1890 Bacon Bird's Eye View of the Holy Land / Israel / Palestine

A striking c. 1890 chromolithograph view of the Holy Land / Israel / Palestine by G. W. Bacon. Coverage extends from Mt. Lebanon and Mt. Hermon to the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, and Gath - thus covering the northern half of modern-day Israel and southern Lebanon. The Jordan River valley is particularly striking, with bold exaggerated depictions of both the Sea of Galilee and the northern part of the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is prominent at bottom center.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired product. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it emerged as the dominate method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography produced made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda imagery.

Publication History and Census

This wall map was issued by G. W. Bacon from his offices at 127 Strand, London. The map is undated, but likely appeared between 1880 and 1900 - during the height of the chromolithography craze. Bacon sold his business to W. and A. K. Johnston in 1900, so it must predate that transfer. We have seen examples of this map reduced to postcard format, but can identify no other surviving full-sized examples.