בולים קונסולריים בריטיים מזויפים - נדפסו עבור ה"הגנה"

Nine forged British consular stamps printed for the "Haganah" for the purpose of forging documents. [Merchavia, second half of the 1940s]. Stamps bearing the inscription Consular Service and the image of the English king, printed in order to forge immigration certificates, as part of "Aliyah D". "Aliyah D" is the name given to a method of bringing illegal immigrants to the Land of Israel by means of forged documents, which was instituted in early 1947. In this method, immigration certificates were forged, which were prepared with the help of forged British consular stamps and seals. The idea was conceived and implemented by Shlomo Tsimmerman. Tsimmerman testified that they succeeded in forging various British permits – tourism permits, immigration certificates, visas for returning residents – and adapting passports by replacing photographs. In order to ensure there would be no problems upon arrival in the Land, Tsimmerman and his associates enlisted a Jewish passport control officer at the Haifa port, who, in exchange for payment, took upon himself the risk of allowing all the holders of the forged visas to pass. In total, thousands of immigrants from various places came within the framework of "Aliyah D", with the entire operation being carried out through the Haifa port and by means of Tsimmerman and the center of "Mossad le-Aliyah B" in Haifa. Attached is a copy of a letter from the commander of "Mossad le-Aliyah B", Shaul Avigur, to Judah Slotzki, historian and writer, who wrote, among other things, a book on the history of the "Haganah". In the letter, Slotzki notes that "the stamps were printed in the Merchavia press, the perforating was done in the 'Ot' press in Haifa, and the clichés were made in zincography". The graphic artist was, presumably, Natan Shalker. 9 sheets, 21 stamps per sheet. Good condition. Source: estate of a senior member of Mossad le-Aliyah B.