Collection of letters from the architect Erich Mendelsohn (1887-1953) - a world famous architect, of the most important Jewish architects in the 20th century, to the architect, painter and designer Uriel Kahana who worked in Mendelsohn's office in Jerusalem in the mid-1930s. London, Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, 1935-1940.
The collection includes seven printed letters, hand-signed by Erich Mendelsohn (full signature), two signed in initials, a letter and a note written in pencil (signed in initials) and eleven additional notes written in pencil - receipts for payments (written by Mendelsohn and hand- signed by him).
Among the items: * A letter sent by Mendelsohn to Uriel Kahana when the latter was in London, in which he sums up in writing their agreement, after deciding that Kahana will come to work in Mendelsohn's office in Jerusalem (march 25, 1935). * A letter informing Kahana about the termination of his work in Mendelsohn's office (June 1936). * Copy of a letter written by Uriel Kahana to Mendelsohn, in which he expresses his astonishment regarding the termination of his work, in view of the difficult situation in Palestine and after finishing his work on plans for Chaim Weizmann's house in Rehovot and beginning to work on plans for "Hadassah" (June 1936). * Letter of recommendation praising the architectural competence - both artistic and technical - of Kahana, signed by Mendelsohn (April 1940; two copies, one signed in initials and one with a full signature). * Copies of letters from Kahana. * Personal letters sent, most probably, by a Mendelsohn family member to Kahana.
Total of 22 letters and notes from Erich Mendelsohn, and about 7 various documents and two postal envelopes. Size and condition vary. Good overall condition.
Provenance: Collection of Ben Zion Kahana.