Autographs
David Ben Gurion Archive of 18 Typed Letters Signed, 9 Autograph Letters Signed and 100+ Photographs
DAVID BEN-GURION (1886–1973). Founder and First Prime Minister of Israel, revered as the "Father of the Nation."
Extensive, historically important, David Ben Gurion personal Archive, housed in a Binder with its Cover Portrait Image titled, “A Life in Letters” and includes a Signed Photograph, 9 Autograph Letters Signed, 18 Typed Letters Signed, all with exceptional content, plus a Signed 1920s Histadrut Teachers’ Union Membership Registrar, and 1948 Independence issues of “Ha’aretz” and “The Palestine Post” overall in condition from Choice Very Fine to Exztremely Fine. Also includes more than 100 additional photographs of Ben Gurion. This major Archive Collection is specifically, primarily comprised of the following items:

1. Undated Black & White Photograph, Signed in English “D. Ben-Gurion,” 7.75” x 9.75”.

2. c. 1920, A 30-page teacher’s Histadrut Membership Registrar signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Secretary General of Histadrut.

3. Undated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, 1 page, 4.75” x 6.75”. Reads in part: “Today you join the company of good teachers … establish generations of achievers, people of ideals and action, who in their hands is the fate of the State and its future…”

4. Undated Autograph Letter Signed “D.B.G.” in Hebrew, 2 pages, 4” x 6.5”. Reads in part: “There are no secrets and the members of the Knesset know as much as members of the committee…”

5. October 21, 1929-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, 1 page, 8.5” x 5.5”. Reads in part: “meeting regarding the Arab situation in Eretz [Israel]…”

6. September 12, 1939-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, 1 page, 6.75” x 8.25”. Reads in part: “Understanding the joint responsibility of all now … we accept the willingness to lend a hand to any action...”

7. February 5, 1948-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, 1 page, 8” x 10.25”. Reads in part: “loan of machines for central industry in Tel-Aviv, and specifically a direct current electric generator with a diesel engine and the equipment associated with such a plant…”

8. May 16, 1948-Dated Original four-page issue of Hebrew-language newspaper “Ha’aretz,” 17” x 23”, picturing Ben Gurion on the first page

9. May 16, 1948-Dated Original four-page issue of English-language newspaper “The Palestine Post,” 16” x 23”, picturing Ben Gurion on the first page. Third & fourth pages blank.

10. January 7, 1949-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, on rare “Interim Government” stationery, 1 page, 6.5” x 7.75”. With original transmittal envelope. Reads in part: “Although I can not remotely know what exactly you want as a suitable field of action may come to Jerusalem in about ten days and possibly meet there, if not meet in Tel-Aviv.”

11. January 7, 1949-Dated Printed Announcement Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, 1 page, 4.75” x 6.5”. Ben-Gurion announces “with deep sorrow that Yitzhak Yigar fell 6 Tevet 5709 (Jan. 7, 1949) with the occupying Israeli government Haganah. The Hebrew nation will always bear the memory of Yitzhak who fell in battle for homeland defense and independence...”

12. October 26, 1949-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister, one page, 8.5” x 11”. Ben-Gurion sends a letter of condolence to a mother who has lost her son, reminiscing about a voyage both she and Ben-Gurion had to Israel. In part: “I well remember a foreign trip, to Israel, the second of my life ... though I do not remember all .. your memories about it happen to me and keep them...”

13. February 1, 1950-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister, one page, 6.5” x 8”. Written to Rabbi Zorach Warhaftig, also a Signer of the Israeli Declaration of Independence, asking for “the name of the man in Haifa – to make our investigation easier…”

14. September 26, 1951-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister, one page, 8.5” x 11”. To “Jerusalem Post” editor Gershon Agron reacting to his publishing the erroneous statement that he has agreed to the demands of the opposing General Zionists Party and had nominated two of their members to ministries. Reads in part: “There is not a shred of truth in all this, and it is surprising that a responsible newspaper ... would published such fabrications on such a serious matter...”

15. November 3, 1953-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister, one page, 8” x 10.75”. Writte to poet Anda Amir-Pinkerfeld. Reads in part: “We cannot truly know what happened in the days of yore … whatever we do have that is written in our history books as miracles that transpired we cannot guarantee is the whole truth …Man must hear the voice of God talking to him and to his heart…”

16. January 14, 1954-Dated Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, one page, 4.5” x 8.25”, with original transmittal envelope. Written to the Chief Rabbi of Petach Tikva. Reads in part: “...there is room in Israel for varying opinions and perspectives, but it is the love of Israel that binds us together…”

17. April 9, 1954-Dated Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, one page, 5.5” x 8”. Written to Y. Palmon, Advisor for Arab Affairs. Reads in part: “[The Druze] were revealed to me as excellent fighters, disciplined and loyal … I hope that this tribe will cast in its lot with our people and will find complete freedom and equality in the State of Israel…”

18. November 29, 1954-Dated Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, one page, 4.5” x 8.25”. To the parents of a newlywed, reads in part: “May they have a happy life full of love. May they build a blessed home in Israel. Mazel Tov.”

19. March 14, 1955-Dated Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Minister of Defense, one page, 6” x 7.5”. Written to MP Meir Yaari of the Mapam Party. Reads in part: “Maybe the Party you belong to has no disagreements … The Party I have a privilege of being attached to us not of that sort … but I do not know of another Party in Israel that is more loyal to the state, the Israeli people, and the vision of Jewish and human redemption…”

20. May 14, 1955-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Minister of Defense, one page, 6” x 8”. Written to MP Seif E-Din E-Zoubi of Nazareth. Reads in part: “Following the coup d’etat which was carried out by the present heads of Egypt, the Government which I headed welcomed the rebels against King Farouk, and I expressed my hope that the revolution would … pave a new road of peace for itself. It is regrettable that the heads of Egypt have disappointed our hope…”

21. July 7, 1955-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Minister of Defense, one page, 6” x 8”. Written to a Communist MP of the Knesset. Reads in part: “You can’t ignore what’s going on in Asia with Egyptian rulers & murderous group the Fadayin who attack all Israeli citizens … [Nasser] told the ‘New York Post’ that he is not fighting only Israel, but the Jewish nation & Jewish fortune. The tone is reminiscent of ‘Mein Kampf’…”

22. July 22, 1955-Dated Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Minister of Defense, one page, 6” x 8”. Reads in part: “We must act with renewed efforts and in every legitimate way, to bring about the day when the Jews of the Soviet Union will also be permitted to participate in the rebirth of their homeland…”

23. December 24, 1955-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, one page, 6.25” x 7.75”. Written to Foreign Minister Moshe Sharet, with carbon copy to Moshe Dayan. Reads in part: “I have no doubts in regards to General Haim Laskov’s credentials, ability, and suitability for the position of deputy Chief of Staff … his vast experience as a commander of British units and the Hebrew brigade will make him a great asset to the IDF…”

24. March 31, 1956-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, one page, 6.25” x 7.75”. Written to the Editor of “Ha’aretz”. Reads in part: “Every nation under attack and especially us, is obligated to protect itself, self-defense is a holy responsibility, it is so inscribed in the Charter of the United Nations…”

25. April 10, 1956-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, one page, 6.25” x 7.75” Written to author S.Y. Agnon (later Nobel laureate). Reads in part: “Some seventy million Arabs live across our borders, and they extend to the Atlantic … Israel has a serious security problem with only two solutions: military preparedness and constant striving for peace, for war is a bankruptcy of diplomacy…”

26. July 31, 1957-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister, one page, 6.25” x 8.25”. Written to architect Richard Kaufman. Reads in part: “Your plans seem to me fundamental. I will find out from the Minister of Development the fate of Eilat.”

27. January 9, 1958-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister, one page, 6.5” x 8”. Reads in part: “Your vote in the Knesset against the Government will not diminish the promise you were given about the schools, or any other matter. When I offered you what I offered on the political level – I did not associate it in any way with a financial reward…”

28. May 10, 1960-Dated Typed Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, as Prime Minister, one page, 6.5” x 8.25” Reads in part: “I do not know which of the two bodies is responsible for the arrangement that was made yesterday in the Knesset in remembrance of Herzl’s century anniversary … I see it my moral and public duty to express my deep disappointment of the arrangements made for the Memorial Day which did not add honor neither to the Knesset nor the memory of the seer of the Jewish State…”

29. November 2, 1964-Dated Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, one page, 5.5” x 8.75”. Reads in part: “The State will establish society solely and exclusively on the foundations of truth and justice and moral values. I will fight for disclosure of the truth. In this matter, I have no fear, even if they expel me from the Party, and I will fight with all of the means at my disposal…”

30. May 13, 1968-Dated Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, one page, 4.75” x 8.5”. Reads in part: “I was not ‘forced to’ resign – not because of misunderstanding with those around me – but for my own personal reasons – in which no other motivation, person, or external event had any role. It is correct that the Prime Minister of Burma attempted, at my request, to speak with Nasser – but like all other attempts with Nasser – it was unsuccessful…”

31. February 25, 1972-Dated Autograph Letter Signed “D. Ben-Gurion,” in Hebrew, one page, 5.25” x 7”. Reads in part: “I always was in favor of changing the election system and my party accepted my suggestion … but later they reconsidered this decision. Now I’m not a member of any party and I’m not dealing with these matters anymore bit I haven’t changed my opinion…”

Also included are 30 informal miscellaneous photographs of David Ben-Gurion mostly black and white, various sizes from 2” x 3” to 8” x 10”; 127 small Proof Photographs (about 1.5” x 1”) on four sheets dated June 10-13, 1969. Plus, many extras included. Housed in an 11.5" x 12" album. Sold “as is”. Should be seen for full appreciation of the Archive contents.
David Ben-Gurion (1886–1973) was a Zionist statesman and political leader, David Ben-Gurion was the First Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Israel. Born in Poland in 1886, David Ben-Gurion was Israel's first prime minister (1948-53, 1955-63) and defense minister (1948-53; 1955-63).

It was Ben-Gurion who, on May 14, 1948, delivered Israel's declaration of independence. His charismatic personality won him the adoration of the masses, and, after his retirement from the government and the Knesset, he was revered as the "Father of the Nation." Ben-Gurion died in Israel in 1973.