Auction 78 - Rare and Important Items
Two Ceasefire Agreements Signed in the Course of Israel's War of Independence – Galilee Panhandle and Jordan Valley, August, 1948 – Written on Military Maps and Signed by Commanders of the IDF and the Arab Forces, and by UN Representatives
Opening: $4,000
Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000
Unsold
Two military maps issued by the Survey of Palestine (scale 1:100,000), superimposed with sketched ceasefire (or "truce") lines between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Arab forces in the course of Israel's War of Independence – one in the Jordan Valley and the other in region of the Galilee Panhandle; with handwritten delineation of ceasefire lines and no man's lands, terms and conditions, and signatures of IDF commanders, commanders of the Arab forces, and United Nations representatives. August 12, 1948. English and French.
These agreements were signed in the course of Israel's War of Independence, shortly after the State of Israel's Declaration of Independence (May 14, 1948) and the invasion of Arab armies that came in its immediate wake. They reflect the state of affairs on the battlefield once the Israel Defense Forces had successfully repulsed the initial onslaught of Arab forces that had managed to penetrate deep into the interior of the newborn state's territory (the partition of lands, as demonstrated by the agreements, came about as the result of some of the war's most decisive battles; thanks to Israeli military advances, the settlements of Zemah, Degania A, Degania B, Metulla, and other outposts were now in Israeli hands).
Ceasefire lines are sketched onto each of the maps. The texts of the agreements are inscribed by hand and signed by the military commanders and UN personnel. The inked stamp of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) appears in the lower right margins of both agreements.
Included:
1. Ceasefire agreement for the Jordan Valley. Superimposed in handwriting over a Survey of Palestine map of the Jordan Valley and southern Sea of Galilee regions, with sketched ("truce") lines indicating the respective borders of areas controlled by Israeli forces and those controlled by Syrian forces, showing swaths of no man's land between them.
A brief handwritten "legend" appears in English in the upper right margin. Underneath this, the text of the agreement appears in French. Signed by IDF representative "Y. Spektor" (probably Yitzhak Spector, IDF military liaison to the UN in the Northern Front); by "Cl. Charpy" on behalf of the Syrian forces; and by the UN representative.
49.5X68.5 cm. Good condition. Fold lines and creases. Stains. Minor tears and small holes along fold lines and to margins. Map mounted on linen.
2. Ceasefire agreement for the Galilee Panhandle region. Superimposed in handwriting over a Survey of Palestine map of Northern Israel and Southern Lebanon, with sketched line indicating the ceasefire line in the vicinity of the settlement of Metulla.
Text of agreement handwritten in English in upper left side of map, over area of Mediterranean Sea. Signed by IDF representative "P. Weinstein" (probably Pinhas Weinstein, Commander of Battalion 92 of the IDF’s Oded Brigade); by Lebanese Forces representative "Commander Cheab"; and by two UN representatives.
52.5X73.5 cm. Good condition. Fold lines. Stains. Minor creases and blemishes.
These agreements were signed in the course of Israel's War of Independence, shortly after the State of Israel's Declaration of Independence (May 14, 1948) and the invasion of Arab armies that came in its immediate wake. They reflect the state of affairs on the battlefield once the Israel Defense Forces had successfully repulsed the initial onslaught of Arab forces that had managed to penetrate deep into the interior of the newborn state's territory (the partition of lands, as demonstrated by the agreements, came about as the result of some of the war's most decisive battles; thanks to Israeli military advances, the settlements of Zemah, Degania A, Degania B, Metulla, and other outposts were now in Israeli hands).
Ceasefire lines are sketched onto each of the maps. The texts of the agreements are inscribed by hand and signed by the military commanders and UN personnel. The inked stamp of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) appears in the lower right margins of both agreements.
Included:
1. Ceasefire agreement for the Jordan Valley. Superimposed in handwriting over a Survey of Palestine map of the Jordan Valley and southern Sea of Galilee regions, with sketched ("truce") lines indicating the respective borders of areas controlled by Israeli forces and those controlled by Syrian forces, showing swaths of no man's land between them.
A brief handwritten "legend" appears in English in the upper right margin. Underneath this, the text of the agreement appears in French. Signed by IDF representative "Y. Spektor" (probably Yitzhak Spector, IDF military liaison to the UN in the Northern Front); by "Cl. Charpy" on behalf of the Syrian forces; and by the UN representative.
49.5X68.5 cm. Good condition. Fold lines and creases. Stains. Minor tears and small holes along fold lines and to margins. Map mounted on linen.
2. Ceasefire agreement for the Galilee Panhandle region. Superimposed in handwriting over a Survey of Palestine map of Northern Israel and Southern Lebanon, with sketched line indicating the ceasefire line in the vicinity of the settlement of Metulla.
Text of agreement handwritten in English in upper left side of map, over area of Mediterranean Sea. Signed by IDF representative "P. Weinstein" (probably Pinhas Weinstein, Commander of Battalion 92 of the IDF’s Oded Brigade); by Lebanese Forces representative "Commander Cheab"; and by two UN representatives.
52.5X73.5 cm. Good condition. Fold lines. Stains. Minor creases and blemishes.
Zionism and the State of Israel
Zionism and the State of Israel