This is a museum-quality, one-of-a-kind historical artifact: a handmade plywood postcard originating from the Lublin Ghetto in 1941. During the German occupation of Poland, the Lublin Ghetto was one of the first to be "liquidated" during Operation Reinhard. This piece serves as a haunting and tactile connection to that era.

The front of the postcard features a hand-incised (pyrography or shallow carving) Star of David centered between a flowing ribbon/scroll. The scroll is inscribed with "GETTO" on the left and "LUBLIN" on the right. Inside the star, the date "1941" is clearly marked, with a stylized "V" or divisional mark in the center.

The reverse side mimics the layout of a standard postal card, with hand-carved lines for the recipient’s address and a square box designated for a postage stamp. The craftsmanship is precise yet reflects the limited tools available to ghetto inhabitants.

Historical Context: The Lublin Ghetto (1941)

The Lublin Ghetto was officially established by the German occupation authorities on March 24, 1941. It was one of the earliest ghettos in occupied Poland and served as a central hub for "Operation Reinhard," the deadliest phase of the Holocaust.

In 1941, the ghetto was severely overcrowded, housing over 34,000 Jews. Because traditional supplies like paper and ink were often confiscated or unavailable, inhabitants resorted to using scraps of wood and plywood to create "trench art" or durable mementos. Artifacts from Lublin are particularly rare because the ghetto was almost entirely destroyed during its liquidation in 1942, making any surviving physical object a vital piece of witness history.

Specifications

• Origin: Lublin Ghetto, Occupied Poland

• Provenance: Formerly held by a Jewish emigree family in Sunrise, Florida (originally from Łódź/Litzmannstadt). Purchased via eBay in September 2016 (Lot: 142103730628)

• Material: Plywood (Hand-carved/etched)

• Age: Circa 1941.

• Dimensions: 138 mm x 87 mm (Approx. 5.4" x 3.4").

• Condition: Excellent vintage condition for its age and material. The wood shows a deep, natural aged patina with minor surface wear consistent with age. No cracks or major splintering. The carvings remain dark and highly legible.

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Certificate of Provenance Statement

ITEM: Hand-Carved Plywood Postcard

ORIGIN: Lublin Ghetto, General Government (Occupied Poland)

DATED: 1941

PROVENANCE RECORD: This artifact was preserved for decades within a Jewish emigree family residing in Sunrise, Florida, USA. The family originally emigrated from Łódź (Litzmannstadt), Poland, following the Second World War. The item was subsequently acquired by the current owner via a documented public sale on September 10, 2016 (eBay Lot #142103730628). V.N. COLLECTIBLE AUCTION HOUSE: Item was cataloged and sold via V.N. Collectible (LiveAuctioneers), a specialist in European and WWII historical artifacts.

AUTHENTICITY NOTES: The wood exhibits a genuine oxidized patina consistent with 80+ year-old plywood. The carving style matches the "Ghetto Art" aesthetic of the early 1940s, characterized by the use of basic tools to create symbolic Jewish iconography (The Star of David) and required German-language labeling (Getto) for passing through postal censors.

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