Lithographs by Nahoum Cohen for the long poem "Ecologia" [Ecology] by Meir Wieseltier and a collection of letters sent by Wieseltier to Nahoum Cohen in the years 1974-1976.
• Eight color lithographs by Nahoum Cohen, for the poem "Ecology" by Meir Wieseltier. The poem is copied by Cohen, in Hebrew with the English translation. The lithographs are numbered: 8/25 and signed by Nahoum Cohen.
The poem "Ecology" was written by Wieseltier in June 1973 and was dedicated to his friend, the painter and architect Nahoum Cohen. At the time Cohen was staying in London, where he was working on a series of paintings, inspired by this poem. Cohen then created eight lithographs from his paintings, in which he combined the lyrics of the poem, copied by him, in Hebrew and in the English translation made for the poem by Wieseltier himself, Curtis Arnson and Russel Carlsle.
The series of lithographs was published in London in March 1975, in a limited edition of 25 copies – each set packed in a cardboard folder with a paper on which the original text was printed (Hebrew and English), enclosed.
• Approx. 25 letters by Wieseltier addressed to Nahum Cohen (hand written and typed on a type-machine). The letters, reflecting open sincerity, humor and wittiness, reflect also the friendship of the two men. Some of the topics found in the letters: the common work of Wieseltier and Cohen on the lithographs-case "Ecology", literary and writing issues, life in Tel Aviv, intellectuals, artist and Israeli poets, health, and other such topics and ideas. Many of the letters are concerned with the work over the lithographs of "Ecology". Wieseltier expresses his opinion on Cohen's illustrations and their compatibility to the poem; he writes, telling of the difficulty in working on a translation through letters, sends remarks and suggested changes for the translation, and discusses different issues to do with the design and printing of the case.
Thus, Wieseltier write on the translation of the poem: "I received from your relative the letter + the lithograph (nice although a little graphic). I was beginning to wonder already why I wasn't receiving any answer after I have sent the translation. The translation drives me crazy. If only we could sit down together with Russ and Curtis, we could have formulated a reasonable translation within one evening. But letters are a very clumsy way of going about it, especially when there are 4 people in the picture, and only one of them knows exactly how a poem is made. I suggest that we use now Curtis' formulation as a starting point and insert to it some changes as you'll see in the following…"(11.1.1975).
Literary issues are frequently brought up in the letters, as well as Wieseltier’s thoughts of some intellectuals and poets in Tel Aviv. Thus, for example, Wieseltier write on Yona Wallach: “Pery has shown me some poems he got from Yona Wallach. Five or six long poems… Reading them was very hard. What can I say. I couldn’t believe Yona could deteriorate to such nullity. Long and continuous lines with no end of utter nullity. Boredom and total nonsense. Uninteresting, not even as a psychiatric document.”(20.2.1975)
There are also mentioning in the letters of people like Maxim Ghilan, Natan Zach, Gavriel Moked, Yosef Sharon, Menashe Kadishman, Michail Grobman and many others.
Wieseltier describes in his letters the routine life in Tel Aviv, and often he sends his friend, who resides in New York, short updates from the latest in the city. Some letters mention also the political situation in Israel. In a letter from November 1974 he writes: “Over here, the winter has started, and the weather does me good. On the other hand stands the terrible economic deterioration and routine feeling of distress of the Israeli day-to-day and human stupidity. This morning terrorists have entered a house in Bet She’an, and it is still unclear what exactly is going on there (right now the news are reporting that the security forces have succeeded in breaking in the building. The 4 terrorists are killed. 3 civilians are killed. And there are 8 wounded)”.
Wieseltier (born 1941) is one of the most prominent poets and translators working and living in Israel today. Winner of the Israel Prize for the year of 2000. Some of the judges’ remarks in their decision read: “Wieseltier’s poetry puts forth a critical approach to the world, the surrounding and the others around you, and it has a profound social-moral-political effect. The city of Tel Aviv is the space where he sets his poetry, and it lives within it as an object of intimate relationship and withdrawal all at once. Wieseltier is gifted with very acute senses, capturing our time and diagnosing its faults; his poetry is a judging one, dismantling norms, challenging accepted images and striving to a “truth” which crosses the limits of habitual speech and thought. But behind this teasing aggressive manner of speech, so typical of Wieseltier – we see also an emotional power, and a human, involved and committed presence, which sees itself responsible for human life. ‘Poetry is the kiss of the weather, the tongue, the truth’- as Wieseltier puts it in his poem ‘Poetry Is’ “.
•Enclosed: three illustrations (pen on paper), probably by Nahum Cohen; three excerpts from daily papers – featuring texts by Wieseltier (the poem “Additional Tel Aviv Sketches”, published in “Maariv”, on which Wieseltier has marked by pen all of the printing errors etc.); the poem “A Need for Signing”, typed on a type machine; translation for the poem “Ecology”(printed on a typed machine), together with comments and corrections made by hand.
Total of 8 lithographs (without a folder and without the paper on which the original text was printed, originally enclosed with the folder) 29X39 cm. Good condition, slight spotting and faults around the edges. Ca. 25 letters. Size and condition vary. Overall good condition (some have stains, others have folding marks or slight tears). Some of the letters are not intact.

• Miki HaKosem, by Mariam Bartov. A unique handmade children's book, silkscreened; printed in twenty copies only. Self publication, 1981. Signed by Bartov.
A charming children's book, with no text, consisting of colorful silkscreen prints – naïve attractive illustrations telling the story of "Miki HaKosem" (Miki the Magician), a boy who finds a magic wand which makes various things bigger. The story is told through prints in different sizes. Most of the pages include one or more flaps with continuous illustrations. The text (in Hebrew) is printed in a folded leaflet accompanying the book. At the beginning appear the details: "The book was printed by hand in an edition of 20 copies by Mariam Bartov and Ruth Bauman, Omer, 1981". Ruth Bauman's name appears on the back cover of the book as well, but was obscured. Signed by Bartov on the title page, in red ink.
Oblong quarto, 35.5X27 cm. [26] leaves. Cardboard binding, silkscreen prints. The prints are bound with read thread. Good condition. Spots on binding, creases and minor damages to its borders. Inner leaves of book in very good condition. Corrections with white paint to some of the prints (where the colors surpassed the illustration's frame). The book's binding is protected by a thin plastic cover.
• A handwritten letter by Mariam Bartov, addressed to Mr. Bergmann, of the German publishing house Bundesverlag. Netanya, 1985, German.
Bartov thanks the addressee for his interest in “Mickey und der Zauberstab”, explaining that it took her over two years to make the book by hand, and indicates that the work, for children ages 3-5, is a gift for the Bundesverlag, who she hopes will publish it.
Leaf, 20 cm. Good condition. Creases and folding marks.
Attached is a photocopy of a text handwritten by Bartov – translation of the first part of the book into English (the English translation is mentioned in the letter).
Mariam Bartov (1914-2012), an Israeli author, painter and illustrator for children, born in Hamburg. In 1949 created her first book, Alikama HaKatan (the story was written with her guidance by Yehudah Gabai, based on a story which she used to tell her children). The book was very successful. Later on, Bartov wrote and illustrated many more books. She illustrated for “Davar” and “Mishmar LeYeladim” newspapers. Bartov also painted; her works won artistic appreciation and were exhibited in various exhibitions all over the country. Won in 1986 the Ben-Yitzhak Prize, awarded by the Israel Museum to an exceptional illustrator of children’s books.

A Collection of anti-Semitic postcards. Europe, late 19th /first half of 20th century.
About 500 postcards, amongst them numerous early postcards (undivided). Images of greedy Jews, swindlers, distorted Jews etc.
Condition varies. Contained in five albums. Several copies of some postcards.

1. J'accuse ...! Lettre au Président de la République [I accuse …! Letter to the president of the republic]. By Emil Zola. In: L'aurore, Issue no. 87, Paris, January 1898. French.
The famous essay by Emil Zola, in defense of Alfred Dreyfus – an open letter addressed to the president of the republic in which Zola blames the heads of the army, the war ministry and the military court of law, with the distortion of justice. The publication of the letter caused many reactions in France. Zola was subsequently sued for slander and was sentenced for a year imprisonment, being forced eventually to seek asylum in England.
[4] pages, 61 cm. Spotting. Professionally restored tears with minor damages to the text. Bound together in a cardboard binding (the left edges are taped with non-acidic adhesive tape).
Bound together with the paper:
2. L'affaire Dreyfus, a printed page with facsimile of the handwriting of Alfred Dreyfus and Ferdinand Esterhazy, and a copy of the Bordereau that Dreyfus was accused of writing (the uncovering of the Bordereau, which included French-military information sent to the German embassy in Paris, marked the beginning of the affair). The purpose of publishing this page was to allow the comparing between the two handwritings.
Page of 35.5x44.5 cm. Folding marks. Slight damage. Pasted with tape on one of the pages which is bound together with the "J'accuse" issue.
3-24. Twenty two newspaper issues and posters on the subject of the Dreyfus affair.
These posters and papers were printed in France between 1898- and 1899, during the peak of the public discussion around the affair; some claiming his innocence and some bringing evidence of his supposed-betrayal.
The items include:
• Dreyfus un Traitre [Dreyfus a traitor], printed by E. Charaire [November 1898]. A poster with portrait photos of five prominent figures; under each portrait excerpts of their testimonies supporting the claims of Dreyfus' alleged betrayal.
• Dreyfus est Innocent [Dreyfus is innocent], printed by E. Charaire [December 1898].
A poster in similar format to the poster stating that "Dreyfus is a traitor", presenting portraits of eleven prominent figures, all stating their support for the claims of Dreyfus' innocence.
• Issue of Le Siècle (January 1899). The issue includes a series of photos; each photo is combined of two photos which were set together, presenting known enemies side by side. The series was published by the Dreyfus' supporters to manifest the ease with which one can forge photos.
• issues of Le Siècle, La Presse, Le Jour, Le Matin, Le
Radical, and other papers, including papers in favor and against Dreyfus.
Size and condition vary. Most of the issues are in good condition. In the issue of Le Siècle – dated 31.7.1898 – some tears and a missing piece, restored with pasted paper. Bound together in a cardboard binding (glued around their left-side edges) along with two pieces of paper from a later period.
Alfred Dreyfus (1859-1935) - A Jewish officer in the French army, was accused of treason he did not commit in the winding course of the Dreyfus affair, which has caused much excitement in France and around the entire Jewish world during the last decade of the 19th century. The time of the Dreyfus trial, was also the time of the press’ rising power, and caricatures especially became a popular means for messaging, directed to the masses who read these publications extensively.
A detailed list of newspaper issues and posters will be
sent upon request.