Reprinted with permission from Autograph Collector Magazine
Several months ago I wrote an article on the 1,000 most influential people in the last 1,000 years and how they fared from the standpoint of autographic value. While traipsing through my library recently, I came upon two books that were relevant to that article. The books – The Jewish 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Jews of All Time by Michael Shapiro and History in Their Hands: A Book of Jewish Autographs by Harvey Lutske – made me think about what value is attached to fame in a given specialty, in this case, Judaica.
This game of ranking influence versus value could be done for any number of groups, such as African Americans, Catholics, or entertainers for that matter. I personally identify with the struggle of Jews in history not because of religion (I am not very religious), but because of the culture to which I am so integrally tied.
My grandfather Werner was a concentration camp survivor who would often show his tattooed number and tell stories of memorable horror.
My mother Helga Reznikoff (who by the way is an IACC member and avid collector), escaped Nazi Germany in 1938 at the age of 8. My grandfather Werner was a concentration camp survivor who would often show his tattooed number and tell stories of memorable horror. My cousins Enis and Renee are immortalized in the famous porthole photo aboard the St. Louis, a refugee boat that was turned away from everywhere including the United States, causing many of the passengers to perish in concentration camps.
In the 1976 movie Voyage of the Damned, Faye Dunaway played my great aunt and Oscar Werner portrayed my great uncle. As for my father's side, well, he was born in the Bronx. His father and collateral relatives suffered pogroms at the hands of the Russians. Thus my career, being history combined with some very colorful relatives, leads me to the current discussion.
Perhaps Lutske states it best in his introduction:
"In the Academy Award-winning movie Norma Rae, a small-town Southern mill worker meets, for the first time in her life, a Jew. A labor organizer, one Reuben Warshafsky, is in town to help unionize the local textile mill. Watching him unpack in his motel room, Norma Rae engages him in her first-ever conversation with a real, live Jew in a voice as thick as syrup: "Yuu a Juuu?" she asks. When the labor organizer responds in the affirmative, she asks, "Whut makes you different?" For a brief moment he pauses. Then, continuing his unpacking, he answers: "History."
Jews have always been making history. Through Jewish ideas, thought and action, through just the very fact of being, Jews have been active in the maelstrom of history. From the beginning of recorded history, Jews have been on the scene. If the ancient city of Ur with its famed ziggurat stands at the base of archaeology, so does Abraham, the forefather of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. If ancient Egypt is viewed as one of the cradles of civilization, then an early Egyptian stele records the nation of Israel as one of the infants in the cradle. Surely Joseph, the viceroy of Pharaoh, was there.
Whether through intellect, action, or even victimization, Jews have been an integral part of history.
I found it amazing how many of the Jewish 100 made it into the 1,000 most influential people of the last millennium. In the Jewish 100 Einstein ranked #3, Sigmund Freud #4 and Karl Marx #7. In the 1,000 list Marx was #14, Freud #15 and Einstein #17. Many of the names in the Jewish 100 are simply unavailable in any autograph form, mainly because of antiquity. If you find a Moses (#1) or Jesus (#2), let me know!
However, several other names in the 100 are surprisingly available, and examples are well illustrated in Lutske's book. What a great collection they would make! For example, autographs of #8 Theodor Herzl can be purchased for under $2,000, while a decent letter relating to his campaign to create a Jewish homeland runs about $3,000. #12 Anne Frank, whose diary touched millions, is considered in precious metals terms to be "unobtainium." In 1988 two of her letters sold for the whopping sum of $150,000.
#21 Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th century prime minister of England, is remarkably affordable. Full ALsS are available for under $1,000. #23 David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, sells for less than $2,000, although good content can double or triple that price. His letters seem to be drying up, and prices are rising. Obscure, important, yet very inexpensive is Nobel Prize winner Selman Waksman, who is credited with the development of antibiotics. At #32 he’s an excellent buy for under $200.
Anne Frank, whose diary touched millions, is considered in precious metals terms to be "unobtainium."
Of all the Jewish U.S. Supreme Court associate justices, only Louis Brandeis made the list at #68. He, of course, paved the way for Cardozo, Frankfurter, Goldberg, Fortas and Ginsburg. As 20th century associate justices go, Brandeis is relatively expensive, with typed letters often topping $500.
My personal favorite on the list is Abe Zimmerman, otherwise known as Bob Dylan. The singer/songwriter/poet ignited a generation with songs like Blowin’ in the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin. His signed photo retails for about $400, which is quite a bit for a living person, but he rarely signs. At #97 he shows not only the diversity of the Jewish people, but also how very fun indeed it would be to use these books to assemble a fascinating and valuable collection.
While there are many IADA dealers who handle Judaica autographs, only one – Queen Esther Judaica Autographs in Brooklyn, N.Y. – deals in that material exclusively. Owner Ezra Holczer can be reached at (718) 437-9305 or QEJUDAICA@aol.com.
John Reznikoff is the owner of University Archives. He can be reached at 49 Richmondville Ave., Westport, CT 06880.
