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US Transatlantic History: Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Tzvi Brill (1932)

Lot 49: US Transatlantic History: Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Tzvi Brill (1932)

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Start price: £100

Buyer's premium:

A rare and highly significant historical artifact: an original letter written from Indianapolis, Indiana, by the noted Zionist and Hebrew writer Tzvi Brill, detailing a donation to the Rabbis’ Fund (Kupat HaRabbanim) on the eve of the Holocaust.


  • This is a single-sheet, handwritten, and autographed letter signed (ALS) by Tzvi Brill (Hirsch Brill, 1864–1939). The letter provides a direct, tangible link between a major European Jewish intellectual and the American Jewish community during a critical period in history.

    Historical Significance & Provenance
    • Transatlantic Provenance: The letter is clearly dated תרצ"ב (1932) and written from Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. This proves Rabbi Brill’s physical presence and active involvement in America, likely fundraising for his work or the Zionist cause. Transatlantic Jewish correspondence from this era, establishing a geographical connection to the U.S. heartland, is exceptionally rare.
    • The Author: Tzvi Brill was a key figure in the Mizrachi Religious Zionist movement and a leading Hebrew writer and journalist associated with the influential newspaper Ha-Zefirah.
    • The Content: The letter confirms the writer’s personal support for the European rabbinic structure, stating: "In honour of the High Holidays, I am enclosing with this letter a check for $5.00 as a donation/contribution." The recipient is explicitly named as "Kupat HaRabbanim" (The Rabbis’ Fund).
    • The Signature: Signed personally in both English ("Tzvi Brill") and formal Hebrew, including his patronymic: צבי במו"ה משה בריל (Tzvi, the son of the late Rabbi Moshe Brill).

Condition report:

Format: Original handwritten letter on a single sheet of paper.


Condition: Generally well-preserved for a document of this age. The paper shows age-toning and original folds. The handwriting is clear and the entire text is fully legible.