Nine sheets of fake British consular stamps printed for the "Haganah" in order to forge certificates. [Merhavia, second half of 1940s].
Stamps with the writing Consular Service and a photo of the King of England, printed to be used for fake Aliya certificates, as part of "Aliya Daled".
"Aliya Daled" is the name of a system to let illegal immigrants enter Eretz Israel with fake certificates. The system was introduced in 1947. Aliya certificates were fake, prepared with fake British consular stamps and ink-stamps. The initiator of this idea, who also materialized it, was Shlomo Zimermann. Zimermann said that they succeeded in forging various British visas – tourists visas, Aliya certificates, visas for returning citizens – and to accord passports by exchanging photos. In order to verify that there are no problems upon arrival Zimermann and his colleagues recruited a Jewish Passport Control clerk in Haifa port, who – for payment – took the risk and made all the holders of forged documents – pass. During the "Aliya Daled" operation thousands of Olim arrived. All of this operation was done through Haifa Port and through Zimermann and the "Institute for Aliya Bet" in Haifa.
Attached is a copy of a letter from the commander of "Aliya Bet Institute", Shaul Avigur, to Yehudah Slutzky, historian and author, who wrote a book about the history of the "Haganah". In this letter Slutzky states that "the stamps were printed in Merhavia printing press, the perforation was done in "Ot" printing press in Haifa and the clichés in Zincography". The graphic designer was probably, Nathan Shelker. 9 sheets, 21 stamps per sheet. Good condition. Provenance: the estate of a senior figure in Aliya Bet institute.