Certificate, given as proof of payment of 10 kronen, to the "Vereines für colonisation Palästinas Ahavath Zion" [Society for the colonization of Palestine Ahavath Zion]. Tarnów, late 19th century. German.
Hand-filled certificate, issued to a member of the "Ahavath Zion" society. Frame decorated with Stars of David, Hebrew verses and three small illustrations (palm trees, an agricultural colony, and the Western Wall.) Official inked stamp. Austrian revenue stamp.
The "Ahavath Zion" society was founded in Vienna by a group of students from Lviv and Tarnów; its goal was to organize a group of Jews, intending to emigrate from Galicia to Palestine. In 1891 the society purchased lands in the vicinity of Rosh Pinah, were it established the colony of "Mahanayim."
The society's regulations (Lviv, 1896; Hebrew) state: "each member who will contribute ten Kronen to the society's treasury, will receive a 'share certificate' […] the serial numbers of the shares will be put in a raffle box […] the member whose number, or numbers, are drawn, will earn the right to offer the committee [the name of] one colonist, within thirty days after the raffle draw."
Approx. 24X31 cm. Good condition. Fold line. Some stains. Minor blemishes. Traces of glue to upper margin of verso.