Charles Wilhem - Binder of Maps of the Holy Land. Gotha, 1866

Karte von Palastina von C.W.M. Van De Velde. Gotha, 1866. Eight color geographic maps depicting various areas of the Land of Israel by cartographer Charles Wilhem.

Following a change in Ottoman Empire policy, there was relative stabilization of the security, political, and economic situations in the Land of Israel, and a wave of European tourism began to visit the Land. This led to growing European involvement in what was happening in the Land of Israel. The maps before us are the product of Europe's renewed interest in the Holy Land. After eight months of geographic and cartographic research, maps by the Dutch cartographer Charles William Meredith Van De Veled began to appear starting in 1858, aided by his military past, knowledge of biblical geography and drawing talent. His journey to the Holy Land [including areas which are now parts of Lebanon and Syria] are reviewed in his travelogue. Before us is the German edition of the maps, published in 1866.

For more on the map and the cartographer, refer to: Mapping the Holy Land: The Origins of Cartography in Palestine (2017), chapter 2 – The Land and the Map: C.W.M. van de Velde's Map of the Holy Land, by Jutta Faehndrich.

[9] leaves, 47x39 cm, including [8] color maps of the Land of Israel. German.

Slight aging stains. Fine condition.