Die Einwanderung nach U.S.A.
For Jewish Immigrants
[Judaica]. Seligsohn, Dr. Julius L. Israel. Die Einwanderung nach U.S.A. Berlin: Verlag Judischer Kulturbund in Beutschland E.V., 1940.
4to.; pages uniformly browned; grey wrappers; foxed; two edges lightly dampstained; printed with an image of the Empire State Building on the upper panel. In a specially made cloth slipcase.
First edition of this manual for German-Jewish immigrants to the United States (the title is literally translated as “The immigration into U.S.A.”). This is believed to be the last Jewish publication permitted to be printed and distributed in Nazi Germany. With a bookplate affixed to the verso of the upper panel, from the Jewish Cultural Reconstruction Commission; and three illegible stamps in Hebrew – in purple, green and black – on the title page (the purple stamp is repeated on the foot of page 97).
Written in German, with one page (p. 96 – see below for further details) in English, this was intended as a guide for German-Jewish immigrants to elucidate the immigration process to the United States, and to suggest protocol regarding visas, citizenship, etc. Dr. Seligsohn died in the Oranienburg concentration camp in 1942.
Some chapter titles include: “Grundbegriffe” (Foundations), “Quotengesetzgebung” (Quota Legislation), “Geistliche und Dozenten” (Clergymen and Teachers), “Bona-fide studenten” (Bona Fide Students), “Ehefrauen” (Wives), “Behorden” (Authorities), “Verfahren” (Procedures), and “Wichtige Zollbestimmungen” (Important Customs Regulations).
Pages 92 through 101 provide samples of letters written to various American consulates; the letter on page 96 is written by Bruno Israel Levy and is addressed to the American Consul General in Rotterdam, and explains:
I, together with my family (wife Ilse Levy, son Michael Levy), was registered on September 16, 1938 under Nos. 46 133-35 of German waiting list at The American Consulate General, Berlin. My Berlin address at that time was: Berlin W 15, Meineke Str. 20.
Last year I transferred my residence from Berlin to Amsterdam. Corroborate proof of the police office of my present establishment is enclosed. My wife and my son are still living in Berlin at mentioned address.
Levy goes on to request the Consul General in Rotterdam apply to the American Embassy in Berlin for his dossier (and include postage). He further asks that they return said dossier to Berlin so that his wife and son may then apply for their visas, as well.
By the order of Nazi law, all of the men were required to sign their middle names as “Israel” and all of the women, as “Sara,” as in the sample letters provided here.
A profoundly poignant publication – the last call before the light went out for good throughout Europe for German Jewry. In commerce, exceedingly scarce; this is the first copy that we have encountered. OCLC locates eight copies.
(#10181)
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