Sold at Raab: The American Recognition of Israel
The Original Exhibition Copy, Exhibited by Israel and the United States Governments, Signed by President Truman
Raab to offer for sale the only known signed copy of the final, official recognition of the State of Israel by the United States
The remarkable document is valued at $300,000 and had never been offered for sale before
Contact: Nathan Raab via cell, text or WhatsApp. 001-610-609-1782
PHILADELPHIA, PA – April 30, 2019 – The Raab Collection, the nation’s leading dealer in important historical documents, announced today that it has sold one of the most powerful original documents in Jewish, Israeli, and American history: The original Exhibition Copy of the American recognition Israel, signed by President Truman. This document, valued at $300,000, is the only known signed copy of the final recognition of the Jewish State to exist and thus the only one to reach the market. It had been in the family of its recipient for decades and had never been offered for sale before.
“This document speaks to the power of the Jewish hope of a homeland and its realization after World War II,” said Nathan Raab, President of the Raab Collection. “It was signed by Truman for the New York World’s Fair and since then has been used by both the American and Israeli governments as the symbol of the great recognition of Israel by the United States.”
Historical background: At midnight on May 14, 1948, the Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed a new State of Israel, establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years. On that same date, within hours, President Truman drafted, then revised and issued, a press release recognizing the provisional Jewish government as de facto authority of the Jewish state. This was an unsigned press release, and no signed copy was produced at that time. A signed copy of an early draft of that release is at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.
The Document: In 1965 the chairman of the American-Israel Committee at the New York World’s Fair met with President Truman at the Truman Library, and discussed with him the “regrettable” fact that no signed instrument existed. He recognized that, and, on his instructions a copy was made of the clean, final “Statement”, and he signed it then and there, creating the only such copy, which we offer for sale here:
“Statement by the President.” “This government has been informed that a Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine, and recognition has been requested the provisional government thereof. The United States recognizes the provision government as the de facto authority of the new State of Israel.” Signed: “Harry S Truman, a photostat copy, signed 11/27/65.”
Rarity and History of Exhibition: Anything relating to the American recognition of Israel is very uncommon. This is the only such document we can find ever having been signed. It appeared, among other places, at the New York World’s Fair in 1964/5; The Statue of Liberty Centennial celebration at the “Documents of Liberty” exhibition in Federal Hall; and at The Israeli Embassy’s celebration of the 40th anniversary of Israel’s independence.
About The Raab Collection: The Raab Collection has handled many of the most important historical documents to reach the market and worked with the families of famous Americans in the sale and preservation of their family treasures, among them Neil Armstrong, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant, William Henry Harrison, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ronald Reagan. Nathan Raab, a member of the Board of Directors of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, is also a contributor to Forbes.com.
