Auction 61 - Rare and Important Items
Album of Photographs - Operation Yoav to Conquer the Negev - Gift from Soldiers of the Second Battalion of "Yiftach" Brigade - Independence War, 1948
Opening: $2,000
Sold for: $2,500
Including buyer's premium
"From the battle in Mishmar HaEmek, occupation of the Galilee and occupation of Ramla-Lod - to breaking the siege in the Negev" (Hebrew) - album with 117 photographs depicting the soldiers of the second battalion of Palmach (Yiftach Brigade) during Operation Yoav to conquer the Negev in the Independence War. [ca. October-December 1948].
Operation Yoav was carried out during the last stage of the Independence War, between the 15th and 22nd October 1948; its goal was to open the road to the isolated Negev, to destroy and push away the Egyptian forces, and guarantee that the Negev is part of Israel. This was one of the greatest operations in the Independence War and was successful: the road to the Negev was opened, the Egyptian forces retreated, and towards the end of the operation Beersheba was captured.
A dedication appears at the beginning of the album, dated December 3, 1948, indicating that the album was given as a gift by the soldiers of the second battalion of the Palmach to one of the settlements in the Negev where the soldiers stayed during the siege on the Negev and during the operation. Operation Yoav was conducted in the area of the road between Majdal-Ashkelon and Bayt Jibrin (present day road no. 35), and the photographs in the album document sites, settlements and positions in these areas.
Among the photographs in the album: workers in a Kibutz workshop, water tower in Kibutz Yad Mordechai, light planes of "HaNegev Squadron" (in the air and on the ground), sappers' activity (placing mines), soldiers and female soldiers on Jeeps in Beit Hanun, Arab prisoners, looted vehicles and arms, actor Raphael Klatchkin performing for soldiers (Klatchkin composed the songs "Ha'amini Yom Yavo" and "BeArvot HaNegev" during the war), daily life of soldiers in pits and positions (holding a shell, with a communication device, cooking etc.), and other photographs. The album opens with a large photograph of the emblem of the Palmach's second battalion - a camel and a sword on the background of grain stalks.
On most of the leaves are citations from the scriptures and from songs, by verses of consolation, encouragement or revenge from Psalms, quotations from the bible regarding settling the country and its independence, and more. Towards the end of the album appears a text directly referring to the operation: "When the first round of the battle to liberate the Negev ended, our brigade writes an additional leaf in the history of its battles. The besieged Negev was liberated! The Negev is open! Egyptian forces were defeated and scattered. The Egyptian forces were besieged. Soon a day comes when its power will be demolished!" (Hebrew). On the last page appears the Palmach anthem and Palmach emblem (written by hand).
Total of 117 photographs: 92 9X14 cm photographs + 24 6X9 cm photographs + 1 photograph of approx. 22.5X17.5 cm (emblem of the 2nd battalion). Photographs are in good condition. Most photographs bear an inscription in pencil or felt pen on the back. Album: 43X31 cm. Good overall condition. Tears and wear at margins of binding. Lacking tissue guards; tears and creases to tissue guards.
Operation Yoav was carried out during the last stage of the Independence War, between the 15th and 22nd October 1948; its goal was to open the road to the isolated Negev, to destroy and push away the Egyptian forces, and guarantee that the Negev is part of Israel. This was one of the greatest operations in the Independence War and was successful: the road to the Negev was opened, the Egyptian forces retreated, and towards the end of the operation Beersheba was captured.
A dedication appears at the beginning of the album, dated December 3, 1948, indicating that the album was given as a gift by the soldiers of the second battalion of the Palmach to one of the settlements in the Negev where the soldiers stayed during the siege on the Negev and during the operation. Operation Yoav was conducted in the area of the road between Majdal-Ashkelon and Bayt Jibrin (present day road no. 35), and the photographs in the album document sites, settlements and positions in these areas.
Among the photographs in the album: workers in a Kibutz workshop, water tower in Kibutz Yad Mordechai, light planes of "HaNegev Squadron" (in the air and on the ground), sappers' activity (placing mines), soldiers and female soldiers on Jeeps in Beit Hanun, Arab prisoners, looted vehicles and arms, actor Raphael Klatchkin performing for soldiers (Klatchkin composed the songs "Ha'amini Yom Yavo" and "BeArvot HaNegev" during the war), daily life of soldiers in pits and positions (holding a shell, with a communication device, cooking etc.), and other photographs. The album opens with a large photograph of the emblem of the Palmach's second battalion - a camel and a sword on the background of grain stalks.
On most of the leaves are citations from the scriptures and from songs, by verses of consolation, encouragement or revenge from Psalms, quotations from the bible regarding settling the country and its independence, and more. Towards the end of the album appears a text directly referring to the operation: "When the first round of the battle to liberate the Negev ended, our brigade writes an additional leaf in the history of its battles. The besieged Negev was liberated! The Negev is open! Egyptian forces were defeated and scattered. The Egyptian forces were besieged. Soon a day comes when its power will be demolished!" (Hebrew). On the last page appears the Palmach anthem and Palmach emblem (written by hand).
Total of 117 photographs: 92 9X14 cm photographs + 24 6X9 cm photographs + 1 photograph of approx. 22.5X17.5 cm (emblem of the 2nd battalion). Photographs are in good condition. Most photographs bear an inscription in pencil or felt pen on the back. Album: 43X31 cm. Good overall condition. Tears and wear at margins of binding. Lacking tissue guards; tears and creases to tissue guards.