[PALESTINE AND HOLY LAND] | A collection of approximately 800 glass photographic slides illustrating Bible Lands, as issued by the American Colony, Jerusalem

 [PALESTINE AND HOLY LAND]

A collection of approximately 800 glass photographic slides illustrating Bible Lands, as issued by the American Colony, Jerusalem

Each slide approx. 100 x 80 mm, some titled on the slide from the older negative, others on surrounding "mount" with many handcolored; approx. 30 damaged, housed in a variety of contemporary fitted cases or small boxes.

Tour the Holy Land from your living room.

Anna and Horatio Spafford immigrated to Jerusalem from Chicago in 1881, to establish a utopian Christian community. It endured to 1940 and their philanthropy was of great importance during WWI when they provided soup kitchens and aid to those displaced by the conflict.

Within a few years of their arrival in the Holy City, three in the American Colony, Elijah Meyers, Eric Matson, and Lewis Larsson began to photograph the architecture, ruins and rich mix of cultures in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Egypt, Damascus, Lebanon, Tripoli, Jericho, Jordan and Bedouin culture were a particular focus and their depictions of mosques, ruined synagogues and ancient ruins were prized by archeologists for their documentary detail.

Such was the interest and success of their photography, that the American Colony turned it into a lucrative business venture, providing a wealth of imagery for those in America and Europe that wished to see not only the landmarks, but the exotic portraits of occupations, market scenes and daily life in the Holy Land.

The present is accompanied by a 1923-24 catalogue of the available lantern slides, with over 2000 listed. The present, comprising nearly half of what one could obtain. comprises a representative selection. Sold as a group, not subject to return.