256 - Judaica

Judaica Letter of protection from the Swiss Legation in Budapest, headed by Carl Lutz, one of the “Righteous Among the Nations.” Budapest, October 23, 1944. A typewritten, two-column letter of protection, with the German text on the left and the Hungarian text on the right, on the letterhead of the Swiss Legation, Department for Foreign Interests (Emigration Department), V., Vadász-utca 29. The letter bears the file number “4196/LXXXII – 1944,” the red round stamp of the Swiss Legation in Budapest, and a handwritten initial. The letterhead appears above the coat of arms featuring the Swiss cross. The Swiss Legation certifies that “Ludwig Schmidt and his wife” (Hungarian: “Schmidt Lajos és felesége”) are registered in the Swiss collective passport for emigration. The persons named are therefore to be considered holders of a valid passport. - From 1942 to 1945, the Department for Foreign Interests was headed by Vice Consul Carl Lutz (1895–1975). It represented the interests of twelve belligerent states in Budapest. After the German occupation of Hungary in March 1944, Lutz obtained permission to issue letters of protection for emigration to Palestine. He interpreted the authorized 8,000 “units” as families and thus issued tens of thousands of additional letters. The names of the letter holders were entered into collective passports, which were issued beginning in July 1944. This letter is part of that protection system. Proof of entry in the collective passport was intended to protect its holders from persecution and deportation. Depending on the source, Lutz is credited with saving approximately 62,000 people. The exact number is not certain. Yad Vashem honored him in 1964–65 as a “Righteous Among the Nations.” — Folded twice. Protective Letter Issued by the Swiss Legation in Budapest, Operating under the Direction of Righteous Among the Nations Carl Lutz—1944 Budapest, October 23, 1944. Typewritten two-column protective letter, in German on the left and Hungarian on the right. It is on the letterhead of the Swiss Legation, Department of Foreign Interests (Emigration Section), V., Vadász utca 29. The letter bears the file number “4196/LXXXII – 1944,” the red circular stamp of the Swiss Legation in Budapest, and a handwritten initial. The letterhead appears above the coat of arms featuring the Swiss cross. The sheet has been folded twice. The Swiss Legation certifies that “Ludwig Schmidt and wife” (Hungarian: “Schmidt Lajos és felesége”) are listed in the Swiss collective passport for emigration. The individuals named are therefore to be considered holders of a valid travel passport. The Department of Foreign Interests was headed from 1942 to 1945 by Vice-Consul Carl Lutz (1895–1975). In Budapest, it represented the interests of twelve belligerent states. After the German occupation of Hungary in March 1944, Lutz obtained permission to issue protective letters for emigration to Palestine. He interpreted the approved 8,000 “units” as families and thus issued tens of thousands of additional letters. The names of the letter holders were entered into collective passports, which were issued beginning in July 1944. This letter is part of that protection system. Such entries in the collective passport were intended to shield their holders from persecution and deportation. Depending on the source, Lutz is credited with saving approximately 62,000 people. The exact number has not been definitively established. Yad Vashem honored him in 1964–65 as a “Righteous Among the Nations.” This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union. This work is subject to the standard margin scheme. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.