Explore the collection of rare memorabilia and items from the holocaust with collector and historian, Neil Keller.
Welcome to Neil Keller’s collection of rare Holocaust memorabilia, a profound tribute to the resilience and courage of individuals who lived through one of history’s darkest chapters. This collection showcases an array of items, including unique trading cards, never-before-seen photographs, autographs, and personal artifacts, each telling a poignant story of survival, loss, and the enduring spirit of those affected by the Holocaust. Through these artifacts, the memory of those who suffered unimaginable hardship and their strength and determination to persevere is honored. It is my hope that by preserving and sharing these stories, I can contribute to a broader understanding of this tragic history and inspire future generations to remember the lessons learned from the past.
Victor Young Perez Collection
A part of my collection, highlighted here commemorates the life and legacy of Victor Young Perez. The former boxing world champion is the most internationally known Jewish person murdered by the Nazis. Victor was ordered to fight other prisoners at Auschwitz to amuse the Nazi guards. His life was tragically cut short by the horrors of the Holocaust when he was murdered in Auschwitz. A touching photograph which humanizes this hero, shows his mother, Rene Perez, serving a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Another cherished image from the Perez family shows Victor surrounded by his parents, siblings, and relatives, reflecting the strong family bonds which supported him throughout his life. Additional photos from his parents show a close-up view of the historic boxing match on October 26, 1931, when Victor became the Flyweight World Champion. The collection also includes a candid moment of Victor at the beach with his friends, symbolizing his youthful spirit and joy. To celebrate his athletic achievements, various trading cards were created. I have many autographed photos of which many were obtained directly from his family. Lastly, a 1932 Italian magazine featuring champion Primo Carnera with Victor Perez on the cover, adds to the rich historical context of Victor’s life. Together, these items, which are only a small portion of the Perez items in my collection, paint a poignant picture of a gifted athlete whose legacy endures.
Photo of Helene Mayer, German Jewish Fencing Star
This photo was obtained by a friend of Helene Mayer, the renowned German Jewish fencer. During the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Mayer was used as a “token Jew” by the Nazi regime and the only German Jew on the 1936 German summer Olympic team. I have many trading cards and other memorabilia of Helene Mayer as the Nazis used her as a propaganda ploy to present a misleading image of inclusivity while simultaneously promoting their anti-Semitic agenda.
Her participation in the games remains a complex symbol of both athletic achievement and the oppressive environment of the time. After the Olympics, Helene went to the United States and was a nine time champion. Sports Illustrated named her as one of the top 100 female athletes of the twentieth century.
Anne Frank 1963 Nabisco Cookie Card
This exceptionally rare 1963 Nabisco cookie card features Anne Frank, marking the first time she appeared on a trading card. Produced exclusively in Australia and New Zealand, the trading cards were unique historical artifacts. Anne Frank’s legacy continues to be remembered across generations.
Yellow Star of David from Holocaust Survivor
This original yellow Star of David belonged to a Hungarian father who survived the Holocaust. During the Holocaust, Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe were forced to wear the yellow star as a means of identification, marking them for persecution. The patch became a symbol of the oppression and suffering endured by millions. This artifact serves as a powerful reminder of the personal stories of survival and the resilience of those who lived through this dark chapter in history.
Ilona Elek-Schacherer Medal
1936 medal for Ilona Elek Schacher. Ilona Elek-Schacherer won the gold medal at the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin. She represented Hungary in fencing. This is a 1936 medal we believe was made by some organization in Hungary and presented to -Elek-Schacherer. It appears to be gold plated and the wording on the medal is written in Hungarian. The diameter is three inches.
Award Received by Dutch Boxer Ben Bril
In late 2022, relatives of Dutch boxer Ben Bril were located, connecting this plate trophy award to his remarkable story of survival. Ben Bril, a Holocaust survivor who endured the horrors of a concentration camp, was honored with this award at the sixth Maccabiah Games, which were held in 1961.His achievements in the face of such adversity stand as a testament to his resilience and determination, both as an athlete and a survivor.
1928 Olympic Postcards of the Netherlands Women’s Gymnastics Team
These rare postcards from the 1928 Olympics highlight the Netherlands women’s gymnastics team, who won the gold medal that year. Tragically, five of the six Jewish members of the team were later murdered during the Holocaust. These postcards serve as both a celebration of their athletic achievement and a solemn reminder of the devastating impact of the Nazi regime on Jewish lives, even among Olympic champions.
Kid Francis Collection
This collection honors the life and legacy of Kid Francis, a remarkable boxer whose story is intertwined with the tragic events of the Holocaust. The centerpiece are rare personal trophy medallions that belonged to Francis, an Italian Jew living in France when he was captured by the Nazis and taken to Auschwitz. Like many Jewish homes, his was looted for valuables, and it is believed that the Nazis stole his gold trophy, leaving behind the silver and bronze medals that were acquired from his family. The 1931 Ring Magazine (published in the United States) featured his prominence in the boxing world. Kid Francis was forced to fight other Jews for the amusement of the Nazi guards, a brutal and dehumanizing fate that ultimately led to his murder in 1943. The collection also includes a selection of trading cards that capture his athletic prowess, as well as many autographed photos. A cherished family photograph depicts Kid Francis alongside his family and training team, emphasizing his deep roots and support system. Lastly, a candid image of him dining with friends highlights the joy and camaraderie in his life before the tragic events that cut it short. These are just a small sample of the items I have collected on this talented athlete to highlight his legacy.
1928 Josetti Cigarettes Trading Card of Albert Einstein
This was made in Berlin, Germany of the famous German physicist. The Nazi regime considered him an enemy and even offered a bounty for his death. At this point, Albert was comfortably living in the United States. Similar to the burning of books written by Jews, the Nazis wanted to burn any cards of Einstein on them.
Theresienstadt Concentration Camp Fake Currency
This counterfeit currency was created for use within the Theresienstadt concentration camp as part of a Nazi propaganda effort to deceive the Red Cross and other outside observers. The money was meant to give the false impression that Jewish prisoners were living under humane conditions in this Czechoslovakia camp. The reality was that Theresienstadt was a facade hiding the horrific treatment and suffering endured by those imprisoned there.
1936 Medal for Gyorgy Brody
1936 medal for Gyorgy Brody. He was the goalie for the Hungarian water polo team. They won Olympic gold at the 1932 and the 1936 Olympics. The Hungarian Football Association presented all their gold medalists with their own medal (diameter is 3.1 inches). The back is engraved for Brody.
1936 Olympic Trading Card: Jewish Women’s Fencing Medalists vs. Family Photo
This 1936 Olympic cigarette trading card features three Jewish women who swept the medals in fencing at the Berlin Olympics, held in Nazi Germany. Hungarian fencer Ilona Elek Schacherer won gold, while Germany’s Helene Mayer took silver, and Austria’s Ellen Preis claimed bronze. Under pressure to protect her family, Helene Mayer controversially gave the Nazi salute during the medal ceremony, as had been demanded of her. This card captures a moment of extraordinary athletic achievement set against the backdrop of Nazi propaganda and oppression. Since Helene was part of the Jewish trifecta, there was a lot of memorabilia produced of these three Jewish women.
Below is a photo believed to be taken by relatives of Hungarian fencer Ilona Elek Schacherer, which captures the exact moment the three Jewish women received their fencing medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Taken from the stands, it mirrors the scene depicted on the official 1936 trading card. If you look closely, you can spot the official photographer dressed in black, positioned behind the athletes on the ground, immortalizing this significant moment in Olympic and Jewish history. At the bottom are words written in Hungarian about Ilona that translate in English, “Elek Ilona’s Olympic victory. The Hungarian flag is up in the middle. Thanks Laszlo!”
Both images were captured on August 5, 1936.
1936 Olympic Trading Card: Jewish Male Fencer Medalist vs. Family Photo
This 1936 Olympic coffee trading card features Jewish Hungarian male fencer Endre Kabos with Italian fencer Gustavo Marzi. Kabos was born in Romania but represented Hungary in the Olympics capturing a gold and bronze medal at the 1932 Olympics. At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Kabos won two gold medals. During World War II, he was put in a forced labor camp in Hungary. Kabos was murdered on a bridge at the Danube River by the Arrow Cross Party near the end of the war.
This trading card by the coffee company Muhlen Franck shows both Kabos (on the left) and Marzi (on the right) on August 15, 1936 as they went for the gold medal bout that Kabos won. The Kabos family photo of the two fencers was taken at the same time and literally three feet from the photo used by the coffee company. There is some Hungarian written on the back of the family photo.
Jewish Trifecta at the 1936 Nazi Olympics
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, three Jewish women—Ilona Elek Schacherer, Helene Mayer, and Ellen Preis—achieved a remarkable sweep in fencing, winning gold, silver, and bronze. Despite competing under the shadow of Nazi propaganda, their victories stand as a powerful testament to their skill and determination. This “Jewish trifecta” defied the regime’s anti-Semitic ideology, marking an unforgettable moment in Olympic history.
Ellen Preis 1932 Trading Card
This trading card features Ellen Preis, an accomplished German fencer who represented Austria in the Olympics due to the rise of anti-Semitism in her home country. Preis’s remarkable talent and determination allowed her to compete at the highest level, displaying her skill in a challenging and oppressive environment.
Autographed Photo of Agnes Keleti
This autographed photo features Agnes Keleti, Hungary’s most decorated Olympian, who survived the Holocaust and won ten Olympic medals in gymnastics at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics. Her extraordinary achievements in sport, coupled with her resilience in the face of adversity, make her a powerful symbol of strength and determination. There were no Olympics in 1940 and 1944 due to WWII or Helene might be among the most decorated Olympians ever.
Rare Trading Cards of Eddy Hamel
These rare trading cards feature Eddy Hamel, a celebrated European soccer star who was tragically captured by the Nazis and murdered in Auschwitz. Hamel’s legacy as an athlete is overshadowed by the horrific circumstances of his death, serving as a reminder of the many lives cut short during this dark chapter in history.
Endre Kabos Photographs
August 15, 1936 photo that we believe was taken by the Kabos family or close friend of fencer Endre Kabos. He was born in Romania but represented Hungary at the 1936 summer Olympics that were held in Berlin, Germany. In this stunning family photo (measures 2.4 x 3.25 inches) you can see Kabos walking in with Gustavo Marzi for the finals. Kabos defeated Gustavo to earn the gold medal in Individual Sabre. He also won a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in the Team Sabre event for Hungary. Kabos was captured by the Nazis and put in a forced labor camp in Hungary. He was murdered by the Nazis in late 1944 at the Danube River in Budapest. The back of the photo are words written in Hungarian.
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