Five photographs of the "Tel Iai" illegal immigrant ship. [March 1946].
The illegal immigrant ship "Tel Hai" ("Asia" being its previous name) was a Turkish ship purchased and organized for illegal immigration by the Mossad LeAliyah Bet. The ship sailed on March 17, 1946 from a fishermen's harbor near Marseille, France, with many of its passengers being young members of the Zionist organization Nocham ("Noar Chalutzi Me'uchad" – United Pioneering Youth). On March 26, the ship was caught by the British and brought to the Haifa Port, where the illegal immigrants were taken off the ship and sent to the Atlit detention camp.
The photographs depict members of Nocham tying the flag of the organization to the ship's mast, the crew, Hebrew inscriptions on the ship's bridge ("Tel Chai", "Nocham", "Na'apila" [we shall illegally immigrate]), and more.
A handwrittem dedication and a military censorship stamp on verso of one photograph.
Approx. 6X9 cm. Good overall condition. Stains (mostly on verso). Minor blemishes and creases to one photograph.
Enclosed: A photograph of a group around a table (possibly a toast held by the passengers before they sailed).