing. 1835. [1] title page, X, 142, [2] pp. + [2] plates.
7. Gedichten, parabelen en sjnoekes, of poëtische paarlensnoer voor de Kalle. Amsterdam: H. Moolenijzer, 1834. Dutch.
A Dutch edition of "Gedichter, Perobeln unn Schnoukes" (no. 1). XIII, 153 pp. + [4] plates.
17 cm to 19 cm. Condition varies. Stains. Tears, including open tears, mostly restored. Several covers are missing and several covers are restored. New bindings.