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Kitto, John. Reid, Alexander (ed.).
The History of Palestine from the Patriarchal Age to the Present Time; with Introductory Chapters on the Geography and Natural History of the Country, and on the Customs and Institutions of the Hebrews [...] Adapted to the purposes of tuition.
Publisher: Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh;
Date of Publication: 1843
Stock Code: 14559
First Edition. Octavo, pp., [8] prelims, 268, plus folding linen-backed map of the region in ancient times. Woodblock illustrations within text. Prize binding in full calf, gilt armorial stamp of the City of Bath within blind roll and fillet border to boards, ornaments in blind within compartments to spine, titled in gilt to red leather spine label; rolls in gilt to board-edges; all edges marbled; marbled end-papers. Inscribed to William Somerville from Bath Grammar School in ink, dated 1844. Top edge dusty, slight shelf-wear to extremities, rubbing to spine, a few nicks and scuffs to boards. Light, scattered foxing to map, contents very slightly toned but generally clean and neat. A very good copy. A survey history of Palestine for British schoolchildren. Palestine was, at this time, defined as the area between the sea at Raffah south-east of Gaza, and the Litani River. As this work describes in the section on ‘the present time’, the region was highly contested. While part of Ottoman Syria, Palestine had been repeatedly invaded by Egyptian forces. Only a year prior to the publication of this book, the Royal Navy had supported the Ottoman re-annexation of Palestine by bombarding Beirut and blockading Alexandria, an episode this book recounts as the most recent event of note. A fascinating insight into a Victorian child’s understanding of Palestinian history. £250.00