USA/ISRAEL : THE LAST BRITISH FLAG WHICH FLY OVER HAIFA BEFORE THE STATE OF ISRAEL WAS DECLARED IN 1948 , IS AUCTIONED FOR 30,000 U.S DOLLARS

Record ID: 398964

  • Title: USA/ISRAEL : THE LAST BRITISH FLAG WHICH FLY OVER HAIFA BEFORE THE STATE OF ISRAEL WAS DECLARED IN 1948 , IS AUCTIONED FOR 30,000 U.S DOLLARS
  • Date: 10th December 1999
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, USA (DECEMBER 10, 1999) (RTN-ACCESS ALL) 1. GV EXTERIOR U.S AND BRITISH FLAGS OUTSIDE CHRISTIE'S AUCTION HOUSE 0.09 2. CU OF BRITISH FLAG TO BE AUCTIONED 0.19 HAIFA, NEWLY CREATED STATE OF ISRAEL (JUNE 30, 1948) ( REUTERS LIBRARY - ACCESS ALL) ( SILENT ) 3. SV BUGLER PLAYING AS UNION JACK IS BEING LOWERED AT DOCK 0.
  • Embargoed: 25th December 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY,USA AND HAIFA, NEWLY CREATED STATE OF ISRAEL
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA7RRQWI5NNZJKA7TQPXMQA04RB
  • Story Text: The last Union Jack to fly over Haifa was auctioned off
    at Christie's in New York City on Friday (December 10).The
    new owner of the flag plans to return it to Israel.

    On the day British rule ended in Palestine (now
    Israel), a bugler played as the Union Jack was lowered at the
    port of Haifa.And, British troops and tanks boarded a ship
    for their return to England.That flag was auctioned at
    Christie's in New York on Friday (December 10) for $34,500.

    Chris Coover of Christie's manuscripts and Americana
    department explained to Reuters TV, "Well, like a lot of
    documents or artifacts, this (flag) has had an interesting
    odessey.At the docks, when it was folded up, it was handed to
    an American diplomat present at the time with the request that
    he had it to a the British Consul who wasn't present at the
    time, for what reason I don't know.This was done.He took the
    piece back with him to England, where it stayed for a long
    time and then many years later it passed into the hands of a
    private individual who emigrated to Israel.So, it's actually
    been consigned by an Israeli citizen, who is the owner.

    It was sold to Franklin Silverstone, who did not wish to
    reveal where he lived, but said he planned to return the flag
    to the land from where it came.Silverstone said being Jewish
    made this purchase important for him.He said, "It's a very
    important flag.It was the sign of the end of one thing and
    the beginning of another.Less than, what, 24 hours later the
    whole place was at war and it's becoming more and more
    important.We buy pictures and we buy sculptures.And
    everybody buys all sorts of things, but there's only one Union
    Jack that came down over Haifa that day.And that's why its a
    really important piece of memorabilia."
    Silverstone said he plans to take the flag to Israel.He
    said, "I think it's the right place for it."
    He paid a total of US$34,500 for the flag and said he
    expected to have to pay more for it.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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