Historical Vistas: Gaza & Hebron 1997
On 19.06.1997, Palestine issued a stamp series depicting historical vistas of the towns Gaza and Hebron, based on the Louis Haghe engravings of David Roberts' two pantings from his journey in 1839. The two stamps are denominated at 350 and 600 Fils and were printed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH Berlin in sheets of 10 (2x5). Total value: 950 Fils. Print run: unknown. Perforation: K 13.75:14.
An official FDCs was issued, bearing a special oval postmark (depicting Hebron) dated 19.06.1997.
The artworks used are:
- Zobbel no. 72 (350f): "Gaza March 21st 1839" by David Roberts, RA (original painting: pencil and watercolour). Engraving by Louis Haghe, lithography, published in: 'David Roberts: The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia,' vol.II, pl.59 (London: F.G. Moon, 1843).
- Zobbel no. 73 (600f): "Hebron March 18th 1839" by David Roberts, RA (original painting: pencil and watercolour heightened with bodycolour, 320x490mm). Engraving by Louis Haghe, lithography, published in: 'David Roberts: The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia,' vol.II, pl.55 (London: F.G. Moon, 1843).
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[...] After pausing a few days at St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, the party moved along the Gulf of Aqaba. At Aqaba they dined with the local sheikh, with whom they negotiated safe passage to Hebron via Petra and Mount Hor. Enduring sandstorms, bandits, illness, and physical hardships along the way, the group arrived in the village of Hebron, where they stayed with the only Christian family from 16-18 March 1839:
"On turning round the side of a hill, Hebron first bursts upon you. The situation is beautiful, and the houses, gleaming brightly in the noonday sun, reminded me of England... I made two coloured sketches of the town" (the artist's journal, as quoted in Ballantine, 1866, p.124).
Having learnt that Jerusalem was quarantined for plague, they made a detour via Beth Gebrin, the ancient Eleutheropolis, Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, Jaffa, and Lod. They entered Jerusalem on Good Friday; the quarantine was removed that morning, and they were just in time for Easter celebrations. Accommodation was hard to come by, but luckily they met Elias, with whom they had stayed in Hebron, and he was able to find them lodgings. [...]
Roberts produced a series of finished watercolours, including the present lot, which he had worked up from sketches made during his tour. The two sketches made at Hebron were among the contents of Roberts's studio sale [...] Belgian engraver Louis Haghe produced a total of 248 lithographs based on this later series of watercolours, which were published monthly in sets of six, to form two series; The Holy Land (1842-5) and Egypt and Nubia (1846-9). [...]
Source: Bonhams, auction 17849, lot 139 (London, 15.09.2010)
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External links:
• Roberts: Hebron 1839 (Wiki Gallery)
• Roberts: Hebron 1839 (Wikipedia)
• Roberts: Gaza 1839 (Wiki Gallery)
• Roberts: Gaza 1839 (Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia)
• Description of Robert's journey (Jordan Jubilee website)
• More of Robert's work (Medina Arts)
• More of Robert's work (Medina Arts)
A further series of historical town vistas was issued in 2002: Jerusalem, Nablus, al-Aizariya (Zobbel nos. 200–202)
| Zobbel | Value | Size | Perfor. | Printed | Notes |
| 72 | 350f | 55x32.8mm | K 13.75:14 | n/a | sheets of 10 (2x5) |
| 73 | 600f |
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A FDC was issued, bearing a special postmark: Bethlehem 28.11.1997. There also exists a "Commemorative Sheet," similar to a "first day leaf" (German: Ersttagsblatt or ETB, which are traditional to German stamp issues). The leaf features a pair of Zobbel nos. 77 / 78 cancelled by the the same special postmark used for the FDC.
(www.ekd.de/kps/diakonissen/diakonis/diakon03.htm, page no longer online)
