Fahrplan zwischen Borkum und Jerusalem […] Retourkarten werden nicht ausgegeben ["Timetable between Borkum and Jerusalem […] Return tickets are not issued"], antisemitic poster. [Printer not indicated, late 19th century or early 20th century]. German.
An antisemitic poster displayed in hotels and bath-houses in the island of Borkum (Germany), referring to a fictitious rail line from the island to Jerusalem: "The Borkum-Jerusalem line timetable […] it is hereby announced to the venerable Christian public that Jewish passengers will be inspected at the border and that the Jews who evaporate to Jerusalem will be allowed to carry with them six marks only. Return tickets are not issued".
As early as the late 19th century, the island of Borkum in the North Sea gained a notorious reputation for its antisemitism. A travel guide from 1897 announced that the island is "free of Jews" (Judenrein) and a travel guide from 1910 warned Jews of "cruel harassments". Many hotels and public bath-houses in Burkum displayed signs reading "Jews and dogs may not enter" and the island's orchestra performed daily an antisemitic song titled "Borkum Song" (Borkum-Lied), with a finale calling the "flat-footed, with hooked nose and curly hair" to get out.
The text of this poster was published in issue no. 44 (ninth year) of the Association for Defense against Antisemitism (Mitteilungen aus dem Verein zur Abwehr des Antisemitismus) periodical (Berlin, November 1899).
63X47 cm. Thin paper. Good-fair condition. Fold lines and creases. Tears along fold lined and margins. Pinholes and minor open tears.