1928 Harold H. Brown Pictorial Map of the Holy Land / Israel / Palestine w/ Sinai

This is a 1928 Harold Haven Brown pictorial map of the Holy Land / Israel and/or Palestine, including the Sinai, and parts of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. The map depicts the region from the Nile River to Ammon (Syria) and from Tripolis (Tripoli), Lebanon to the Red Sea.

Sites of Biblical Importance

Brown relates key events from the Bible, including the site of where David slew Goliath, Jonah's point of embarkation at Jaffa, where John the Baptist preached and baptized, the site of Aaron's death, and the location where Esau settled. The Israelites' flight from Egypt and their subsequent wanderings are traced and important events on the journey are noted. A green text box near the Sea of Galilee summarizes Jesus's life and work geographically, while yet another text box explains how the Twelve Tribes of Israel are referenced. A vignette near the Egyptian border depicts the flight of Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod.

Secular and Historical References

Not every reference included by Brown is strictly Biblical. Cities and towns throughout are identified, with Jerusalem, Jericho, Damascus, Suez, and Cairo each meriting a small illustration. A view of the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx is included near Cairo. Ancient caravan routes from Egypt to Palestine and from Mecca to Cairo are traced and feature illustrations of caravans. Modern transportation routes including the Medina and Damascus Railway, and the Egypt and Palestine railway. References are made to the prowess of ancient Phoenician sailors and traders and the renown of dyes, glass, and metal work from Tyre. A shield of the Knights Templar situated in the upper right, visually invoking the 1097 First Crusade. An annotation describes the importance of Lebanese timber, used in antiquity to build Phoenician ships and the temples of David and Solomon. A text box situated along the right border identifies the six different ships illustrated on the map: Egyptian, Phoenician, Roman, a Crusader's ship, an Egyptian river boat, and a modern steamship meant to reference the Suez Canal.

The Insets

Four insets are situated in the bottom third of the map. The first, along the right border, is a topographical map of Palestine highlighting elevation. The second and third focus on Jerusalem. The smaller of the two is a plan of the Old City. The second is a map of Jerusalem and its environs. The final inset is a profile view of Palestine underscoring the dramatic topographical transition from the Dead Sea, which is below sea level, to Mt. Hermon, well above 7000 feet. The whole is surrounded by a decorative border featuring 'tile' bearing illustrations of important crops and vegetation and the symbols of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and drawn by Harold Haven Brown and published by the R.R. Bowker Company in 1928. Only one example is recorded in the OCLC, part of the David Rumsey Map Collection at Stanford University.