Album fun Beilis Process [Beilis Trial Album]. Warsaw, 1913. Yiddish and Russian.
Small album, documenting through photographs the life of Mendel Beilis and the trial against him and the people involved, among them the victim, the judges, the witnesses, lawyers and more. Each photograph is titled in Yiddish and in Russian.
Menachem Mendel Beilis was accused of murdering in April 1911 a Ukrainian Christian boy by the name of Andrei Yushichinsky to use his blood to prepare Matzahs for Passover. Beilis was arrested on the basis of a false testimony and his trial commenced in September 1913. On the background of the "murder" and the trial, a vicious campaign was launched against the Jews. After nearly three years in prison, on November 10, 1913, Beilis was acquitted. In 1917, following the Revolution, an investigation committee was appointed and its findings revealed that the authorities were well aware of the true circumstances and facts and staged the trial for anti-Semitic reasons. This album was printed when Beilis was acquitted and the last photograph portrays Beilis with his family.
[13] leaves, 14.5X11 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains. Creases. A small hole at the top pf all of the leaves. Tears and open tears to cover. Paper label on front cover. Pen inscription on inside front cover.