Harry Priester

In 2018 a book from the library of Harry Priester could be returned.

By comparing the information on the stamp that was found in a book with the Berlin address books, the Justice Council, lawyer and notary Harry Priester could be clearly identified as the previous owner.

Harry Priester was born on 26 June 1865 in Memel, Eastern Prussia. He had lived in Berlin since at least 1916, up to approx. 1932 at the Magdeburger Str. 27 indicated on the stamp. In addition to his work as a lawyer, he was a member of the supervisory boards of Bragoger Holzhandels-A.G., Berlin, and Tiefbau und Kälteindustrie A.G., formerly Gebhardt & Koenig, Nordhausen.

Harry Priester was persecuted as Jewish. He was able to pursue his profession until about 1936. In the last entries in the Berlin address books he is listed as a "privateer". In 1941 his entry contains the compulsory name "Israel". Harry Priester died on 6 January 1943. So far nothing could be ascertained about the circumstances of his death.

The access route of the book to the holdings of the ZLB is unknown. The book was found in the Berlin City Library's unprocessed stock. It was probably acquired by the Berlin City Library in 1943 as part of a purchase of ~40,000 books that had been looted from the Jews of Berlin.

The ZLB would like to thank the Commission for Looted Art in Europe for its assistance in returning the books