Photos of Israel: Early 20th Century Palestine
The Fouad Debbas Collection is the private collection of one man, Fouad Debbas, who studied engineering and got passionate about gathering images of his past and his region. Debbas (Lebanese) spent 26 years (from 1975 until his sudden death in 2001) collecting all images that concerned the Middle-East, with a special interest for Lebanon. He masterminded his collection, classifying his images by photographs / editors / subjects and produced two important books on postcards representing Beirut and on photography in Lebanon during 1848-1914. His collection is a reference for art historians, historians, urbanists and for all Lebanese eager to understand better its heritage. Photographs produced by Maison Bonfils during its establishment in Beirut in 1867 up to the first decade of the 20th century. Landscapes, Portraits of Palestine, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, and few images of Turkey, Smyrna or Greece. Photographs on glass (glass plates positives and negatives), loose albumin prints conserved in portfolio, photographic albums, cartes de visite and cabinet cards, stereoscopic views. Images depicting the Middle East of the late 19th century, with an 'orientalist' perspective, sometimes a romantic approach, produced for the European market. Extent and format of original material: SERIES = 138 items from uncomplete series of Bonfils stereoscopic views and lantern magic slides; 3 printed catalogues FILES = 36 photographic albums; 1956 photographs, 27 portfolios; 747 ITEMS = 3 cabinet cards, 49 cartes de visite, 1 Wet collodion glass plate negative."
All images used with permission from the British Library Endangered Archives Collection.
Acre
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Acre
(c. 1867-1914)
Akko
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Akko
(c. 1867-1914)
The al-Aqsa Mosque
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The al-Aqsa Mosque
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The al-Aqsa Mosque
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The al-Aqsa Mosque
(c. 1867-1914)
The Arch of the Ecce Homo Church
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The Arch of the Ecce
Homo Church
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Arch of the Ecce
Homo Church
(c. 1893)![]()
The Arch of the Ecce
Homo Church
(c. 1867-1914)
Armenian Church
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An Armenian Church
(c. 1885)![]()
Sanctuary in an
Armenian Church
(c. 1867-1914)
Bedouins
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Bedouins
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
A Bedouin Shiek
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Individuals Outside of a
Bedouin Tent
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Bedouins With Their
Children
(c. 1867-1914)
Bethany
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Bethany
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Bethany
(c. 1867-1914)
Bethlehem
Camels
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Camel Carrying Mail
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Camel Drivers
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Camel Drivers
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Camel Plowing
(c. 1893)
Church of Nativity
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Church of Nativity
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Church of Nativity
(c. 1886)
Cave of Nativity
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Cave of Nativity
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Cave of Nativity Manger
(c. 1867-1914)
Church of the Ascencion
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Church of the Ascencion
(c. 1867-1914)
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of St John
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Church of St John
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Church of St John
(c. 1867-1914)
Dalieh
Damascus Gate
![]()
Damascus Gate
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Damascus Gate
(c. 1867-1914)
David's Gate
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David's Gate
(c. 1867-1914)
The Dead Sea
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The Dead Sea and the
Judean Hills
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Dead Sea
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Dead Sea
(c. 1867-1914)
The Dome of the Rock
Druze
Farmers
![]()
Farmer Plowing
His Field
(c. 1893)
The Field of Blood
![]()
The Field of Blood
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Field of Blood
(c. 1867-1914)
The Field of Boaz
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The Field of Boaz
(c. 1867-1914)
Fountain of Elisee
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Fountain of Elisee
(c. 1867-1914)
Fountain of the Virgin
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Fountain of the Virgin
(c. 1867-1914)
Galilee
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Galilee
(c. 1867-1914)
Gethsemene
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Gethsemene
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Gethsemene
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Gethsemene
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Olive Tree in the Garden
of Gethsemane (c. 1867-1914)
The Golden Gate
![]()
The Golden Gate
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Golden Gate
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Golden Gate
(c. 1893)![]()
The Golden Gate
(c. 1893)
Haifa
Hebron
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Hebron
(c. 1874)![]()
Hebron
(c. 1874)
Hezekiah Reservoir
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Hesekiah Reservoir
(c. 1867-1914)
Jaffa
Jeremiah's Cave
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Jeremiah's Cave
(c. 1867-1914)
Jericho
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Jericho
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Jericho
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Jericho
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Jericho
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Jericho
(c. 1867-1914)
Jerusalem
Jewish Women
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Jewish Women in
Costume
(c. 1893)
The Jordan River
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The Jordan
River
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Jordan River
in Bethlehem
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Jordan River
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Jordan River
(c. 1867-1914)
Joseph's Tomb
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Joseph's Tomb
(c. 1867-1914)
Lane Leading to Herod's Palace
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Lane Leading to
Herod's Palace
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Lane Leading to
Herod's Palace
(c. 1867-1914)
Lepers
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Lepers in Jerusalem
(c. 1867-1914)
Lod
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Lod
(c. 1867-1914)
The Marsaba Convent
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The Marsaba Convent
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
The Marsaba Convent
(c. 1867-1914)
Merchants
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Street Merchants in
Jerusalem
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Merchants Selling
Legumes in Jerusalem
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Peasant Near Haifa
(c. 1867-1914)
Mount Carmel
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Mount Carmel
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Mount Carmel Convent
(c. 1867-1914)
Mount of Olives
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Mount of Olives
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Mount of Olives
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Mount of Olives
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Mount of Olives
(c. 1867-1914)
Mount Tabor
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Mount Tabor
(c. 1867-1914)
Mosque of Omar
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Mosque of Omar
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Mosque of Omar
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Mosque of Omar
(c. 1893)
Nain in Galilee
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Nain in Galilee
(c. 1867-1914)
Nablus
![]()
Nablus
(c. 1867-1914)
Nazareth
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Nazareth
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Nazareth
(c. 1867-1914)
Neapolis and Mount Erbal
![]()
Neapolis and Mount
Erbal
(c. 1867-1914)
Oak of Abraham, Hebron
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Oak of Abraham, Hebron
(c. 1867-1914)
Pool of Bethesda
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Pool of Bethesda
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Pool of Bethesda
(c. 1867-1914)
Pool of Siloam
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Pool of Siloam
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Pool of Siloam
(c. 1867-1914)
Pulpit of the Cadi-Borhan-ed-din
![]()
Details on the Pulpit
of the Cadi Borhan-ed-din
(c. 1867-1914)
Rachel's Tomb
![]()
Rachel's Tomb
(c. 1867-1914)
Rameleh
![]()
Rameleh, View From
The Tower
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Rameleh
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Rameleh, Route to Jerusalem
(c. 1867-1914)
Ramla
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Ramla
(c. 1867-1914)
Reservoir of Solomon
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Reservoir of Solomon
(c. 1867-1914)
Robinson's Arch
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Robinson's Arch,
Jerusalem (c. 1867-1914)
Samaria
![]()
Sebestieh, Samaria
(c. 1867-1914)
Siloam
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Siloam
(c. 1867-1914)
Solomon's Pools
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Solomon's Pools
(c. 1874)
Station 5
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Station 5
(c. 1867-1914)
Stations 7&8
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Stations 7&8 Calvary Greek Altar
(c. 1867-1914)
St. Anne's Church
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St. Anne's Church
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
St. Anne's Church
(c. 1867-1914)
St. Elias Convent
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St. Elias Convent
(c. 1867-1914)
St. Jean of the Desert Monastery
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St. Jean of the Desert Monastery
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
St. Jean of the Desert Monastery
(c. 1867-1914)
The Stone of Unction
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Stone of Unction
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Stone of Unction
(c. 1867-1914)
The Temple Mount
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The Temple Mount
(c. 1867-1914)
Tiberias
![]()
Tiberias
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Tiberias
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Tiberias
(c. 1874)
Tomb of Absalom
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Tomb of Absalom
(c. 1893)![]()
Tomb of Absalom
(c. 1867-1914)
Tomb of David
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Tomb of David
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Tomb of David, Room Where
the Last Supper Took Place
(c. 1867-1914)
Tomb of Lazarus
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Tomb of Lazarus
(c. 1867-1914)
Tomb of the Kings of Judah Courtyard
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Tomb of the
Kings of Judah
Courtyard
(c. 1867-1914)
Tomb of the Kings of Jerusalem
![]()
Tomb of the
Kings of Jerusalem
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Tomb of the
Kings of Jerusalem
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Tomb of the
Kings of Jerusalem
(c. 1867-1914)
Tomb of St Jacques
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Tomb of St Jacques
(c. 1867-1914)
Tomb of the Virgin
![]()
Tomb of the
Virgin
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Tomb of the
Virgin
(c. 1867-1914)
Towers
Valley of Hinnom
![]()
Valley of Hinnom
(c. 1867-1914)
Valley of Josephat
![]()
Valley of Josephat
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Valley of Josephat
(c. 1867-1914)
Via Dolorosa
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Via Dolorosa
Third Station
(c. 1867-1914)![]()
Via Dolorosa
Fifth Station
(c. 1867-1914)
Well of Samaritan
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Well of Samaritan
(c. 1867-1914)
The Western Wall
Where Jesus Left His Disciples to Pray
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Where Jesus Left
His Disciples
To Pray
(c. 1867-1914)