1859 Rey Historical / Biblical Case Map of the Holy Land, Tribe of Judah

This is Alban-Emmanuel Guillaume Rey's c. 1859 large-format folding map of the Holy Land, and more specifically, the lands of the Tribe of Judah, one of the ancient Twelve Tribes of Israel. Rey's expedition to Palestine, which resulted in this map, was an early example of Biblical geography, combining modern surveying techniques with the scholarly study of religion, archaeology, linguistics, and other emerging disciplines.

A Closer Look

The map covers from Jaffa (now part of Tel Aviv-Yafo) in the north to Khan Younis south of Gaza in the south, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Dead Sea (lac Asphaltite) in the east. Settlements are noted throughout with their modern (Arabic) names and, where suitable, their ancient (Hebrew) names in parentheses; Jerusalem appears towards top-right. Terrain is depicted along the Mediterranean coast, while contour lines indicate changes in elevation. Waterways, ancient ruins, roads, paths, churches, mosques, roadside blockhouses, and ancient sites (such as Solomon's Pools / Vasques de Solomon southwest of Bethlehem, which provided water for aqueducts feeding into Jerusalem) are also recorded throughout. Descriptive text in French appears throughout, noting ruins and characteristics of the terrain, especially along the Dead Sea.

Tribe of Judah

The Tribe of Judah was one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel in ancient times, traditionally descended from Judah, the fourth son of the patriarch Jacob (also called Israel) and Leah, his first wife. The tribe played a major role in the history and identity of the Israelites and, later, the Jewish people. According to scripture, Judah was a major power in the region during the united monarchy under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon (c. 11th - 10th centuries BCE). When the tribes split around 930 BCE, Judah became the core of the southern kingdom, called the Kingdom of Judah (the ten northern tribes formed the Kingdom of Israel). Judah lasted until the onset of the Babylonian Captivity in 586 BCE, but has had a deep influence on Jewish identity since, from the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of the United Kingdom (and later the Kingdom of Judah) by King David (the city's emblem incorporates the Lion of Judah), to the very word 'Jew' (Yehudim), based on the tribe's name.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by Rey and originally appeared as a two-sheet map to accompany his book Étude Historique et Topographique de la Tribu de Juda (Paris: A. Bertrand, 1862). However, the present example is separately issued, dissected, and laid on linen for folding into a slipcase. This presentation of the map is very rare; we have been unable to locate it in any institutions, and it has only sporadically appeared on the market in recent years.