Le Brin de Fil. By Jules Girardin. Paris: Hachette, 1902. French. Copy presented to Sarah Aaronsohn, a leader of the NILI underground organization, while a pupil at the school of the Zichron Ya'akov settlement.
Handwritten dedication (in French) on the first free endpaper stating that the book is presented as a 3rd prize to Sarah Aaronsohn, a pupil in the 3rd grade, "in appreciation of her dedication, cleanliness and model behavior" at school. The dedication is signed and dated October 27, 1902 (when Aaronsohn was 12 years old).
Sarah Aaronsohn (1890-1917) was born in the moshava Zichron Ya'akov and studied at the local school. In 1914, she married a Jewish merchant of Bulgarian descent and went to live with him in Istanbul, but a short time later she returned to her home in Zichron Ya'akov. On the way back from Istanbul she witnessed the massacre perpetrated by the Turks against the Armenians, a sight that left a powerful impression on her and encouraged her to act against the Turkish rule in Palestine. Aaronsohn joined the underground NILI organization (an acronym for Netzach Yisrael Lo Yeshaker - "The Eternal One of Israel Will not Deceive"), founded by her brother Aaron and their friend Avshalom Feinberg with the aim of assisting the British in conquering Palestine from the Turks. She quickly became a prominent figure in NILI, and in 1917, in the absence of Aaron, who had left the country, and Avshalom Feinberg, who had been killed, she led the spy ring's operations together with Joseph Lishansky, transferring confidential information to British agents. In the autumn of 1917, after the Turks discovered one of the homing pigeons used by Aaronsohn to carry messages to the British, their forces surrounded Zichron Ya'akov (where Sarah had remained despite being advised to leave), and most of the members of NILI were arrested and tortured. Sarah was tortured for three or four days, but did not betray any secrets. The Turks decided to transfer the detainees to Nazareth for further investigation. Sarah feared the inquiry and tried to commit suicide by shooting herself in the mouth. She was fatally wounded and died three days later.
70, [1] pp, 19 cm. Good condition. Foxing. Small tear to one leaf. Professional restoration to endpapers and inner hinges. Original gilt embossed covers, with professionally restored spine and corners, with some stains and edge wear.