June 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, June 27th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/27/2024
The first printing of the Israeli Declaration of Independence, from the official signing ceremony on 14 May 1948. Document is one of the "blue copies", a very small number mimeographed for attendees at the ceremony. David Ben-Gurion, in fact, used one of these blue copies when reading the Declaration at the ceremony.
The official language of the Declaration was approved near midnight on 13 May 1948. With not enough time to print the text on the scroll signed by Ben-Gurion and others at the ceremony, the Israeli leaders actually signed a blank scroll to which the Declaration was added later above their signatures. These blue copies were therefore the first printing of the Declaration, apart from the original typed copy. The copies were mimeographed the morning of the event with an unknown number made, believed to be somewhere between 25-100 copies, with much fewer extant today. Light soiling and two hole-punched at edge. Tears at bottom professionally repaired. Overall in very good condition. From the estate of a journalist who attended the event.
First Printing of the Israeli Declaration of Independence from 14 May 1948 -- One of Fewer than 100 "Blue Copies" from the Official Event
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